Title: HEALTH COUNSELOR

State Role Title: COUNSELOR II

Hiring Range: $45,000-$57,573

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: PORTSMOUTH -TW

Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/portsmouth/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Responsible for independently identifying and contacting persons known or suspected
of being exposed to or at high risk of exposure to a communicable disease such as
tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and others. Duties include alerting persons
to their health risks, behavior changes needed to reduce risks to the individual or to
others, resources and methods available to treat and control the disease as well as to
contain further transmission of disease. Follows up on contacts to determine if they
have received treatment, changed their behavior to reduce health risk, and procured
other available services as necessary to insure improved health care.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of and/or experience in public health practices, HIV, STIs (e.g.,
chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), HBV/HCV, and other communicable diseases;
experience performing phlebotomy
• Effective oral and written communication, organizational and decision making
skills
• Ability to listen, understand and empathize in a culturally sensitive manner,
and use motivational skills to build rapport with clients and engagement in
disease intervention services; ability to work with diverse populations in
diverse settings; develop and make presentations
• Ability to recognize, analyze and solve problems; perform basic mathematical
calculations; conduct accurate data entry; maintain confidentiality; comply
with program and data security policies and procedures; and work
independently during various hours and settings (e.g., field, non-clinical and
clinical, office)
• Experience working under pressure (e.g., meeting deadlines, managing
competing priorities)
• Possess skill or knowledge of case management; basic computer
knowledge/skills, including word processing, electronic mail and data base
management
• Effective oral and written communication; organizational; and decision making
skills; bilingual skills are beneficial

Additional Considerations

Experience working in a social service, public health, or healthcare environment.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

“Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.
VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.
It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening
Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.
As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!
Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.”

Contact Information

Name: TANYA WEAVER

Phone: 757-393-8585

Email: Tanya.Weaver@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.