Job Description

Requisition No: 848133 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST - 60006379

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60006379 

Salary: $2,232.34 - $2,2349.83 bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 04/22/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator 

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)  is   the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders .

Florida State Hospital (FSH) is a mental health treatment facility owned and operated by the State of Florida and is part of the Department of Children and Families. The department’s mission is to “work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.”

FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS.

This is a highly responsible and professional position that will serve as a Behavioral Specialist. T his position will collaborate with each section within the state facilities and be required to use independent judgement, take initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities and should be extraordinarily detail oriented.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• This position requires lifting, pulling and squatting. Duties of this position require the incumbent to be knowledgeable of utilize the principles of Total Quality Management. This is professional work in the performance of Clinical Psychological Services including treatment, research, and consultation with unit treatment staff. The position provides masters level psychotherapeutic and psychodiagnostics services as directed to residents in in the facility under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Conducts individual psychotherapy, group therapy and behavior programs where indicated.
• Performs intake interviews and reviews collateral data in order to make diagnoses, to assess residents' level of mental and behavioral functioning, and to make treatment recommendations.
• Performs clinical/legal evaluations as required by committing courts, combining data from observation, interviews, assessments, and consultations to produce comprehensive written reports.
• Administers and interprets comprehensive diagnostic test batteries in order to assess the resident's current level of functioning and potential for improvement.
• Conducts individual crisis intervention, consulting with both professional and non-professional staff members regarding behavioral problems of residents. Prepares clinical summaries on residents and participates in general staff conferences.
• Follows and carries out FSH/Unit/Department Safety Practices, Policies and Procedures.
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the theories and principles of clinical, counseling or behavioral psychology.
• Knowledge of psychological testing principles and practices.
• Ability to administer and interpret psychological tests.
• Ability to prepare psychological reports.
• Ability to analyze and interpret psychological data.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in counseling or psychology; or
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in counseling or psychology; LMHC, MFT, or LCSW.

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in counseling or clinical psychology.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance; $25,000 policy is free plus option to purchase additional life insurance
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurance
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
  • (For more information, please click );
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Opportunities for career advancement
• Tuition waiver for public college courses

For a more complete list of benefits, visit  .

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT   Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION  All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire . For more information, please visit the SSS website:  .

RETIREE NOTICE  If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING  It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement. 

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