SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 60006217

State of Florida

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency. Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders. Florida State Hospital (FSH) is a mental health treatment facility owned and operated by the State of Florida and is part of the Department of Children and Families. The department’s mission is to “work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.” FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION. THIS REQUISTION MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE VACANCIES. This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Social Services Counselor within the Social Services Unit. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply. Specific Duties and Responsibilities include: The applicant selected to fill this position shall be required to submit to a pre-employment medical examination. This position requires lifting, pulling, and squatting. Duties of this position require the incumbent to be knowledgeable of and utilize the principles of Total Quality Management. This is a professional position in the Office of Social Services at Florida State Hospital providing aftercare discharge planning guidance and consultation with Recovery Team members, Florida State Hospital, court systems, mental health centers, other agencies, and Department of Children and Families Continuity of Care Management System.

Requirements

Knowledge of counseling techniques and practices.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work, nursing, education or counseling.
Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
Ability to develop treatment or rehabilitation programs.
Ability to develop guidelines and procedures for the delivery of social services.
Ability to develop and present staff development and training programs.
Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to follow through on all phases of the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of clients.
Ability to provide casework services to clients.
Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, education, nursing or other related degree, and three years of professional experience in providing social work, health education, rehabilitative services, nursing or counseling services; or
A master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, education, rehabilitative services, nursing or other related degree and two years of professional experience as described above.

Responsibilities

Maintains appropriate cooperative relationships with other disciplines, including, but not limited to, working closely with Social Services Management Team, Hospital Legal, Social Services staff, Civil and Forensic Liaisons, Benefits Coordinator, SVPP Coordinator, court systems, mental health centers, other agencies (including Agency for Persons with Disabilities), and Department of Children and Families Continuity of Care Management System to ensure the development of appropriate discharge planning/aftercare of residents state-wide while promoting the practice of cooperative team work in the work place.
Ensures chosen discharge facilities meet licensure requirements according to AHCA standards.
Coordinates discharges by scheduling all aftercare appointments to promote continuity of care.
Assists with securing identification documents including taking to local driver's license office to have identification cards made. Completes requests for funding to payment of identification cards.
Transports residents to discharge facility. Reviews discharge summary with resident and facility representative. Completes all required discharge paperwork by obtaining signatures and completes satisfaction surveys with residents. Completes post discharge surveys to ensure continuity of care.
Functions as the Civil and Forensic Liaisons between Florida State Hospital and the court system, mental health centers, other agencies (including Agency for Persons with Disabilities), and Department of Children and Families Continuity of Care Management System.
Provides consultation/coordination services related to the conditional release process and other social services policy and procedure relative to Civil and Forensic Services during New Employee Orientation and as assigned. Provides consultation/coordination of services related to standards through recruitment, screening, evaluation, orientation, and monitoring, and hiring interviews (at unit's request). Monitors completion of training module.
Communicates information to Office of Social Services staff as indicated by job description and duties.
Utilizes social work knowledge and skills to assist unit social service staff in expediting "stat" discharges as indicated or assigned by supervisor.
Develops and maintains a thorough working knowledge of facility, circuit and department rules, regulations, and procedures.
Position may maintain a caseload in a unit in the event of need. This will require that the position provide social services, counseling guidance, and discharge planning (i.e., identifying alternative living environments, securing financial benefits, identifying barriers to discharge, etc.) with individuals with acute or chronic mental disabilities, who are emotionally disturbed, indigent, or assigned a legal status of civil and ex-forensic. Participates on monthly contact with case management and interact with Community Case Managers and Forensic Specialists during case management visits to maintain effective working relationships, and to develop Discharge Plans and Conditional Release Plans.
If carrying a caseload, the position will complete all necessary social services progress notes and assessments to include Comprehensive Psychosocial summaries, Baker Act Summaries, Advance Directive documents, and other documents associated with discharge planning in a timely manner, ensuring that Quality Assurance requirements are met, and Continuity of Care plans for residents being discharged are arranged. Represents the unit and social services department at legal hearings (if applicable). Maintains assessments in compliance with Department of Children and Families, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities, Performance Improvement and Planning, and Florida State Hospital Operating Procedures.
Performs other duties as assigned.