Human Services Practitioner

University of South Florida; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Grant funded position

Job summary

The University of South Florida is seeking a Human Services Practitioner in Tampa, Florida, to provide mental health support within the prenatal care clinic. The role involves collaborating with obstetric providers, screening and assessing patients, and educating them about mental health and treatment options. A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required along with specific experience in mental health. The position is grant-funded and time-limited, and bilingual candidates are preferred. Competitive benefits are available including health insurance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, or a relevant field.
• Master's degree and appropriate licenses preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with healthcare providers to support mental health care.
• Screen and assess patients for mental health disorders.
• Educate patients on mental health and treatment options.
• Monitor symptoms and treatment side effects.
• Facilitate referrals to external services.

Skills

Culturally competent treatment

Experience in perinatal mental health

Screening and assessment

Team collaboration

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Human Services Practitioner provides mental health support within the prenatal care clinic and coordinates referrals to external services as needed.

This position requires a Level 2 Background Screening and Drug Screen.

This position is grant funded.

This position is time limited.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, or another field appropriate to the program content.
• For Bachelor's degree candidates, at least two years of applicable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in education, Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, or another field appropriate to the program content.
• Appropriate training and clinical licensure to provide psychotherapy (e.g., Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Social Worker, Certified Counselor, Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Registered Nurse).
• Experience in a prenatal setting.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements

The Florida Senate Bill requires meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S. for public positions funded by federal grants.

• Two years of direct experience for an associate degree.
• Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.
• Six years of direct experience for a master's degree.
• Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree.
• Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree.

Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.

Minimum qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Compliance and Federal Notices

• This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the patient's primary obstetric provider and other mental health providers to support mental health care.
• Screen and assess patients for mental health and substance use disorders.
• Educate patients about common mental health and substance use disorders and treatment options.
• Monitor patients for changes in symptoms, treatment side effects, or complications, in person or by phone.
• Support medication management prescribed by obstetric care clinicians, focusing on adherence, side effects, and treatment effectiveness.
• Provide psychoeducation on medication risks and benefits during pregnancy/postpartum.
• Deliver brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as Behavioral Activation, Problem Solving Treatment, or Motivational Interviewing.
• Facilitate referrals to evidence-based psychotherapy treatments (e.g., ERP, DBT) as needed.
• Encourage patient engagement and follow-up in care.
• Track patient follow-up and outcomes using a registry; document encounters and use the system to reengage patients.
• Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in the registry for sharing with the care team.
• Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the obstetric care team, maternal‑fetal medicine, psychiatry, and psychology consultants. These may include changes in medications or psychotherapy treatments or appropriate referrals for additional services.
• Facilitate referrals to services outside the prenatal clinic (e.g., social services, specialty care, substance abuse treatment).
• Develop relapse prevention plans for patients in remission.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Commitment to providing culturally competent, non‑judgmental treatment to our patient population.
• Experience in perinatal mental health.
• Experience in screening, assessment, and treatment planning for mental health and substance use disorders.
• Working knowledge of differential diagnosis and evidence-based psychosocial treatments for common mental health disorders.
• Familiarity with brief intervention techniques such as Motivational Interviewing and Behavioral Activation.
• Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for mental health disorders within the provider's scope of practice.
• Experience collaborating effectively in a team setting.
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with patients and the care team.
• Ability to navigate mandated reporting guidelines while prioritizing informed consent, patient advocacy, and minimizing harm.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort with the pace of prenatal care.
• Ability to engage patients in a therapeutic relationship, virtually or in person.