SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 1/2/3

State of Louisiana; Lafayette (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice, Lafayette Regional Office in Lafayette, Louisiana, seeks a Social Service Counselor to provide direct counseling and case management for youth in secure care. You will conduct psychosocial assessments, develop service plans, and collaborate with staff, families, and external providers to coordinate care.

Ideal candidates bring trauma-informed, youth-centered approaches, strong ethics, and accountability.

Qualifications

• Three years of social services experience; OR six years of full-time experience in any field; OR a bachelor's degree.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop individualized service plans
• Provide individual and group counseling using evidence-based approaches
• Collaborate with facility staff, families, and external providers to coordinate care
• Monitor youth progress and adjust interventions to meet evolving needs
• Maintain accurate documentation of services, treatment goals, and case notes
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to case planning
• Advocate for youth needs and support their transition to community-based services

Skills

Accountability

Customer focus

Judgment

Ethics and Integrity

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Office of Juvenile Justice

Lafayette Regional Office

130 Chappuis DR., Lafayette, LA 70501

https://ojj.la.gov/location/lafayette-region

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: 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.
• Acting with Ethics and Integrity: The ability to make choices that reflect ethical standards, integrity, and honesty, regardless of circumstances or personal benefit.
• Adapting to Change: The ability to demonstrate flexibility in thoughts, behaviors, and actions in response to evolving circumstances or unexpected change.

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.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop individualized service plans
• Provide individual and group counseling using evidence-based approaches
• Collaborate with facility staff, families, and external providers to coordinate care
• Monitor youth progress and adjust interventions to meet evolving needs
• Maintain accurate documentation of services, treatment goals, and case notes
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to case planning
• Advocate for youth needs and support their transition to community-based services

Position-Specific Details:

Work Location: This vacancy is located at the Lafayette Regional Office in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Appointment Type: Full-time, Probational

Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Social Service Counselor 1, 2, or 3.

Requirements: 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).

Garilyn London

OJJ/ Human Resources

[e-mail]

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.