SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67012225

State of Florida•Gainesville, FL

4d•$39,367 - $43,303•Onsite

About The Position

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) works in partnership with local communities to support people with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and working in their communities. APD provides critical services and support for customers with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. The Agency serves people with spina bifida, autism, Down syndrome, children ages 3-5 at high risk of developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. There is no charge or co-payment for services provided through the Agency. Join APD’s TACACHALE and be part of the team that MAKES A DIFFERENCE – NOT JUST A LIVING, impacting the lives of developmentally disabled adults!

Requirements

A valid Florida Driver’s License.
Corrective Lenses Restricted license are acceptable provided the driver wears the corrective lenses while operating a state vehicle.
Must be willing to perform essential services before, during, and after an emergency.
Must have a bachelor’s degree in a human service field.
Must be willing to work beyond the normal work schedule to maintain minimum coverage levels and meet the needs of the Agency.
Must maintain certification in Prevention and Safety Strategies, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Direct Care In-Service.
This position may be required to perform essential services before, during, and after an emergency per APD OP 2-0035.
This position is critical to the safety and supervision of residents and may require the incumbent to work beyond their normal work schedule to maintain minimum coverage levels in the facility.
Demonstrates skill in the use of MS Office Suite software including Word, Outlook and Excel.
Demonstrates skill in managing/coordinating multiple high-priority assignments.
Demonstrates skill in communicating effectively orally and in writing.
Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.
You may be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the principles and practices of social services.
Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to track assignments and complete by deadlines.
Ability to read, teach and implement residents’ support plans, formal and informal programs/interventions.
Ability to assess residents’ skills and needs.
Ability to implement and monitor individual behavioral support plans.
Ability to keep records of residents’ progress.
Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships with others.

Responsibilities

Manages a caseload of residents, ensuring their individual needs are consistently assessed and addressed.
Advocates on behalf of the residents to support their well-being, rights, and quality of life.
Serves as a key liaison, facilitating communication and coordination between residents, the treatment team, and guardians to ensure cohesive and effective support.
Serves as the liaison between the staff, guardians and guardian advocates.
Assures that supporting court documents are filed on behalf of the residents.
Maintains contact with the guardians/guardian advocates and informs them about all significant events including but not limited to injuries and abuse allegations.
Writes annual reports for the Individual Support Plan (ISP) meetings and monthly reports for the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings.
Assesses the residents by direct observation and record reviews to get pertinent information for the reports.
Sends invitations in advance to guardians/guardian advocates for future and final ISP meetings.
Completes annual letters to the guardians/guardian advocates to summarize the support plans with the ISPs sent to them within 30 days after the meetings.
Completes biannual reports to inform the guardians/guardian advocates about the residents’ progress in their programs/services within the past six (6) months.
Encourages the guardians/guardian advocates to visit the residents as much as possible during the year.
Assists the residents as needed to contact their guardian/guardian advocates by phone calls, cards, and letters.
Monitors the residents’ finances and ensures the residents maintain Medicaid eligibility within span of control.
Informs the Residential Services Supervisor and IDT in advance when the residents are near their asset limits.
Generates Client Trust Fund (CTF) requests as needed.
Approves/disapproves CTFs.
Provides appropriate information that affects Medicaid eligibility to the Accounting or Medicaid offices as needed.
Visits the residents in their homes, at community healthcare facilities or at center wide activities to maintain or establish relationships.
Participates in trips and/or home visits with the residents as needed or required by the facility.
Monitors quality of life issues on the homes as needed.
Advocates for the residents and their rights and provides annual in-service training to staff on resident’s rights.
Attends ISP meetings, IDT meetings, psychiatric clinic reviews, Human Rights Advocacy Committee meetings, placement/transition meetings, facility management, self-determination meetings and other meetings as required.
Coordinates with the Home Manager to do a joint review of residents’ inventories and complete forms at least once every six (6) months, reports findings to the Program Manager or designee.