Support Worker Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 879293 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: FOOD SUPPORT WORKER - 60010265

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60010265 

Salary:  $34,760.00 - $36,983.44 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 08/24/2026 

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.

This is a highly responsible and professional position that will serve as a Food Support Worker at the Northeast Florida State Hospital. 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. 

This position acts as a Cook in the Dietary Department of a very large mental health hospital.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

This position acts as a Cook in the Dietary Department of a very large mental health hospital.

• Estimates food requirements, prepares and cooks all types of hot and cold food items according to menu, production worksheets and approved recipes to ensure optimum customer satisfaction. Places food items on serving lines and keep serving lines well stocked. Cuts and debones ham, poultry and fish. Slices meat according to menu needs. Utilizes left over meat. Ability to continuously move wrists. Reports to work in appropriate uniform.
• Operates mixing machines, meat saw, slicer, and grinder in the mixing, cutting, slicing, and grinding of meat. Sharpens all knives as needed. Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Turns on and sets temperature on grills, stoves, deep fryer, and broiler. Operates and maintains equipment used. Reports inoperative equipment to supervisor.
• Maintains working areas in clean and sanitary condition to ensure a safe and secure environment.
• Assists in unloading and loading of delivery trucks. Drives truck when necessary. Transports food carts to wards. Assists in dishwashing when necessary.
• Attends in-service training and performs related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the equipment, procedures and techniques used in cooking, baking, and/or meat cutting.
• Knowledge of the procedures for maintaining sanitary working conditions.
• Ability to perform food service functions in one or more of the following areas: cooking, baking or meat cutting.
• Ability to read and follow recipes and/or other instructions.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• One year of food service experience; or
• Completion of a program of study from a vocational/technical school in a food service area.

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.

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.