Social Service Counselor

About This Job

Our agency’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Acadiana who have behavioral health and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities.

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Social Service Counselor to provide professional behavioral health services to individuals in our region. Apply today for the opportunity to join our team and help us promote the independence, respect, and inclusion of all citizens.

Focusing on Customers: The ability to understand and meet the needs, preferences, and experiences of internal and external customers.

Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.

Thinking Critically: The ability to analyze information objectively, identify connections across sources, and form logical, well-supported conclusions.

Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.

Demonstrating Emotional Intelligence: The ability to identify and understand emotions in oneself and others and use that understanding to manage one's behavior and relationships.

Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess situations independently and take proactive steps to address them without being prompted or instructed by others.

Demonstrating Innovation: The ability to generate, share, and apply original ideas to improve outcomes, solve problems, or create new value.

Minimum Qualifications

Three years of social services experience; OR

Six years of full-time experience in any field; OR

A bachelor's degree.

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.

Job Specification

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

Job Duties

Job Duties and Other Information

As a social service counselor, you function in the capacity of a behavioral health case manager:

• serving the acute and/or chronically mentally ill adult population, the emotionally/behaviorally disturbed child/adolescent population and their families and clients with addictive disorders/co-occurring disorders.
• collaborating with psychiatrists, medical psychologists, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, counselors, and support staff regarding care coordination necessary to facilitate wellness and recovery of persons served.

Position –Specific Details

Location: This position is located in the Acadiana Area Human Services District – Tyler Behavioral Health Clinic in Lafayette, LA

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 40 hours/week

Appointment Type: Probational and Promotional

Career Progression: This position participates in a Career Progression Group (CPG) and may be filled as a Social Service Counselor 1, 2, 3, or 4B. The level at which the vacancy is filled will be determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected.

Compensation: The actual starting salary depends on the education and experience of the selected applicant. This position provides the opportunity to advance within this job series.

SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 1

SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 2

SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 3

SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 4-B

This incumbent is required to possess and maintain the necessary requirements relevant to the assigned CPG level.

How To Apply

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

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. *

If you are selected for this position and indicate that you have a degree, you will be required to submit an official transcript.

There is no guarantee that everyone who applies to this posting will be interviewed. The hiring supervisor/manager has 90 days from the closing date of the announcement to make a hiring decision. Specific information about this job will be provided to you in the interview process, should you be selected.

Contact Information

For further information about this vacancy, contact:

Jennifer Sonnier, Human Resources Analyst

***email_hidden***

AAHSD-Human Resources

302 Dulles Drive

Lafayette, LA 70506

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

Insurance Coverage

More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement – State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others

CE: Communicating Effectively - How well do you share information and ideas in ways that others can understand, relate to, and act on?

• I communicate unclearly, use poor tone, and ignore the audience.
• I share main ideas clearly and adapt to the audience when reminded.
• I communicate clearly, listen actively, and explain complex ideas well.
• I craft messages that connect, inspire, and drive action across audiences.

CE: Communicating Effectively - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

DEI: Demonstrating Emotional Intelligence - How well do you recognize and manage emotions—both yours and others’—to build stronger relationships and reduce conflict?

• I react emotionally, miss others’ cues, and avoid resolving conflict.
• I manage emotions in normal situations and support others when I’m guided.
• I adjust my tone and behavior to support connection and resolve conflict.
• I lead with emotional intelligence, foster connection, and strengthen relationships.

DEI: Demonstrating Emotional Intelligence - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

FC: Focusing on Customers - How well do you understand and meet the needs of internal or external customers?

• I struggle to understand customer needs, provide clear information, or resolve issues.
• I respond to customer needs with some support and build basic working relationships.
• I understand customer needs, communicate clearly, and deliver timely, reliable service.
• I anticipate customer needs, build trust, and deliver personalized, proactive service.

FC: Focusing on Customers - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

MAJ: Making Accurate Judgments - How do you make decisions when faced with choices, risks, or limited information?

• I make reactive or delayed decisions and sometimes overlook risks, priorities, or potential bias.
• I try to weigh options but struggle when there’s uncertainty, competing priorities, or unclear outcomes.
• I make timely, well-reasoned decisions by using available information, context, and trade-offs.
• I make sound decisions in complex situations, lead others through ambiguity, and adapt as new information emerges.

MAJ: Making Accurate Judgments - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

• Required Question