Human Rights Advocate Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 877474 

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67012225

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67012225 

Salary:  $1,514.10 - $1,665.51 Biweekly 

Posting Closing Date: 06/24/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

POSITION: Social Services Counselor

POSITION'S LOCATION: Tacachale - Gainesville, FL

POSITION NUMBER: 67012225

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

CANDIDATE POOL: Future vacancies may be filled from this advertisement for a period of up to six months.

This posting may close prior to closing date.

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 including: 

• Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
• $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurances available at state rates
• State of Florida retirement package         
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• 10 paid holidays a year
• Career advancement opportunities
• Tuition waiver for state college/university courses
• Training opportunities
• For additional benefit information available to State of Florida employees, go to http://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) works in partnership with local communities to support people with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and working in their communities. APD provides critical services and support for customers with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. The Agency serves people with spina bifida, autism, Down syndrome, children ages 3-5 at high risk of developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. There is no charge or co-payment for services provided through the Agency. www.apdcares.org

Join APD's TACACHALE and be part of the team that MAKES A DIFFERENCE - NOT JUST A LIVING, impacting the lives of developmentally disabled adults!

SALARY RANGE

$39,366.60 - $43,303.26 Annually      $1,514.10 - $1,665.51 Biweekly

The hiring salary may exceed the maximum posted salary.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position manages a caseload of residents, ensuring their individual needs are consistently assessed and addressed. They advocate on behalf of the residents to support their well-being, rights, and quality of life.

The social service counselor also serves as a key liaison, facilitating communication and coordination between residents, the treatment team, and guardians to ensure cohesive and effective support. 

Serves as the liaison between the staff, guardians and guardian advocates.  Assures that supporting court documents are filed on behalf of the residents. 

Maintains contact with the guardians/guardian advocates and informs them about all significant events including but not limited to injuries and abuse allegations.

Write annual reports for the Individual Support Plan (ISP) meetings and monthly reports for the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings.

 Assesses the residents by direct observation and record reviews to get pertinent information for the reports.  Send invitations in advance to guardians/guardian advocates for future and final ISP meetings.  Completes annual letters to the guardians/guardian advocates to summarize the support plans with the ISPs sent to them within 30 days after the meetings. 

Completes biannual reports to inform the guardians/guardian advocates about the residents' progress in their programs/services within the past six (6) months. 

Encourages the guardians/guardian advocates to visit the residents as much as possible during the year.  Assists the residents as needed to contact their guardian/guardian advocates by phone calls, cards, and letters.

Monitors the residents; finances and ensures the residents maintain Medicaid eligibility within span of control Informs the Residential Services Supervisor and IDT in advance when the residents are near their asset limits.  Generates Client Trust Fund (CTF) requests as needed.  Approves/disapproves CTFs.

 Provides appropriate information that affects Medicaid eligibility to the Accounting or Medicaid offices as needed.

Visits the residents in their homes, at community healthcare facilities or at center wide activities to maintain or establish relationships. 

Participates in trips and/or home visits with the residents as needed or required by the facility.  Monitors quality of life issues on the homes as needed. 

Advocates for the residents and their rights and provides annual in-service training to staff on resident's rights. 

Attend ISP meetings, IDT meetings, psychiatric clinic reviews, Human Rights Advocacy Committee meetings, placement/transition meetings, facility management, self-determination meetings and other meetings as required. 

Coordinates with the Home Manager to do a joint review of residents' inventories and complete forms at least once every six (6) months, reports findings to the Program Manager or designee.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• A valid Florida Driver's License.
  • If hired with an out-of-state license a valid Florida State driver's license must be obtained within 30 days.
  • Corrective Lenses Restricted license are acceptable provided the driver wears the corrective lenses while operating a state vehicle.
• Must be willing to perform essential services before, during, and after an emergency.
• Must have a bachelor's degree in a human service field.
• Must be willing to work beyond the normal work schedule to maintain minimum coverage levels and meet the needs of the Agency.
• Must maintain certification in Prevention and Safety Strategies, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Direct Care In-Service. 

This position may be required to perform essential services before, during, and after an emergency per APD OP 2-0035.

This position is critical to the safety and supervision of residents and may require the incumbent to work beyond their normal work schedule to maintain minimum coverage levels in the facility.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices of social services.

Ability to:

• plan, organize and coordinate work assignments
• track assignments and complete by deadlines
• read, teach and implement residents' support plans, formal and informal programs/interventions.
• assess residents' skills and needs.
• implement and monitor individual behavioral support plans.
• keep records of residents' progress.  
• utilize problem-solving techniques.
• understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Skills in:

• Demonstrates skill in the use of MS Office Suite software including Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Demonstrates skill in managing/coordinating multiple high-priority assignments.
• Demonstrates skill in communicating effectively orally and in writing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROFILE COMPLETION

Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history with the month and year.

Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile, and "see resume" will not be considered an acceptable response.

Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information, but this will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.

All applicants should complete the online application process.  If assistance is needed to apply for this position, please call the people first service center at 1-877-562-7287.

Responses to the qualifying questions are required to be considered for this position. Answers to the qualifying questions must be verifiable based on your submitted application.

RETIREE NOTICE

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.

DIRECT DEPOSIT PROGRAM

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.  Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution. This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be in the Direct Deposit Program.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.

Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

APD only hires U.S. citizens, and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. APD participates in the U.S. government's employment eligibility verification program (E-verify). E-verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

You may be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE

THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE.  ALL EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO REASONABLE SUSPICION DRUG TESTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 112.0455, F.S., DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE ACT.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.