SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELOR 1/2/3

State of Louisiana; Westwego (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice seeks a Social Service Counselor for Bridge City Center for Youth in Bridge City, LA. You will provide case management and counseling to support youth emotional and social development in a secure setting.

Ideal candidates bring empathy, clinical insight, and commitment to trauma‑informed, youth-centered care while collaborating with staff and families to coordinate care and plan treatment progress.

Qualifications

• Three years of social services experience or six years full-time experience or a bachelor's degree.
• Certification eligibility for ADRA if providing addictive disorder services.
• Experience substituting hours can count toward six years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop individualized service plans
• Provide individual and group counselling 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 & integrity

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About This Job

Office of Juvenile Justice

Bridge City Center for Youth

3225 River Rd., Bridge City, LA 70094

https://ojj.la.gov/location/bridge-city-center-for-youth-jefferson-parish

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.

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

Job Duties:

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop individualized service plans
• Provide individual and group counselling 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 Bridge City Center for Youth in Bridge City, Louisiana.

Appointment Type: Full-time, Probational

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
[e-mail]

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.

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

Holidays and Leave

• 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

• 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