SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR

SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 60006115

Date: Mar 24, 2026

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website .

Requisition No: 870788

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 60006115

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60006115

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

Posting Closing Date: 03/29/2026

Total Compensation Estimator

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 responsible for providing social services, counseling guidance, and discharge planning (i.e., identifying alternative living environments, securing financial benefits, identifying barriers to discharge, making referrals to less restrictive environments and community resources, etc.) with individuals with acute or chronic mental disabilities, who are emotionally disturbed, indigent, or assigned a legal status of civil and forensic step-down.
• Maintains monthly contact with case management and interacts 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.    
• Completes 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 (as applicable).
• Maintains assessments in compliance with Department of Children and Families, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities, Quality Improvement and Planning, and Florida State Hospital Operating Procedures and Manuals. (This measure is met while maintaining a level of sensitivity towards cultural diversity issues and maintains effective, professional therapeutic relationships with individuals with acute and/or chronic mental deficiencies).
• Participates in assessment, planning and treatment regarding psychosocial stressors which affect mental illness and mental health.
• Provides counseling and therapeutic sessions in accordance with individuals recovery plan objectives and needs.
• Consistently attends and represents clinical needs of individuals during Recovery Team meetings, and while interacting with external statewide systems on behalf of the individual. (This will often times include counseling and guidance services to residents and families experiencing adjustment problems.)
• Provides ongoing information for residents and their representatives regarding resident's rights (i.e., right to dignity, right to vote in public elections, the right to confidentiality, the right to participate in recovery team and discharge planning); quality treatment and rehabilitation by means of telephone, written correspondence, direct information exchange; and to review possible discharge environments.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of theories and practices in counseling or social work.
• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to counseling or social work.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Ability to provide counseling or social work services to others.
• Ability to coordinate a team approach to the rehabilitation process.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to actively listen to others.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related degree from an accredited college or university and three years of professional experience in developmental disabilities, special education, mental health, counseling, guidance, social work health or rehabilitative programs.
• A master's degree in Social work or a related field can substitute for one year of the required experience.

Salary commensurate with experience.

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 .

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: .

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.

Location: CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL, US, 32324

Nearest Major Market: Tallahassee