SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 1-3-DDS

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Hammond, LA

Job Type

Promotion

Job Number

224757-SSC1-3-DDS

Department

LDH-Florida Parishes Human Services Authority

Opening Date

08/13/2026

Closing Date

8/18/2026 11:59 PM Central

About this Job

We believe that our individual differences are our strength, and they form the foundation that allows our agency to empower individuals to experience a greater quality of life.

Our agency’s vision is that all people will be empowered to lead meaningful and productive lives among friends, relatives, and neighbors, regardless of behavioral health needs or developmental disabilities. We have been lighting the path forward into recovery by providing person-centered services to adults and children who meet the treatment criteria for substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, and/or mental health.

Join our team at Florida Parishes Human Services Authority as a Social Service Counselor 1,2, or 3 in our Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) division. This position is promotional and is only open to current, permanent employees of FPHSA. We are seeking a compassionate, detail-oriented professional with strong knowledge of developmental disabilities services, waiver programs, and community resources.

An ideal candidate will possess the following competencies:

• Demonstrating Accountability: The ability to take ownership of actions, behaviors, performance, decisions, and outcomes.
• 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.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website.

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 and Other Information

Job Duties:

• Receives and responds to inquiries from individuals, families, and referring agencies regarding Developmental Disabilities (DD) services and available supports.
• Assesses individual needs and circumstances to recommend appropriate services, including intake appointments, eligibility redeterminations, or referrals for immediate assistance.
• Obtains, reviews, and prepares documentation and information necessary to support DD eligibility determinations and service decisions.
• Coordinates and manages intake caseloads, including scheduling appointments, preparing records, maintaining appointment information, and ensuring timely completion of required processes.
• Maintains accurate participant information in the OCDD Data System, including appointment updates, closures, Statements of Approval, and Screening for Urgency of Need (SUN) requests.
• Communicates with individuals, families, Support Coordinators, and agency staff to facilitate appointments, follow-up services, and continuity of care.
• Coordinates participant discharges and transfers between regions, including service coordination, record transfers, system updates, and recommendations for ongoing service needs.
• Responds to agency requests for current Statements of Approval and provides appropriate referrals and assistance to support continued DD, EPSDT Medicaid, Resource Center, and other services.

Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Promotional Only. This position is only open to current, permanent employees of FPHSA.
Career Progression: This position will be filled as either aSocial Service Counselor 1, 2, or 3
Compensation: The salary range for the position is below.

• Social Service Counselor 1: $16.06/hour minimum - $28.90/hour maximum
• Social Service Counselor 2: $17.18/hour minimum - $30.92/hour maximum
• Social Service Counselor 3: $19.67/hour minimum - $35.40/hour maximum

Salary may be negotiable depending on the chosen applicant’s level of experience. Note regarding the advertised pay range: The maximum amount listed is the maximum salary a person can make while in this title and NOTthe maximum amount we are allowed to pay a new hire.
Location: Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) housed in Hammond, Louisiana.

How To Apply:

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

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their applications 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.

• Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

For further information on this vacancy, please contact:

Emily Barthelemy

HR Analyst C

Florida Parishes Human Services Authority

835 Pride Drive, Suite B

Hammond, LA 70401

[email protected]

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

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 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