Senior HUMAN Services Program Specialist - 60034613

Senior Human Services Program Specialist - 60034613

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. 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 613-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.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Senior Human Services Program Specialist within Recovery 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:

• The function of the Discharge Coordinator is skilled professional work planning and coordinating Discharge activities for individuals served at Northeast Florida State Hospital.
• The Discharge Coordinator counsels individuals served regarding personal preferences, needs and discharge plans; coordinates face-to-face and phone call screenings for selection of community placement/housing, site visits and ancillary services (i.e. secure housing referrals, FACT team referrals, etc.); secures informed consent signatures to allow information sharing with potential placement sites.
• Works with Benefits Coordinator to ensure benefits are active prior to discharge.
• Participates as a member of Recovery Teams to determine recommendations for community placement plus support and services needed upon discharge.
• Assists in the formulation of the Discharge Plan within Recovery Plan and through the final segment of the 7001.
• Supports finalizing discharge for each person placed on discharge status and sets-up appointments for psychiatric services and case management appointments through the community provider and liaison /case manager, coordinates transportation and confirms placement information (i.e. date and location of placement).
• Maintains records to track the discharge planning process on everyone served.
• Records key information in the Monthly Discharge Coordination Note to include the dates a person served is placed on discharge status, removed from discharge status, the actual date of discharge, plus all contacts with the community, family, guardian, guardian advocate, or other interested parties.
• Tracking includes the Resident Database for pre-discharge and discharge status, coordination of 7001 forms, processing of 281 forms, monitoring of 7002 forms, completion of notification of Circuit change to community partners, notice of ongoing discharge planning needs, and barriers to discharge.
• Serves as point of contact for Community Liaisons, FACT teams, Case Managers, and Community Placements in coordinating on site/ off site screenings and assessments.
• The Discharge Coordinator contacts the community case manager at least once per week for the first 30 days and biweekly thereafter to check on the progress of placement and the plan for securing the recommended services.
• Participates in Hospital and Community Provider Meetings addressing multiple barriers to discharge including individuals in need of nursing home placement, undocumented individuals, persons with previous legal involvement, and individuals requiring increased supervision who do not qualify for nursing home settings, providing feedback on solutions to address long lengths of stay.
• Contributes to partnership with the Managing Entities. Responsible for other related duties as assigned.

The job duties listed above are not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower-level duties may be required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of social, economic, rehabilitation or health care service objectives.
• Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
• Ability to develop manuals, policies, procedures, standards and rules.
• Ability to develop methods for monitoring and evaluating quality of service and compliance with rules, policies and statutes.
• Ability to review and evaluate plans and programs.
• Ability to identify improvements and adjustments needed to insure program effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ability to establish and maintain liaison with other agencies.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and four years of professional experience in health, social, economic or rehabilitative programs. A master's degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience. Professional or nonprofessional experience as required above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Location: Macclenny, FL, US, 32063