SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 60006217

Requisition No: 864828 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 60006217

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60006217 

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

Posting Closing Date: 11/20/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

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 ADVERTISEMENT WILL BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS ON CIVIL AND FORENSIC UNITS.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as a Social Services Counselor 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 is a professional position in the Office of Social Services at Florida State Hospital providing aftercare discharge planning guidance and consultation with Recovery Team members, Florida State Hospital, court systems, mental health centers, other agencies, and Department of Children and Families Continuity of Care Management System.
• Maintains appropriate cooperative relationships with other disciplines, including, but not limited to, working closely with Social Services Management Team, Hospital Legal, Social Services staff, Civil and Forensic Liaisons, Benefits Coordinator, SVPP Coordinator, court systems, mental health centers, other agencies (including Agency for Persons with Disabilities), and Department of Children and Families Continuity of Care Management System to ensure the development of appropriate discharge planning/aftercare of residents state-wide while promoting the practice of cooperative team work in the work place.
• Ensures chosen discharge facilities meet licensure requirements according to AHCA standards.
• Coordinates discharges by scheduling all aftercare appointments to promote continuity of care.
• Assists with securing identification documents including taking to local driver's license office to have identification cards made.  Completes requests for funding to payment of identification cards.
• Transports residents to discharge facility.  Reviews discharge summary with resident and facility representative.  Completes all required discharge paperwork by obtaining signatures and completes satisfaction surveys with residents.  Completes post discharge surveys to ensure continuity of care.
• Functions as the Civil and Forensic Liaisons between Florida State Hospital and the court system, mental health centers, other agencies (including Agency for Persons with Disabilities), and Department of Children and Families Continuity of Care Management System.
• Provides consultation/coordination services related to the conditional release process and other social services policy and procedure relative to Civil and Forensic Services during New Employee Orientation and as assigned.   Provides consultation/coordination of services related to standards through recruitment, screening, evaluation, orientation, and monitoring, and hiring interviews (at unit's request). Monitors completion of training module.
• Communicates information to Office of Social Services staff as indicated by job description and duties.
• Utilizes social work knowledge and skills to assist unit social service staff in expediting "stat" discharges as indicated or assigned by supervisor.
• Develops and maintains a thorough working knowledge of facility, circuit and department rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Position may maintain a caseload in a unit in the event of need.  This will require that the position provide 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 on monthly contact with case management and interact 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. 
• If carrying a caseload, the position will complete 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 Rehabilitative Facilities, Performance Improvement and Planning, and Florida State Hospital Operating Procedures. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of counseling techniques and practices.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work, nursing, education or counseling.
• Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
• Ability to develop treatment or rehabilitation programs.
• Ability to develop guidelines and procedures for the delivery of social services.
• Ability to develop and present staff development and training programs.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to follow through on all phases of the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of clients.
• Ability to provide casework services to clients.
• Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, education or nursing and three years of professional experience in providing social work, health education, nursing or counseling services; or
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, education or nursing and two years of professional experience as described above.

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• Experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Experience in completing psychosocial assessments, progress notes, objective writing, intake interviews, leading groups and conducting individual counseling sessions.
• Experience working with individuals diagnosed with mental illness.
• Experience working with the geriatric populations.

Salary commensurate with experience.

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

• Include the supervisor 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 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: 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.