Job Description

Requisition No: 876788

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAM SPEC - SES - 60006929

Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 60006929

Salary: $42,561.57 - $88,982.08 Annually

Posting Closing Date: 06/04/2026

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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 an Senior Human Services Program Specialist - SES within Patient Advocacy 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:

• The incumbent in this position will serve as the Freedom House Director. The incumbent will be required to have Recovery Peer Specialist certification through the Florida Certification Board or attain certification within (1) year of hire date. The incumbent will serve on various groups and attend trainings and meetings as directed.
• Hire and trains OPS employees in methods for effective and efficient job performance. Plans & schedules workloads to provide the necessary coverage for the Freedom House. Prepares annual budget for the Freedom House, detailing the cost of all groups, hospital wide activities, ward specific activities, and ward government meetings. Maintains all accounting records (purchase orders, supply requisitions) and the weekly inventory of all supplies and the monthly inventory of all Freedom House and Recreation Hall assets. Maintains all inventory records. Inspects Freedom House and Recreation Hall facility and notify authorities of needed repairs.
• Plans and conducts hospital wide activities such as monthly Honors Dance and holiday celebrations. Orders snacks and drink items for all Freedom House conducted activities. Plans and hold the Hospital Wide Resident Government Meetings, maintains the minutes of such meetings and reports all issues and/or concerns raised to the individual Department. Accepts complaints from residents. Resolves or refers to the Resident Advocate for formal filing.
• Models’ personal responsibilities, self-advocacy, and hopefulness through telling one’s personal recovery story and acting as ambassadors of recovery choices. Conducts peer support activities and self-help support groups that promote a sense of community for patients. Meets individually and in groups with individuals that are recommended by the treatment teams and presents discussions on positive life management skills.
• Responsible for planning, organizing, and developing activities/materials to support education and awareness towards wellness planning and assist with connecting individuals with self-help strategies. Attend treatment team meetings as requested. Shares insight to assist treatment teams in development of patient's individualized treatment plans.
• Supports individuals taking an active self-directing role in their recovery process by building and developing rapport through mutual support, active listening and maintaining professional boundaries. Supports individuals with development of tools on how to deal with difficult situations upon discharge, increase communication skills and build hope.
• Provides peer advocacy and technical assistance in the community to include providers, jails, and general population. Provides training when needed to build peer sustainability. Provides information and referrals on substance abuse and mental health services.
• Provides guidance to the managing entity on integration of Department led initiatives (i.e. Recovery Oriented Systems of Care, Child Welfare and Behavioral Health Integration, and Care Coordination) with their service delivery.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of social, economic, rehabilitation or health care service objectives.
• Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
• Ability to develop manuals, policies, procedures, standards and rules.
• Ability to develop methods for monitoring and evaluating quality of service and compliance with rules, policies and statutes.
• Ability to review and evaluate plans and programs.
• Ability to identify improvements and adjustments needed to ensure program effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ability to establish and maintain liaison with other agencies.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to lift, pull, and squat.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is preferred and four years of professional experience in health, social, economic or rehabilitative programs is preferred.
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Professional experience as required above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the preferred college education.

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• A Certified Recovery Peer Specialist Certification.
• Experience in organizing special events and activities.
• A Valid State Issued Driver’s License.

Candidate Profile (application) Requirements:

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Work History - entered with the most recent/current listed first:
• Any and all State of Florida jobs
• Any and all Florida University jobs
• All periods of employment
• Periods of unemployment
• Gaps 3 months or more*
• Education
• Volunteer Experience
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• * Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

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.

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.