Job Information
MyFlorida SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67016466 in GAINESVILLE, Florida
SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67016466
Date: May 1, 2024
Location:
GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32609
The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website (http://www.dms.myflorida.com/workforce_operations/human_resource_management/for_job_applicants/e_verify) .
Requisition No: 828483
Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities
Working Title: SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67016466
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 67016466
Salary: $1,470.40 - $1,617.44 Biweekly
Posting Closing Date: 06/30/2024
Total Compensation Estimator Tool (https://compcalculator.myflorida.com/)
AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
POSITION: Social Services Counselor - Career Service
POSITION’S LOCATION: Tacachale – Gainesville, FL
POSITION NUMBER: Multiple Vacancies.
OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY
This posting may close prior to closing date.
Working for the State of Floridais more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:
Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
$25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
Dental, vision and supplemental insurances available at state rates
State of Florida retirement package
Generous vacation and sick leave
10 paid holidays a year
Career advancement opportunities
Tuition waiver for state college/university courses
Training opportunities
For additional benefit information available to State of Florida employees, go to http://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com
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 supports 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. www.apdcares.org
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!
SALARY RANGE
$38,230.40 - $42,053.44 Annually $1,470.40 - $1,617.44 Biweekly
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Serves as the liaison between the staff, guardians, and guardian advocates. As the facility liaison, 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 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 guardians/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 RSS to do a joint review of residents’ inventories and completed forms at least once every six months reports findings to the Operations and Management Consultant II or designee.
Other related duties as assigned.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
A valid Florida Driver’s License.
If hired with an out-of-state license a valid Florida State driver’s license must be obtained within 30 days.
Corrective Lenses Restricted license are acceptable provided the driver wears the corrective lenses while operating a state vehicle.
A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a Human Service field.
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 .
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
Social Services
Ability to:
To prepare various reports
To track and complete assignments by the deadline.
To plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
To communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally.
To establish and maintain teamwork and effective working relationships with staff, families, and guardian advocates.
To use a computer.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
The State of Florida is a drug-free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with section 112.0455, FS., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
PROFILE COMPLETION
Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history with the month and year.
Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile, and “see resume” will not be considered an acceptable response.
Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information, but these will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.
All applicants should complete the online application process. If assistance is needed to apply for this position, please call the people first service center at 1-877-562-7287.
Responses to the qualifying questions are required to be considered for this position. Answers to the qualifying questions must be verifiable based on your submitted application.
RETIREE NOTICE
If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
You may be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. 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.
DIRECT DEPOSIT PROGRAM
As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program. Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution. This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be in the Direct Deposit Program.
BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT
It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.
No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.
Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.
Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.
APD only hires U.S. citizens, and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. APD participates in the U.S. government’s employment eligibility verification program (E-verify). E-verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE. ALL EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO REASONABLE SUSPICION DRUG TESTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 112.0455, F.S., DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE ACT.
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clickinghere (http://www.dms.myflorida.com/content/download/97612/566545) . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.
Nearest Major Market:Gainesville