REHABILITATION THERAPIST - F/C

About the Agency

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state's social services agency, dedicated to protecting the vulnerable, promoting strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advancing personal and family recovery. Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program serves as the single state authority for planning and implementing a comprehensive statewide system of care for children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

About the Role

The North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center (NFETC) is a 216-bed, all-male forensic mental health rehabilitation facility located on 639 acres in northeast Gainesville. This position serves as a Rehabilitation Therapist within the Rehab Services team, acting as a collaborative partner in the development and delivery of therapeutic activities. The role is designed for a proactive professional who uses independent judgment to support resident recovery goals in a fast-paced environment.

In this role, you will work directly with residents a minimum of 75% of the time to facilitate competency restoration, NGI groups, substance abuse education, and various recreational and social activities. You will plan center-wide events to reduce discharge barriers and model appropriate social interaction skills. Additionally, you will assist in creating individualized therapeutic programs for building staff to implement when residents cannot participate in center-wide activities. The position requires maintaining equipment, documenting progress in resident charts, and ensuring the safe utilization of all resources.

Hiring Process & Application Instructions

To be considered for this position, responses to qualifying questions are required and must be verifiable based on your submitted application. The application must be complete in its entirety, including:

• Work History: List all State of Florida jobs, Florida University jobs, all periods of employment, periods of unemployment, and any gaps of 3 months or more. Gaps must be addressed and explained.
• Education & Volunteer Experience: Include supervisor names and phone numbers for current and past employment.
• Verification: All experience, education, training, and responses must be verifiable. If claiming "Right to First Interview" due to a layoff from a Career Service position, you must attach a copy of your official layoff letter.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act must notify the agency hiring authority or the People First Service Center in advance.

Equal Opportunity & Compliance

The State of Florida is an equal opportunity employer. Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired. All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, must be registered with the Selective Service System. Veterans' Preference is available for eligible candidates pursuant to Florida Statutes.

Employment is contingent upon successfully completing a State and National criminal history check, including fingerprinting through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI. The facility is a tobacco-free workplace, and all employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act.