About Job

Requisition No: 860373

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: INDEPENDENT LIVING/CHILDREN'S PROGRAM COUNSELOR - 48006369

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 48006369

Salary: $21.63 to $23.80 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 10/05/2025

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Florida Department of Education

Division of Blind Services

Bureau of Client Services and Program Support

Location: District 9/Ft. Myers or Palmetto (Lee or Manatee County)

Position Title: Independent Living/Children's Program Counselor (OPS)

Salary Range: $21.63 to $23.80 hourly

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY

This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:

- Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
- Any position held by a Florida University
- All periods of employment from high school graduation
- All periods of current or prior unemployment
- Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
- Any Education
- Any Volunteer Experience
- Your resume and application must match
- Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.

Hiring Information and Requirements:

The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only. If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

OFFICE CONTACT:

Leigh Ann Bellamy, District Administrator

Phone: 239-278-7130

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This position is located in the Division of Blind Services, in the District 9 Office. This position will be located in either Ft. Myers or Manatee county. In conjunction with the community resource providers (CRPs), the Independent Living/Children's Program Counselor is required to perform casework, process invoices and/or assist with instructional duties for rehabilitation clients to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to manage their daily lives and achieve self-confidence and self-sufficiency. The incumbent will provide parent education and information on referral services and advocacy to visually impaired children and families. The incumbent will coordinate with public school vision programs and parent groups, participate in planning and evaluating the provision of services and adaptive skills instruction needed to maximize independent living in the areas of personal management, household management, communication, orientation & mobility (indoor), leisure activities, use of low vision devices, problem solve, and utilize available resources.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

Conduct client intake.
Assess client's resources.
Perform follow-up and maintain client contract through telephone calls and home visits.
Interview, counsel and evaluate clients to determine individual therapeutic activity needs.
Consult with other professionals and team members concerning recommended programs.
Prepare reports on client's progress and their reactions to various activities.
Evaluate rehabilitation therapy programs and make recommendations for adjustment and revisions.
Conduct in-depth interviews with a diverse group of blind and visually impaired clients to determine their eligibility for rehablitation services and the feasibility for achieving vocational independent living or educational goal.
Determine existing problems and evaluate individual needs for achieving independence in daily living, acquiring communication skills and/or obtaining suitable employment.
Develop community contracts for employment opportunities, similar benefits and socialization.
Assist on the establishment of policies, standards, rules, regulation and guidelines for program planning.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Knowledge of social, economic, rehabilitative or health care services, administration or planning techniques.
Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
Ability to develop program manuals, policies, procedures, standards and rules.
Ability to analyze the effectiveness of service programs and identify resources or adjustments needed to meet needs.
Ability to conduct research studies.
Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

The ideal incumbent must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The incumbent must interact courteously with others. The performance and behavior of all employees must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit. Attendance is an essential function.

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES:

Performs other duties as requested.
Some travel is required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study reasonably related to vocational rehabilitation, to indicate a level of competency and skill demonstrating basic preparation in a field of study such as vocational rehabilitation counseling; or
Four years of professional and relevant experience in a public voc.ational rehabilitation program. Preference will be given to those with a bachelor’s degree.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preference will be given to candidates with:

- A bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Three (3) to five (5) years’ experience in a public vocational rehabilitation program.
- An ability to establish and maintain education and experience requirements to ensure an understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities.
- Knowledge of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
- A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation; or who is eligible to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).
- A Certified Community Work Incentives Counselor (CWIC) designation.

DIVISION OF BLIND SERVICES MISSION STATEMENT:

The Division of Blind Services ensure blind and visually impaired Floridians have the tools, support and opportunities to achieve success. In partnership with others, we create a barrier-free environment in the lives of Floridians with visual disabilities. The Florida Division of Blind Services helps blind and visually impaired individuals achieve their goals and live their lives with as much independence and self-direction as possible. The Division serves thousands of Floridians through its plethora of programs and services. District and Satellite Offices located throughout the state, as well as the Career, Technology and Training Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CTTC), and the Braille and Talking Books Library. The Division of Blind Servies has become a national model in education, employment and other services that foster independence for blind and visually impaired Floridians.

FLDOE: Division of Blind Services

We care about the success of our employees.

We care about the success of our clients.

We are always improving our technology, our tools, our customers’ experiences and ourselves.

We offer rewarding experiences for reliable, compassionate and professional employees.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT:

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct the required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT:

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or 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. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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.