Independent Living Counselor

About the role

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Job Duties

• Conduct outreach in the community to identify individuals in need of program services.
• Complete a comprehensive assessment of each applicant for services.
• Interpret eye reports to determine the level of visual impairment and to assist with planning appropriate services.
• Determine eligibility for services in collaboration with the client, develop a service plan which includes specific independent living objectives.
• Provide guidance and counseling throughout the case management process.
• Make referrals to agency internal staff for specialized services, to other agency programs, including Vocational Rehabilitation, and to external resources needed for the achievement of planned goals.
• Provide instruction on basic daily living skills tasks both one-on-one and in group settings. Instruction areas include but are not limited to basic adaptive technology, cooking, personal care and communications.
• Manage a budget and ensure expenditure meets policy guidelines.
• Hire and train vendors to serve as Daily Living Skills Instructors.
• Cookordinate in-person or virtual group training.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners in order to best serve clients.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of or experience in case management.
• Knowledge of or experience working with people with disabilities.
• Knowledge of or experience working with a team of professionals to help a client meet a goal.

Benefits

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

Physical Requirements

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. The use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Compensation

Salary Grade Range: $41,655 - $72,897
Recruitment Range: $41,655 - $63,000

About the NC Division of Services for the Blind (DSB)

The Division of Services for the Blind provides services to people who are visually impaired, blind and deaf-blind to help them reach their goals of independence and employment.

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

Contact Information

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov.