Paraprofessional Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 876694 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST - INTERN - 60064753

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60064753 

Salary:  $2,232.34 - $2,349.83 Bi-Weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 06/08/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

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.

Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is a 706-bed, licensed mental health treatment facility that provides person-centered services to adults suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The hospital, located in Macclenny, was established in 1959 and is the largest state operated civil treatment facility. 

NORTHEAST 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.

MUTLIPLE VACANCIES

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Behavioral Specialist - Intern within our Medical Services/Psychology Unit. 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 work providing psychological assessment and treatment services to an inpatient adult population at Northeast Florida State Hospital as a doctoral psychology intern under constant clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist. All work is supervised by a licensed psychologist to include routine psychological hospital assessments, violence risk assessments, suicide risk assessments, forensic evaluations, and psychological testing (e.g., memory testing, personality testing, and intelligence testing).Treatment services include individual and group psychotherapy.

• Conducts clinical interviews, chart reviews, behavioral observations, staff consultation, and related documentation for initial and annual psychological evaluations under the clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Attends Recovery Team meetings on assigned living areas, participates in the formulation of treatment plans, and completes related documentation under the clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Facilitates assigned evidence-based specialty treatment group, provides group coverage for additional groups, and completes related documentation under the clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Provides individual mental health treatment to assigned residents to include psychotherapy and behavior plans under the clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Conducts clinical interviews/administers assessment tool, chart reviews, behavioral observations, staff consultation, and related documentation for routine Suicide Risk Assessments and Violence Risk Assessments under the clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist.   
• Attends hospital meetings and trainings to include American Psychological Association accredited internship program meetings.  May provide supervision of supervision to masters or bachelor level interns and paraprofessional staff under the clincal supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Performs other duties as directed by the Director of Psychology.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the theories and principles of clinical, counseling or behavioral psychology.
• Knowledge of psychological testing principles and practices.
• Ability to administer and interpret psychological tests.
• Ability to prepare psychological reports.
• Ability to analyze and interpret psychological data.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Completion of MANDT training, CPR and First Aid.
• Physical abilities allowing for stooping, bending and lifting up to 10 pounds, contact with residents who may become verbally and physically aggressive, prolonged walking and sitting, mobility around large campus setting including exposure to weather elements typical of Florida, and sight and auditory interactions with residents, family members and staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in counseling or psychology.

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.

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.