SOCIAL COUNSELOR 2* - 08282025-70798

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY AND AGING, TENNESSEE EARLY INTERVENTION DIVISION, DAVIDSON COUNTY

A Motor Vehicle Records screening will be conducted prior to employment. Proof of Education is required.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree AND one year of professional experience in one or a combination of the following: health care for children, adolescent, or geriatric populations; social work; or social or psychological counseling, including, but not limited to, mental health, correctional, or behavioral rehabilitation counseling; or one year of experience in early intervention and/or service coordination with individuals with disabilities in an educational, social services or medical setting; or one year of teaching early childhood education or assessing individuals with disabilities.

Substitution of Graduate Course Work for Experience: Additional qualifying graduate course work from an accredited college or university in a related field may be substituted for the experience, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of one year.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class may be required to:

1. Possess a valid driver's license if driving is an essential function of the position;
2. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
3. Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
4. Supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records check;
5. Submit to a review of their status on the Department of Health's vulnerable persons registry.

Overview

Under general supervision, is responsible for professional social counseling work and/or service coordination of average difficulty; and performs related work as required. This is the working class in the professional Social Counselor sub series. An employee in this class interviews and provides social counseling for clients in programs such as adult protective services and maternal and child health counseling, as well as individuals with disabilities in an educational, social service, or medical setting. This class is flexibly staffed with and differs from that of the Social Counselor 1 in that an incumbent of the latter learns the proper principles, practices, and procedures for social counseling work in various programs. This class differs from the Social Counselor Supervisor in that incumbents of the latter are responsible for supervisory social counseling work.

Responsibilities

1. Investigates and/or reports abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults and/or children with mental or physical impairment or who are incapable of self-care to determine need for protective services. Interviews and assesses clients, family members, and other involved parties including alleged perpetrators to gather information for determining risk levels and needs for services.
2. Implements a service plan that addresses needs or concerns of the client(s). Refers and/or coordinates services for clients to reduce risk and increase autonomy.
3. Identifies various potential risk factors as part of assessing clients and monitors the progress of service plans. Responds to questions and inquiries from clients, families, caregivers, and other according to departmental policy.
4. Documents the services implemented, client contacts, observations, progress, and relevant information in client files and databases.
5. Strategizes solutions by participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary team. Uses appropriate equipment, as needed, to assess or implement client services.
6. Educates government departments, local agencies, law enforcement, the general public, and other external entities about agency programs.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

1. Instills Trust
2. Manages Complexity
3. Communicates Effectively
4. Global Perspective
5. Decision Quality

Knowledge:

1. Administration and Management
2. Clerical
3. Customer and Personal Service
4. Psychology

Skills:

1. Active Learning and Listening
2. Complex Problem Solving
3. Coordination
4. Judgment and Decision Making
5. Social Perceptiveness

Abilities:

1. Inductive Reasoning
2. Oral Comprehension & Expression
3. Written Comprehension & Expression
4. Problem Sensitivity
5. Limb and/or Full Body Coordination

Tools & Equipment

1. Computers
2. Copier/Scanner/Fax Machine
3. Vehicle
4. Phones
5. Camera