BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST - 60004817

Requisition No: 854792 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST - 60004817

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60004817 

Salary:  29,060 

Posting Closing Date: 06/24/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Career Service

Position Title Behavioral Specialist (Doctoral Psychology Intern)

Working Title: Psychology Intern

Announcement Type: Open Competitive

The posting will be used to fill specified vacancies in Career Service

Employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF Salary Policy

This position is specific to Doctoral Psychology Interns who are registered in the national APPIC Match Process. This position is specific to specialized Behavioral Specialist position numbers dedicated for the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee's accredited doctoral psychology internship. These positions have specific qualifications restricting them to persons with Masters Degrees in psychology-related clinical fields who are enrolled in doctoral APA-accredited training programs and who are registered participants in the nationwide internship matching process administered by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). These doctoral psychology INTERN positions provide psychological assessment and treatment under supervision of the designated Internship Director and Psychological Services Director. 

The applicant selected to fill this position shall be required to submit to a pre-employment medical examination. 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.

The employee in this position is a Psychology Intern in an accredited, systematic, defined training program. Duties involve the application of professional psychological knowledge and skills to diverse human needs in the context of intensive supervision by licensed Psychologists

Duties and responsibilities:

• Assesses client functioning as clinically indicated through use of psychological tests, interviews and behavioral observations. Demonstrates sound professional judgment and ethical awareness in selection of assessment tools for diverse population. Administers, scores, and interprets data in accordance with professional standards of science and practice. Integrates assessment data with relevant collateral information. Provides comprehensive written and oral communication about assessment results to client, treatment staff, and other agencies as appropriate
• Plans and implements appropriate psychological interventions applicable to the range of mental health needs in the setting. Establishes and maintains therapeutic relationships with clients, demonstrating sensitivity to human diversity. Integrates knowledge of theory and research with the practical application of group and individual therapy skills and techniques.
• Engages in supervision to facilitate personal clinical effectiveness and to promote professional development. Extends knowledge skills, and abilities through reading clinical literature and attending didactic and experiential training activities. Performs duties in accordance with the Ethical Standards and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association as well as applicable laws and rules governing professional practice
• Works cooperatively with interdisciplinary mental health team to develop, provide, document, and evaluate services in a manner consistent with facility policies and procedures. Provides consultation and education as applicable
• Follows and carries out FSH/Unit/Department Safety Practices, Policies and Procedures
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities, including utilization of equipment, 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

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED :

• Master’s degree in Psychology

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE PREFERRED:

• Documentation of assessment and treatment on the universal national APPIC application

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, OR REGISTRATION REQUIRED :

• None required

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

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment and this includes uncompensated practicum and internship work in the field.
• Account for and explain any 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 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 including:

• No state income tax for residents of Florida;
• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Growth Opportunities:

With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all.  Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government. They are also among the most rewarding. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

About Department of Children and Families:

Mission:  The mission of the Department of Children and Families 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.

Vision:  We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.

Values:  A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve. 

To learn more please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/.

• 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 will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
• The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.
• We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
• Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  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) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: 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 also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, 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. 

Nearest Major Market: Tallahassee

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.