PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR-FC - 60007666

Requisition No: 795508 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR-FC - 60007666

Position Number: 60007666 

Salary:  $3,423.28 Bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 12/31/2024 

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.

North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center (NFETC) is a 216 bed, all male, forensic, mental health rehabilitation facility. The Center is located in northeast Gainesville, Florida on 639 picturesque acres with regular sightings of deer, turkey and other wildlife. NFETC employs a variety of entry level to leadership positions including food service, maintenance, direct care, nurses, counselors, rehab therapists, medical doctors, security, psychiatrists, and psychologists.

NORTH FLORIDA EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FACILITY 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 that will serve as Psychological Services Director F/C at NFETC. This position will collaborate with each section within the state facilities and be required to use independent judgement, take initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities and should be extraordinarily detail oriented. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Serves as Lead or Department head. Directly supervises psychology staff in administrative and clinical issues. Responsible to complete all required documentation as it relates to evaluations, coaching and supervision of staff within established guidelines. Actively work to increase skill level of supervised staff. Coordinates inside and outside consults, liaison with University of Florida Psychology departments, represents psychology on the Clinical Executive Team and Quality Management Committee. Participates on the Intensive Service Team committee and leads psychology department meetings. Develops or coordinates departmental initiatives regarding staff training, applied research, and program development. Develops operating procedures for department and monitors quality control.
• Will maintain clinical case load not to exceed half of the typical caseload carried by Sr. psychologists. Produces an Initial Psychological Evaluation on assign residents that include a record review and assessment of cognitive functioning, trauma assessment, suicide risk factors, trauma risk factors, violence risk factors, malingering, and competency. The strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences of persons served will be addressed. Competency results will be entered in resident system database at 30 days and responsible for updating logs. Produces an Annual Psychological Evaluation on assigned residents.
• Reviews treatment progress of persons served with the Recovery Treatment Team at prescribed intervals for selected residents. Consult with the Recovery Team, as needed, in the formulation of diagnosis, needed psychological assessment, and recovery plan. Address consultations requests from psychiatry for assigned residents. Serves on at least one committee as assigned by the Lead Psychiatrist or the Medical Executive Director.
• Provides clinical supervision to graduate students. Establishing students' volunteer status and ensuring they get mandatory facility training. Establishes and maintains a psychometric test bank/data bank and conducts indicated applied clinical research. Annual review of assessments in Psychology clinic to ensure appropriateness and assess inventory. Researches current literature and disseminates appropriate and timely information to professional staff.
• Provides agency personnel with information relating to general and clinical aspects of psychology and the use of psychologists in the treatment and/or rehabilitation process. Works with all staff to effectively utilize psychological services, where these are appropriate, and to enhance the treatment and/or rehabilitation process. Available as a consultant to training personnel on in-service training programs and opportunities for professional development of staff in areas relating to psychology and conducts in-service programs.
• Performs other related work duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the theories and principles of psychology.
• Knowledge of psychological testing principles and practices.
• Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing, analyzing and interpreting data.
• Knowledge of program planning and evaluation.
• Knowledge of supervision and management.
• Knowledge of administrative principles and practices.
• Knowledge of problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations policies and procedures.
• Ability to develop policies, procedures and standards.
• Ability to analyze and interpret psychological data.
• Ability to provide consultation, advice and training to others.
• Ability to formulate and implement goals and objectives.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to manage a hospital psychological services program.
• Ability to assess budgetary needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensure as a Psychologist in accordance with Florida Statute 490 and one year of professional psychology experience post licensure.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance; $25,000 policy is free plus option to purchase additional life insurance
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurance
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
  • (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Opportunities for career advancement
• Tuition waiver for public college courses

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.

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.