SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 1 / 2 / 3

Overview

The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) is committed to protecting the public by providing safe and effective individualized services to youth who will become productive, law-abiding citizens. We are seeking a compassionate and skilled professional to serve as a Social Service Counselor, providing direct counseling and case management services to youth in secure care. This role supports the emotional, behavioral, and social development of justice-involved youth through individualized interventions, group facilitation, and collaborative treatment planning. The ideal candidate demonstrates empathy, clinical insight, and a commitment to trauma-informed care and rehabilitation.

Ideal Candidate Competencies

• Communicating Effectively : The ability to relay information correctly and appropriately to connect people and ideas.
• Driving Results : The ability to identify important goals and work to achieve them.
• Making Accurate Judgments : The ability to form an opinion objectively and decisively based on relevant information and in accordance with established standards.
• Managing Resources : The ability to ensure resources such as time, money, and people are utilized appropriately to result in maximum business value.
• Managing Stakeholders : The ability to identify and to respond to the sometimes competing perspectives, agendas, and expectations of different parties.
• Managing Time : The ability to control your time to increase effectiveness, efficiency, or productivity.
• Thinking Critically : The ability to generate ideas, manipulate ideas, and make unconventional connections to develop original approaches.
• Adapting to Change : The ability to adjust plans, expectations, and behaviors in response to change.
• Focusing on Customers : The ability to serve the needs of those who support and / or rely on the services provided.
• Following Policies and Procedures : The ability to comply with policies and procedures of the organization as well as State Civil Service rules, and all applicable federal and state laws.

Qualifications and Experience

Experience Substitution :

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Necessary Special Requirement :

Positions that provide addictive disorder counseling or prevention services will require certification or eligibility for certification issued by the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority (ADRA), or its successor.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Responsibilities

Position Details

Work Location : This vacancy is located at the Lafayette Regional Office in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Appointment Type : This position will be filled as a full-time, probationary appointment.

Career Progression : This position may be filled as a Social Service Counselor 1, 2, or 3.

Eligibility : The incumbent must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

Application Information

No Civil Service test score is required to be considered for this vacancy. The Office of Juvenile Justice will receive a list of eligible applicants ONLY from the people who respond to this posting.

How To Apply : To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

For further information about this vacancy contact : Garilyn London, OJJ / Human Resources Division, Garilyn.London@LA.gov

In the supplemental questions section, applicants must authorize the HR Office of Juvenile Justice to contact prior employers to check references under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) to be considered for employment. The Office of Juvenile Justice is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information on employment-related resources available for those with disabilities, refer to the Louisiana Employment Resource Guide.

If you are contacted for an interview, please let us know at that time if you will need special accommodations. Note : Prior to an appointment, the selected applicant must take and pass a drug screening test, possess a valid Louisiana Driver's License and clear a background check. This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.

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