Social Counselor 2 08242026

Position Information- Social Counselor 2

CHANT Program

Position Details:

• The pay for this position is between $3,631.00 to $5,434.00 per month, or $22.34 to $33.44 per hour, depending on experience. This is based on any qualifying experience relevant to this position per the minimum requirements,  and the final salary will be determined by the state Human Resources director once you have been selected and will be disclosed at the time of the job offer.

 

• This is a 100% on-site and full-time County position.

 

• Your immediate supervisor will be Whitney Cook, the Social Counselor Supervisor for the health departments in Wilson County and Trousdale County.

 

• 1 sick leave and 1 annual leave day per month.

 

• Office hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Fridays (we work 37.5 hours per week).

 

• Lunch time is 1 hour, with two 15-minute breaks in the day (1 in the morning before lunch, the other in the afternoon after lunch, they can’t be combined).

 

• No overtime required unless there is a national pandemic or disaster, then as a public health entity, we must respond and help as needed (as we did with the pandemic). Any work past hours, during weekends, or holidays have to be approved by Whitney.

 

• For community events, you might be called to work during work hours off-site and will work with co-workers from other programs.

 

• Regular travel is part of the job duties to homes for home visits, to Trousdale County to work there as needed, and  for work-related training or events like the new employee orientation.

 

• Work related mileage (to the regional office, to other health departments, or conferences) will be reimbursed, not every day commute from home to work.

 

• Insurance and benefits are from the county, and Wilson County HR can help to answer any and all questions you might have. Their number is Show phone number (Bethany, HR Assistant) and Show phone number (Qiana, HR Director).

2026 State Holidays

The following Tennessee State Government office closures have been approved for 2026:

 

• Thursday, January 1, 2026, and Friday, January 2, 2026 –  New Year’s Day** 
• Monday, January 19 –  Martin Luther King Jr. Day 
• Monday, February 16 –  President’s Day 
• Friday, April 3 –  Good Friday 
• Monday, May 25 –  Memorial Day 
• Friday, June 19 –  Juneteenth 
• Friday, July 3 –  Independence Day 
• Monday, September 7 –  Labor Day 
• Wednesday, November 11 –  Veterans Day 
• Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27 –  Thanksgiving* 
• Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25 –  Christmas** 
• Thursday, December 31, 2026, and Friday, January 1, 2027 –  New Year’s Day 

*Following Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-4-105(a)(3), the Governor has designated that the Columbus Day holiday shall be substituted for the Friday after Thanksgiving.

**The Governor approved an added day of State office closure in addition to the official State holiday. 

We follow all state holidays, not county holidays, and in the event of inclement weather, the county mayor is the only authorized person to close our health department or to adjust our hours of operation.

 

Wilson and Trousdale County Health Departments

Social Counselor 2- County Position

 

Job Description and Overview:
Under general supervision, is responsible for professional social counseling work and/or service coordination of average difficulty; and performs related work as required by department.
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.
Minimum 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.
Other Requirements
Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class may be required to: Possess a valid driver’s license if driving is an essential function of the position; Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority; Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority; Supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records check; Submit to a review of their status on the Department of Health’s vulnerable persons registry.
Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.
Work Activities
Getting Information: Investigates and/or reports abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults and/or children who are mentally or physically impaired, or incapable of self-care due to disability or age to determine if there is a need for protective services. Conducts pre-assessment/developmental screening to determine needs, strengths, and/or level of risk for client. Asks client, family members, neighbors, alleged perpetrators, or other involved parties questions that relate to the allegations in order to gather case information and determine causes of current situation as appropriate for specific agency functions.
Asks clients/caregivers open-ended questions about client’s health, living arrangements, financial stability, family involvement, needs, strengths and other risk factors. Interviews individual making initial referral and/or interviewing family with concerns regarding their child.
Requests relevant documentation such as educational, medical, psychiatric, criminal, and financial records, as needed, to assess needs and risks of clients. .
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Identifies potential risk factors such as unsanitary living conditions, lack of utilities, any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation or self-neglect in the client’s home environment, as appropriate, for specific agency functions.
Conducts regular home visits/targeted case management to monitor progress of the service plan/client status. Identifies each form of maltreatment or needs of the client alleged in the referral as appropriate for specific agency functions. Identifies developmental risk factors that would inhibit a child from future educational growth, as appropriate, for specific agency functions.
Reviews relevant documentation such as educational, medical, psychiatric, criminal, and financial records, as needed, to assess needs and risks of clients. Communicating with Persons
Outside the Organization: Refers and/or coordinates services for clients which may reduce client risk, increase autonomy and/or demonstrate educational progress. Responds to clients, collaterals, stakeholders, or caregivers according to department policy.
Responds to professional or public casework inquiries through telephone calls, e-mails, letters, and face-to-face visits. Testifies or provides necessary documents in legal proceedings. Gives presentations for public awareness and/or child find activities, as appropriate, for agency functions.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Evaluates case information according to agency guidelines. Ensures client confidentiality is maintained according to agency policy. Determines the validity of referral based on analysis of all collected information, as appropriate, for specific agency function. Completes entrance and exit assessment according to agency standards.
Compares information from referral source with agency guidelines to determine if other agencies should be contacted or if the referral meets criteria for further assessment.
Documenting/Recording Information: Records in client files and computer databases the services implemented, observations made during home visits, changes that occurred related to progress noted or reduced risk, and the level of function/protection achieved for each client. Records information regarding client-oriented contacts including the date, method, purpose and outcome of the contact, and the level of client progress in meeting the goals or objectives in the service plan. Maintains a copy of all relevant records and service plans for clients.
Analyzing Data or Information: Analyzes and reviews all information gathered about the client situation to prioritize risk and implement appropriate plan per agency standards. Collects and analyzes data from standardized evaluation tools to determine if client meets agency eligibility guidelines.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Implements a service plan that identifies goals for addressing needs or concerns of the clients. Coordinates delivery of services for individual needs of clients. Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Prioritizes needs or concerns of the client/ family (i.e. electricity, food, medical, educational, etc.). Coordinates and conducts meetings with appropriate personnel to develop a safety and/or transition plan for clients as appropriate for agency standards.
Developing Objectives and Strategies: Develops a service plan to address the needs of the clients who are victims of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation and/or children with special needs. Scheduling
Work and Activities: Schedules all necessary activities within agency timelines to meet policy objectives.
Developing and Building Teams: Brainstorms solutions for concerns and/or priorities as related to the client by participating as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Discusses situations with the client, family members, caregivers, collaterals and/or stakeholders to decide what resources or actions are needed to reduce risk, facilitate change and/or demonstrate educational progress.
Controlling Machines and Processes: Uses appropriate audio-visual equipment, as needed, to assess and/or implement client services.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Drives vehicle to conduct agency business.
Training and Teaching Others: Educates government departments, local regional agencies, law enforcement, nursing home staff, and the general public about agency programs.

Wilson County, Tennessee, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.