Social Services Counselor

Social Services Counselor -

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:

• 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.
• Maintaining cooperative relationships with other disciplines to ensure the development of appropriate discharge planning/aftercare of residents state-wide while promoting the practice of cooperative team work in the workplace.
• Ensuring chosen discharge facilities meet licensure requirements according to AHCA standards.
• Coordinating discharges by scheduling all aftercare appointments to promote continuity of care.
• Assisting 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.
• Transporting residents to discharge facility.
• Reviewing discharge summary with resident and facility representative.
• Completing all required discharge paperwork by obtaining signatures and completing satisfaction surveys with residents.
• Completing post discharge surveys to ensure continuity of care.
• Functioning 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.
• Providing 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.
• Monitoring completion of training module.
• Communicating information to Office of Social Services staff as indicated by job description and duties.
• Utilizing social work knowledge and skills to assist unit social service staff in expediting "stat" discharges as indicated or assigned by supervisor.
• Developing and maintaining a thorough working knowledge of facility, circuit and department rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Participating on monthly contact with case management and interacting 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.
• Representing the unit and social services department at legal hearings (if applicable).
• Maintaining 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.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position:

• 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.

Minimum qualifications:

• A bachelor's…