Job Description

Requisition No: 869455

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR III - 60006899

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60006899

Salary: $35,000.16 - $50,820.12/Annually

Posting Closing Date: 02/16/2026

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The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) isthe 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 is a highly responsible and professional position serving as a Human Services Counselor III within Program Services. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• This position requires lifting, pulling, and squatting. Duties of this position require the incumbent to be knowledgeable of and utilize the principles of Total Quality Management.
• This is a professional position responsible for providing social services, counseling guidance, and discharge planning (i.e., identifying alternative living environments, securing financial benefits, identifying barriers to discharge, etc.) with individuals with acute or chronic mental disabilities, who are emotionally disturbed, indigent, or assigned a legal status of civil and ex-forensic.
• Participates in monthly conference calls with case management and interacts with Community Case Managers and Forensic Specialists during case management visits to maintain effective working relationships, and to develop Discharge Plans and Conditional Release Plans.
• Completes all necessary social services progress notes and assessments to include Comprehensive Psychosocial summaries, Baker Act Summaries, Advance Directive documents, and other documents associated with discharge planning in a timely manner, ensuring that Quality Assurance requirements are met, and Continuity of Care plans for residents being discharged are arranged. Represents the unit and social services department at legal hearings (if applicable). Maintains assessments in compliance with Department of Children and Families, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabiltive Facilities, Performance Improvement and Planning, and Florida State Hospital Operating Procedures.
• Is sensitive to cultural diversity issues and maintains effective, professional therapeutic relationships with individuals with acute and/or chronic mental deficiencies. Upon admission, establishes rapport (connects) with resident, recognizing the person's individualized need of care and treatment consistent with age and ethnicity. Provides counseling and guidance services to residents and families experiencing adjustment problems.
• Participates in assessment, planning and treatment regarding psychosocial stressors which affect mental illness and mental health. Provides counseling and therapeutic sessions in accordance with individuals’ recovery plan objectives and needs.
• Consistently attends and represents clinical needs of individuals during Recovery Team meetings, and while interacting with external statewide systems on behalf of the individual.
• Provides ongoing information for residents and their representatives regarding resident's rights (i.e., right to dignity, right to vote in public elections, the right to confidentiality, the right to participate in recovery team and discharge planning, the privilege to have more personalized clothing and bedroom surrounding), quality treatment and rehabilitation by means of telephone, written
• correspondence, direct information exchange, access to funds, the chance to go on trips for socialization skills, and to view possible discharge environments.
• Attends in service training, reviews policies, and/or continued education programs to enhance job knowledge.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of theories and practices in counseling or social work.
• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to counseling or social work.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Ability to provide counseling or social work services to others.
• Ability to coordinate a team approach to the rehabilitation process.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to actively listen to others.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's of Social Work or related degree from an accredited college or university and two years of professional experience in developmental disabilities, special education, mental health, counseling, guidance, social work, health or rehabilitative programs.
• A master's degree can substitute for one year of the required experience.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety:

• Include the supervisor’s names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities, as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of responding to qualifying questions and entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENTOnly 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: http://www.sss.gov

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.

#SAMH

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.