Family Services Counselor

This is a professional position specializing in counseling, casework, and administrative activities in Child Care Licensing, responsible for inspecting and licensing Family Day Care Homes, Large Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Facilities within established time frames.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Conducting inspections for childcare homes and facilities to monitor compliance with Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code licensing standards.
• Processing initial and renewal applications, including background screening clearances and training as required by statute, determining eligibility, and making recommendations for licensure to supervisor/regional program manager.
• Investigating complaints on licensed providers and illegal childcare operations. Preparing reports and initiating administrative action as required by statute and/or administrative code.
• Inputting and updating provider database, Sanswrite, on a regular basis. Archiving inspections timely and monitoring accuracy of data.
• Developing professionally by acquiring a proficient working knowledge of the applicable statutes, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and community resources which provide the framework for the childcare regulation program.
• Providing technical assistance and support to childcare providers to promote sustained compliance with licensing standards and ensures corrective action requirements are met.
• Attaining a high proficiency/skill level as demonstrated through the competent utilization of the program's hardware, software, system applications and web pages.
• Managing the progressive discipline and administrative action processes, which includes providing timely administrative complaint notifications to providers, keeping the information system current throughout the administrative action process and closing out each action timely and accurately.
• Responding to telephone and email inquiries and walk-in requests from the public, parents, other agencies and providers and providing accurate information on childcare programs. Consulting with stakeholders and other clients regarding childcare regulation.
• Responding positively and timely to special assignments and other duties as assigned by Environmental Health Director/Designee.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Basic computer skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements:

• Professional experience in environmental protection, regulation or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering that can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education
• Valid drivers license

Preferred:

• Bachelors degree in a physical or natural science.
• Experience conducting inspections in childcare facilities.

Where you will work: Environmental Health North, 1001 Sarasota Center Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34240. Incumbent will be required to travel throughout Sarasota County.

The benefits of working for the State of Florida include:

• 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
• Flexible spending accounts
• Tuition waivers
• And more!

For more information, please visit

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Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process. This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website:

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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 canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (

). 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.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge.