Forensic Interview Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 874884 

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: RESIDENTIAL UNIT SPECIALIST-Forensic - 67072339/ APD/DDDP CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67072339 

Salary:  $1,480.00 BIWEEKLY, $38,480.00 ANNUALLY, PLUS $1.00 HOUR SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL 

Posting Closing Date: 10/28/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

POSITION: Residential Unit Specialist - Career Service - Filling all vacancies on all shifts

WORKING TITLE: Residential Unit Specialist Forensic

POSITION NUMBER: 67072339

This posting may close before the posted closing date.

This position is not a Telework position and is required to report to DDDP in Chattahoochee, FL.

You must present a valid driver's license to interview.

 Profile Completion

To qualify for this position, applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history with the month and year. 

Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information, but will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.

*Responses to the qualifying questions are required and must be verifiable based on your submitted application, and "see resume" will not be considered an acceptable response. 

The 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 eligible employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits, including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options.
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com).
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tuition waivers.
• And more! For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave.

The Agency seeks team members who demonstrate the qualities of being humble, hungry, and smart and lead others to embody the same. This entails lacking excessive ego, sharing credit, being self-motivated, and exercising good judgment and intuition regarding the subtleties of group dynamics. 

This position with APD will serve staff and management across the Agency. Your work will impact the workplace culture, our community, and the population we serve as we continuously strive to achieve the Agency's mission.

APD's Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program (DDDP) Overview

DDDP is a forensic facility working with individuals with disabilities in a secure setting. These individuals have been adjudicated by the courts as incompetent to proceed to trial and have significant behavioral and psychiatric issues. DDDP provides rehabilitative, vocational, and daily living skills training to the individuals served, which allows for a smooth transition back into a non-secure residential or community setting.

These individuals have been adjudicated by the courts as incompetent to proceed to trial and have significant behavioral and psychiatric issues. DDDP provides rehabilitative, vocational, and daily living skills training to the individuals served, allowing for a smooth transition back into a non-secure residential or community setting.  

SALARY RANGE

$38,480.00 annual, $1,480.00 biweekly, plus $1.00 per hour shift differential for 2nd and 3rd shift

Position Summary 

This position is responsible for the custody, personal care, safety, security, and well-being of residents ordered by the Court to the custody of DDDP/Pathways.

The Work You Will Do 

 Implements and deploys behavioral programs designed for each resident in an appropriate, fair, and impartial manner. 

• Ensures that all activities associated with the residents are documented and filed in the appropriate residence chart in accordance with Agency protocol. Immediately notify the supervisor of any issues associated with the resident(s).

• Performs 1:1 Specials in accordance with Agency protocols, ensures that appropriate and required documentation is completed in a timely and accurate manner, and works with individual resident(s) as assigned or required.

• Confers with unit supervisors concerning behavioral problems of resident(s) and assists in planning corrective measures.

• Cooperates with the supervisors of wards or units, ensuring that the developmentally disabled are being adequately cared for and are receiving prescribed care and training.

• Makes daily rounds of the assigned wards or units for safety and sanitation issues and reports findings in accordance with Agency policy or procedure.

• Maintain Crisis Prevention and Intervention certification and provide programming techniques. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• A valid driver's license.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds, pull, squat, and stand for extended periods of time.

• High school diploma or its equivalent is preferred.

• Must be able to perform duties that involve direct contact with residents in a secure forensic facility.

Additional Requirements for This Position

• Certification in the Agency's Crisis Prevention and Intervention Program. Advance training may be required.

• A pre-employment and annual TB screening.

• Annual CPR Certification.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities 

 Knowledge of

• Appropriate business practices and protocols used in the treatment of developmentally disabled persons.

• Maintain confidentiality of resident information.

• Must be able to lift 40 pounds, pull, squat, and stand for extended periods of time.

• Assist professionals in implementing prescribed treatment and rehabilitation programs.

• Observe residents and identify and document changes and/or unusual events which could result in safety and well-being issues

• Maintain and update resident records and charts

• Work in a team environment and establish and maintain effective working relationships with residents and staff

• Effectively and timely communicate and interact with residents and staff

• Plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.

• Maintain the required certification in the Agency Crisis Prevention and Intervention Program and/or advanced training, as necessary.

• Apply Crisis Prevention and Intervention techniques.  

• Ensure that developmentally disabled residents are being adequately cared for and receiving prescribed treatment.

• Identify and give attention to understaffed wards or units and emergency situations.

Demonstrate Skill in:

• Proving excellent customer service to include compassion for vulnerable and developmentally disabled individuals.

Recruiting Contact:

Jodi NeSmith 

Recruitment Manager, APD Human Resources - Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program & Pathways

Telephone: (850) 793-7008

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 will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon your retirement date.

Direct Deposit Program

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.  Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution. This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be in the Direct Deposit Program.

Background Screening Requirement

It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.
Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

APD only hires U.S. citizens and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. APD participates in the U.S. government's employment eligibility verification program (E-Verify), which electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).

All applicants should complete the online application process. If you need assistance applying for this position, please call the People First service center at 1-877-562-7287. 

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.