HUMAN Services Counselor II - 64029384 1

Human Services Counselor II

The incumbent is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Polk County in its mission to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts and its vision to be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness, and Excellence in all aspects of their work.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The person in this position provides services to families targeted for outreach and care coordination of high-risk pregnant women and their infants in the Polk County area as determined by the Healthy Start program. This position may serve clients who speak only Spanish, Creole, or other languages. It may require performance of interpreter duties, if bilingual, or implementation of the Department's Limited English Proficiency Plan.

Provides outreach, assessment of health, nutritional, developmental, social, environmental, and behavioral conditions, and care coordination of families. Coordinates services with other community agencies serving pregnant women, children, and families.

Uses screening instruments to assess pregnant women and infants. Acts as liaison, communicator, and advocate for at-risk pregnant women and children; interfaces with health care providers and other resources to improve service coordination. Promotes and encourages family self-help and self-responsibility.

Jointly develops written Family Support Plans with clients and families, identifies specific concerns, needs, and priorities, and available resources. Specifies service objectives leading to improved health outcomes. Implements, evaluates, and monitors Family Support Plan Activities and enhanced services rendered to infants and pregnant women determined to be at risk. Works collaboratively with other community agencies involved with the family. Documents progress and periodically updates the plan using assessment of risk factors and needs.

Provides supportive counseling on a one-to-one basis. Educates with a preventative approach on various topics such as smoking cessation, parenting education, breastfeeding, drug and alcohol avoidance, postpartum depression, childbirth, family planning, interconception care, childhood developmental stages, and nutrition. Completes 40-hour Child Passenger Safety Technician Training.

Document all client contacts and services provided in the designated Healthy Start client data system. Follows Healthy Start Standards and Guidelines about risk assessment, timeliness of client contacts, services provided, coding, documentation, and case closure processes.

Uses a team approach for Healthy Start care coordination and other outreach services. Serves as resource/support person to other team members. Works with other team members on special projects related to the Healthy Start Program.

Maintains professional competency by attending conferences and in-service training. Completes all mandatory training for FDOH and the Healthy Start Coalition.

Although fluency in both English and Spanish and/or Creole are not requirements of this position, because of the large Hispanic and Haitian populations that are served by this program, skills in Spanish and/or Creole, in addition to English, are desirable.

Performs other duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Knowledge of rules, policies, procedures, and laws pertaining to the program.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to work with socio-economically and culturally diverse populations.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to schedule and coordinate assigned work responsibilities.
• Ability to compose written correspondence and various reports.
• Ability to operate a computer and navigate FDOH and Healthy Start client data bases.
• Knowledge of problem solving techniques.
• Knowledge of office procedures and ability to operate a variety of office equipment.
• Ability to adapt to change.

Qualifications:

Minimum:

• Valid Florida Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.

Preferred:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university from one of the following areas: social sciences, a health-related field such as nursing, health education, health planning, or health care administration, or social work, or an associate degree with three years of public health/maternal child experience.

Other job-related requirements for this position:

Emergency Duty: Incumbent may be required to work before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.

Confidentiality: Incumbent may have access to records containing Social Security numbers in the performance of their job duties.

Where You Will Work: Bartow, FL

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com.

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised: Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.

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 canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans, and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.

If there are any problems applying online, please call People First Staffing Administration: (877) 562-7287