SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 1/2/3

About This Job Office of Juvenile Justice Acadiana Center for Youth-Bunkie 1536 Bordelon Rd., Bunkie, LA 71322 THIS IS A CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) is driven by a powerful mission: protecting the public while transforming the lives of youth through safe, effective, and individualized services that help them grow into productive, law‑abiding citizens. We are excited to welcome a compassionate, motivated, and skilled professional to join our team as a Social Service Counselor, playing a vital role in the rehabilitation and well‑being of youth in secure care. In this impactful position, you will provide direct counseling and case management that supports each youth’s emotional, behavioral, and social development. Through meaningful one‑on‑one interventions, dynamic group facilitation, and collaborative treatment planning, you will help guide young people toward healthier choices and brighter futures. The ideal candidate brings empathy, strong clinical insight, and a deep commitment to trauma‑informed, youth‑centered care—someone who believes in the potential of every young person and is energized by the opportunity to make a lasting difference. AN IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING COMPETENCIES: Demonstrating Accountability: Owns results, meets standards, and responds to feedback professionally. Focusing on Customers: Understands customer needs, communicates clearly, and delivers timely, reliable service. Making Accurate Judgments: Makes timely, well‑reasoned decisions using available info, context, and trade‑offs. Acting with Ethics and Integrity: Acts with integrity, respects confidentiality, and treats people fairly. Adapting to Change: Adjusts quickly and stays effective during change. 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 Provide individual and group counseling using behavior‑modification, reality‑based, and supportive therapeutic approaches. Collaborate with security, education, and clinical staff to develop a full profile of each youth. Represent youth in Reclassification, Code of Conduct, and other classification‑related meetings. Monitor PbS data quarterly and participate in in‑service training; serve as liaison across facility departments. Deliver targeted counseling for a designated dormitory population with significant behavioral and emotional challenges. Initiate, coordinate, and track psychiatric and psychological referrals; distribute clinical reports to relevant departments. Facilitate or co‑facilitate multidisciplinary groups and programs (substance abuse, crisis counseling, Thinking for a Change, pro‑social skills, victim awareness, LAMOD, family groups, regional staffings). Prepare progress reports, closing summaries, and correspondence for courts, probation, parole, and other agencies. Make recommendations for early release, step‑down placement, or transfer to more secure settings when appropriate. Maintain complete and accurate case records, including counseling notes, visitation updates, custody levels, and required documentation for courts and families. Support dormitory operations by assisting the Group Leader with daily routines, youth needs, activities, and informal staff oversight; represent supervisory staff when needed. Perform additional duties as assigned, including Social Services Counselor responsibilities. Position‑Specific Details: Work Location: This vacancy is located at the Acadiana Center for Youth in Bunkie, Louisiana. Appointment Type: Full‑time Probational, Promotional, Detail to Special Duty, or Job Appointment Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Social Service Counselor 1, 2, or 3. The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1 (c) . The Office of Juvenile Justice will receive a list of eligible applicants ONLY from the people who respond to this posting. For Further Information About This Vacancy, Contact: Garilyn London OJJ/ Human Resources Division View email address on click.appcast.io 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. 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. As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program: Insurance Coverage More information can be found at Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave More information can be found at 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): Louiana State Employees Retirement System ( LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana ( Louisiana School Employees Retirement System ( among others 01 Yes No 02 Yes No 03 If 'YES', give the law enforcement authority (city police, sheriff, FBI, etc.), the offense, place and disposition of case. If 'NO', enter N/A. 04 Have you been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt, or implied threats of force, or coercion, or where the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse? 05 If so, when? If "NO", enter N/A. 06 Yes No 07 If so, when? If 'NO', enter N/A. 08 Yes No 09 If so, when? If 'NO', enter N/A. 10 If you have previous employment in a community confinement center, jail, lockup or prison, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) requires Office of Juvenile Justice Human Resources to contact those employers prior to hiring any applicant for information on substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or any resignation during a pending investigation of an allegation of sexual abuse. Do you authorize the Office of Juvenile Justice, to contact any of your prior employers, whether listed on your employment application or not, to ascertain information required by the Prison Rape Elimination Act, Part 115 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations? I understand that prior to any offer of employment by the Office of Juvenile Justice that such information must be obtained. IMPORTANT: I also understand that if I do not authorize such contact, I will not be eligible for employment with the Office of Juvenile Justice. Should I be appointed from this announcement, I also understand that this authorization will remain valid for the duration of my employment with the Office of Juvenile Justice. Questions should be directed to Human Resources as noted in the Supplemental Information section of this job posting. Yes, I understand. You may contact my employers, past or present. No. Do not contact my employers, past or present. 11 Yes No 12 DA - 26: Demonstrating Accountability - How well do you take responsibility for your actions, results, and performance? I avoid responsibility, deliver poor work, and resist feedback. I take ownership when prompted and meet basic expectations. I own results, meet standards, and respond to feedback professionally. I drive high performance, prevent issues, and model accountability. DA - 26: Demonstrating Accountability - 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 - 26: 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 - 26: 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 - 26: 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 - 26: 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr