HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR III - 60025255

State of Florida•West Palm Beach, FL

About The Position

This is work providing case management, guidance, and counseling to the elderly and disabled adults. This position is responsible for arranging supportive services to maintain vulnerable adults in their home or arranging and coordinating placement in appropriate residential setting and providing on-going supervision. EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED: • Provides or arranges for services, as necessary, to maintain the client in the least restrictive residential setting.• Testifies in court hearings.• Serves as team leader in jointly staffed cases.• Assesses the need for emergency intervention and/or on-going services for all victims in accordance with the protective services policies and operating procedures. Arranges and participates in all staffing for clients.• Prepares and maintains detailed client assessments and service plans records/documentation in accordance with department and program policies and procedures.• Participates in individual conferences, meetings, staffing, trainings, and workgroups.• Completes detailed client assessments and service plans on each client and provides or arranges for all services identified in the service plan.• Visits clients regularly, documenting observations and revisiting client assessments and service plans, as necessary, and monitoring the provision of services.• Counsels with clients, caregivers, and/or significant others in terms of available services, adjustment problems, and/or major changes/transitions in life situations.• Provides counseling and guidance services to the more difficult cases.• Counsels’ families and guardians of residents and patients in adjustment problems and pre-release activities.• Performs related work as required and additional related duties as assigned.• Attends scheduled in-service and/or pre-service training as required. Participates in conferences, staffing’s and meetings as required.• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.• Required to travel to clients' homes or to facilities to complete casework.

Requirements

Knowledge of theories and practices in counseling or social work.
Knowledge of professional ethics relating to counseling or social work.
Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
Ability to provide counseling or social work services to others.
Knowledge of the criminal justice system and the court process.
Complies with and monitors compliance (when applicable) of the mandatory requirements of Section 215.422, F.S., and Chapter 3A-24 of the Florida Administrative Code.
Maintains waiting list for CCDA and HCDA ensuring that all wait list clients are rescreened on an annual basis with updated information submitted to the program office to ensure wait list information is correct.
Ability to utilize computer systems and work in a paperless environment.
This work requires a high degree of tact, patience, and courtesy dealing with vulnerable adults.
Incumbents in this class must be able to maintain a calm, professional demeanor while handling a variety of emergency and non-emergency calls. The work requires independent judgment and initiative to complete field assignments. Typing and good time management skills are necessary for this job.
Knowledge of Victims' Assistance Programs.
Knowledge of Florida Statutes of victims' rights.
Ability to coordinate a team approach to the rehabilitation process.
Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to actively listen to others.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
An Associate’s Degree or minimum of 60 semester hours and two years of professional experience in education, mental health, counseling, guidance, social work, health, or rehabilitative programs; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
All Human Service Counselor III employees are considered essential personnel and are expected to report to work during emergencies or natural disasters.
Incumbent must be able to work non-traditional work hours, which may include nights and/or weekends.

Responsibilities

Provides or arranges for services, as necessary, to maintain the client in the least restrictive residential setting.
Testifies in court hearings.
Serves as team leader in jointly staffed cases.
Assesses the need for emergency intervention and/or on-going services for all victims in accordance with the protective services policies and operating procedures. Arranges and participates in all staffing for clients.
Prepares and maintains detailed client assessments and service plans records/documentation in accordance with department and program policies and procedures.
Participates in individual conferences, meetings, staffing, trainings, and workgroups.
Completes detailed client assessments and service plans on each client and provides or arranges for all services identified in the service plan.
Visits clients regularly, documenting observations and revisiting client assessments and service plans, as necessary, and monitoring the provision of services.
Counsels with clients, caregivers, and/or significant others in terms of available services, adjustment problems, and/or major changes/transitions in life situations.
Provides counseling and guidance services to the more difficult cases.
Counsels’ families and guardians of residents and patients in adjustment problems and pre-release activities.
Performs related work as required and additional related duties as assigned.
Attends scheduled in-service and/or pre-service training as required. Participates in conferences, staffing’s and meetings as required.