REGIONAL COMMUNITY FORENSIC LIAISON - 60011096

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.

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

THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION.  CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK IN THE FORT LAUDERDALE REGIONAL OFFICE.

ANTICIPATED VACANCY.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Regional Community Forensic Liaison within Forensic and Civil 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 that  provides regional oversight of the Department’s community-based system of care for persons committed, or at risk of commitment, under Chapter 916, Florida Statutes.  This position serves as a regional liaison to circuit courts, the criminal justice and mental health partners, community mental health providers, managing entities, regional counsel and state mental health treatment facilities serving individuals with mental illnesses committed or at risk of being committed pursuant to Chapter 916, Florida Statutes.  The position focuses on expanding Florida’s capacity and ability to serve individuals involved in both the mental health system and the criminal justice system who may have otherwise been traditionally served in a secure facility.  This position provides education and training on forensic statutes and rules, the forensic system of care, best practices, evidence-based practices, community-based services, diversion opportunities, mental illness and other pertinent areas related to least restrictive community treatment.  This position must also participate in program development and assessment, data analysis, community liaison, verbal presentations and quality projects.  This position works with the State Community Forensic Liaison as well as other Department staff to ensure that the goals and objectives of the team’s strategy are monitored and obtained.  This work requires the use of independent judgement and initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities.
• Provide technical assistance to circuit liaisons, forensic case managers, managing entities, court and jail staff, criminal justice partners, and treatment facility staff.
• Coordinate presentations and training sessions.  Provide training and education to community partners including judges, attorneys and staff of circuit courts, DCF region and facility staff, managing entity staff, forensic evaluators, and educators on the complex issues and needs facing individuals involved in the forensic system as well as education about diversion best practices
• Work with region stakeholders and managing entity to identify trends and performance improvement opportunities regarding diversions, conditional release and continuity of care.
• Identify systematic barriers impairing opportunities for individuals at risk for commitment.
• Assist circuit courts with cases involving individuals with mental illnesses committed or at risk of being committed pursuant to Chapter 916, Florida Statutes.
• Ensure continuity and maintain close working relationships with the community service providers, State Attorneys, Public Defenders, Circuit Judges, jails, local law enforcement, forensic evaluators, state mental health treatment facilities and managing entities to best navigate the system.
• Collect, compile, verify and enter regional data into data systems and run adhoc reports.  Interprets data, develops written reports for leadership and recommends improvement opportunities/strategies.
• Assist with the development of standards, policies and procedures, correspondence and other written documents or reports
• Using multi-media techniques and innovative technology to deliver training and technical assistance virtually.
• Research best practices for potential implementation to improve outcomes for forensic individuals
• Performs other duties as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of basic management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
• Ability to coordinate a consultative program designed to ensure the resolution of managerial and operational problems.
• Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to assess budgetary needs.
• Ability to formulate policies and procedures.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities.
• Ability to organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials.
• Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document work and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices.
• Ability to conduct fact finding research.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from a college or university in the related field of psychology, social work, or criminal justice is preferred and four years of criminal justice experience.
• A master's degree from a college or university in the above referenced related fields can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Professional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the preferred college education.

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• Previous management/project oversight experience, with experience overseeing multiple tasks/priorities.
• Experience providing training and technical assistance to individuals, agencies, communities and/or counties entities.
• Experience with meeting planning/facilitation and use of innovative media/technology.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills, experience with technical writing for professional audiences.
• Experience in mental health treatment, particularly as related to justice-involved populations.

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 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.

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