Social Service Counselor 4-A

State of Louisiana; Houma (LA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

SCLHSA seeks a compassionate Social Service Counselor 4-A to supervise the Single Point of Entry for behavioral health services at Terrebonne Behavioral Health Clinic in Houma, LA. You will lead a team of case managers, conduct client screenings, coordinate referrals, and ensure program compliance while guiding service delivery to the community.

This leadership role offers the chance to shape regional behavioral health outcomes in a mission-driven state agency, with precedence on quality care

Qualifications

• Six years of social services experience; OR Six years of full-time experience in any field plus three years of social services experience; OR A bachelor's degree plus three years of social services experience; OR An advanced degree in a social sciences field plus two years of social services experience.
• 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.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead worker, requiring advanced clinical skills, decision-making authority, and direct supervision of case managers who will be working in this program.
• Be responsible for screening clients who require behavioral health services to assess the need for referrals to outside agencies for additional resources and for services that are provided in our behavioral health centers.

Skills

Accepting Direction

Making Accurate Judgments

Managing Programs

Education

Bachelor's degree + three years social services

Advanced degree in social sciences + two years

Job description

About This Job

Helping people, changing lives through education, prevention, intervention, and treatment in an effort to enhance quality of life. Join a dedicated team committed to improving lives across South Central Louisiana. SCLHSA is seeking a compassionate and experienced Social Service Counselor 4-A to provide supervision and leadership for SCLHSA's Single Point of Entry (SPOE) for behavioral health services. This leadership-level role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact while working in a supportive, mission-driven environment. If you're ready to take the next step in your career and help shape the future of human services in our region, we want to hear from you.

Competencies

• Accepting Direction: The ability to accept and follow guidance or instructions.
• Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.
• Managing Programs: The ability to plan, execute, monitor, and evaluate programs to achieve strategic objectives and long-term outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications

Six years of social services experience; OR Six years of full-time experience in any field plus three years of social services experience; OR A bachelor's degree plus three years of social services experience; OR An advanced degree in a social sciences field plus two years of social services experience.

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

• Serve as the lead worker, requiring advanced clinical skills, decision-making authority, and direct supervision of case managers who will be working in this program.
• Be responsible for screening clients who require behavioral health services to assess the need for referrals to outside agencies for additional resources and for services that are provided in our behavioral health centers.

Position-Specific Details

Location: This position is located at SCLHSA's Terrebonne Behavioral Health Clinic, located in Houma, LA.

Appointment Type: This vacancy is being announced as a Classified Position and will be filled as a Job Appointment that may transfer into a Probationary Appointment at a future date.

Compensation: The actual starting salary depends on the education and experience of the selected applicant.

Contact Information

Shelby Hidalgo

HR Director

[e-mail]

985-857-3743

Benefits and Opportunities

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

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

• 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

Competency Assessment Prompts

ADi: Accepting Direction - How well do you accept guidance, follow instructions, and adjust when given feedback?

• I resist direction, ignore feedback, and need reminders to complete tasks.
• I follow direction with reminders and often need clarification or support.
• I follow direction reliably, adjust to feedback, and complete tasks on time.
• I adapt quickly, follow through, and help others adjust as needed.

ADi: Accepting Direction - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

MAJ: Making Accurate Judgments - How do you make decisions when faced with choices, risks, or limited information?

• I make reactive or delayed decisions and sometimes overlook risks, priorities, or potential bias.
• I try to weigh options but struggle when there’s uncertainty, competing priorities, or unclear outcomes.
• I make timely, well-reasoned decisions by using available information, context, and trade-offs.
• I make sound decisions in complex situations, lead others through ambiguity, and adapt as new information emerges.

MAJ: Making Accurate Judgments - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

MPg: Managing Programs - How well do you plan, run, and improve programs to achieve long-term goals?

• I struggle to connect program work to goals, manage resources, involve stakeholders, or track outcomes.
• I manage parts of programs with support, but I don’t always communicate clearly or use data consistently.
• I develop clear program plans, shift resources as needed, coordinate with stakeholders, manage risks, and use data to improve results.
• I lead long‑term planning, build cross-team trust, use data and evaluation to innovate, and communicate strategically to keep programs aligned with big‑picture goals.

MPg: Managing Programs - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.