Abuse Counselor

Salary: $37,000.08 annually / $1,423.08 bi-weekly.

                                        Abuse Counselor
Department of Children and Families
Tallahassee, Florida
Open Competitive 

This posting will be used to fill position vacancies in Career Service.

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

What you will do:

This is professional work protecting children and vulnerable adults at the Florida Abuse Hotline. The employee(s) allocated to this class, assess allegations of abuse, neglect or abandonment of children, and abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. The employee(s) will determine if the information meets statutory criteria for an investigation or referral to an appropriate agency.

How you will make an impact:

• Research appropriate information systems to determine prior history to assist in the safety and risk assessment of alleged victim(s).
• Assign cases to appropriate Department of Children and Families county units or law enforcement agencies for investigation.
• Receive and refer, as appropriate, complaints against vendors, related licensed facilities, and department employees that may include human rights violations, inappropriate treatment, and inadequate services.
• Enter reports in the appropriate information system.
• Enter screened out calls in the appropriate database.
• Gather information and consult with supervisory staff regarding child and adult death reports.
• Provide supportive assistance and referral services to persons in need.
• Maintain professional respect with field investigative staff, supervisors, and other adult and child protective service professionals in both public and private sectors.
• Performs other related work as required.

Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); or
• An associate degree or 60+ credit hours from an accredited college or university and two years of professional work experience (see examples below) or two years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); or
• Examples of professional work experience could be, although not limited to:
  • Guardian Ad Litem or similar child advocate role
  • Family Support Worker
  • Group Home Worker
  • Teacher's Assistant/Aide
  • Daycare Provider/Worker
  • Therapeutic Assistant
  • Behavioral Health Technician
  • Family Intervention Specialist
  • Home Health Aide
  • Nurse (LPN or RN) or similar profession
  • Nursing Facility Assistant
  • EMT
  • Other welfare, education or medical professional jobs that occur in high-paced, high-stress environments that require critical decision-making to occur
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • An official letter from the college/university registrar or unofficial transcriptions with anticipated graduation dates and credits earned must be provided for all diploma/degree requirements. 

Proof of conferred degree such as official transcripts or copy of diploma/degree must be provided within 30 days of hire as a condition of employment.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and accurately, both orally and in written form.
• Ability to attend an approximate 9 – 13-week training course that could be scheduled during day, weekend, and evening hours.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child and adult protective services.
• Knowledge of interviewing and basic investigative techniques.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills and make decisions independently.
• Ability to conduct thorough assessments via telephone and analyze information.
• Ability to understand and apply Chapters 39 and 415, Florida Statutes, and other relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to provide guidance and assistance to persons in crisis.
• Ability to assess for indicators of abuse, neglect, or abandonment of children to begin the determination of a child being Safe or Unsafe.
• Ability to assess risk factors for indicators of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to utilize personal computer systems and associated applications, including Microsoft® Word.
• Knowledge of web-based applications.
• Ability to report to work during natural disasters as essential personnel.
• Ability to work a schedule that includes evening, night, and weekend hours.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. 
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Additional Information/Requirements

• This position may require evening, night, and weekend hours.  It has also been designated as an essential position.  Incumbents are expected to work during emergency situations or natural disasters and may be required to work before, during and beyond normal work hours/days.
• 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.
• The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.
• We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
• Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
 

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.

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

Growth Opportunities:

With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all.  Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government. They are also among the most rewarding. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Where you will work:

Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  In other words, no matter where you land in Florida, you’re never more than 60 miles from a body of saltwater.  And if the beach isn’t your scene, there are 175 state parks to explore!  Meanwhile, Floridians hail from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life, making it an incredibly diverse melting pot that many residents and visitors to Florida love.  The Sunshine State is a great place to live and work – Come join our team!

About Department of Children and Families:

Mission: The mission of the Department of Children and Families 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.

Vision: We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.

Values: A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve. 

To learn more please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/.

• 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.
• The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.
• We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
• Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S. 

No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies. Also, employees are subject to background re-screening at least every five years.