MENTAL HEALTH SECURITY SPECIALIST - 60073403

State of Florida; Macclenny (FL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Florida, Florida Department of Children and Families, Northeast Florida State Hospital in Macclenny, FL, seeks a Mental Health Security Specialist to provide professional security services within the Security Unit. The role demands independent judgment, proactive handling of incidents, and strong attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include patrolling, responding to emergencies, managing visitor access, coordinating searches for missing residents, and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with two years of safety/security experience in a health setting.
• College coursework in social/behavioral sciences may substitute for work experience.
• Background screening and compliance with state hiring requirements.

Responsibilities

• Patrol grounds on foot/vehicle to protect facilities and residents.
• Respond to emergencies and manage combative residents safely.
• Log visitors, monitor access, and enforce security procedures.
• Inspect safety equipment and participate in fire drills and drills.
• Escort residents to facilities and assist with medical runs when needed.
• Coordinate with Transportation and other agencies as required.

Skills

Investigations

Regulatory materials

Deductive reasoning

Communication

Interviews

Security operations

Education

High school diploma

College coursework in social/behavioral sciences

Tools

Two-way radio

Fire safety equipment

Job description

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MENTAL HEALTH SECURITY SPECIALIST - 60073403

Date: Sep 10, 2026

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on ourE-Verify Website .

Requisition No:883317

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: MENTAL HEALTH SECURITY SPECIALIST - 60073403

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) isthe 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 an 800-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 MULTI-HIRE OPPORTUNITY

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Mental Health Security Specialist within our Security 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:

• Patrol grounds by foot or by vehicle for the protection and security of buildings, equipment, living areas, and fenced-in areas; inspect for hazards, contraband, unauthorized persons, and eloping residents. Conduct searches to find and retrieve missing and eloped residents. Assist in coordinating these searches with other agencies. Inspect and maintain all equipment assigned to the Security Department.
• Respond to calls for assistance or for emergencies relating to resident disturbances, CSU admissions, medical emergencies, fires and other types of disaster situations. Responsible for the physical control of combative residents.
• Operate the Welcome Center; log in visitors and staff, observe for unauthorized entry and all vehicles for items that should be bolted down or locked inside. Issue parking passes/decals and maintain appropriate records.
• Patrol for traffic and parking violations; issue department tickets to violators. Assist and monitor the flow of traffic control devices. Assist in the investigation of traffic accidents occurring on grounds.
• Conduct hospital-wide fire drills. Inspect fire extinguishers, fire alarms and warning devices. Participate in disaster preparedness drills. Conduct safety inspections of residents' living areas, their activity areas and staff offices looking for hazards or contraband.
• Make routine inspections of buildings in designated zones; conduct walk-throughs; check unoccupied areas and living areas in designated zones, watching for anything that may compromise the environment's safety and security.
• Serve as Centrex Operator. Duties include answering incoming local and long-distance telephone calls. Make proper connections to persons or offices via an on-line employee directory lookup with multiple search criteria. Place local and long-distance telephone calls for both staff and the people served. Maintain records of calls placed for the purpose of verification of billing. Operate a two-way radio communications system and paging system. Alert and/or dispatch Security staff, Emergency Response Team and other hospital staff as necessary. Obtain and log information necessary to provide response to emergencies.
• Provide escort of residents to and from institution terminals and other hospitals and mental health facilities.
• Assist Transportation with medical runs as needed.
• Participate as a designee in meetings, special projects, or special functions as appointed, representing the department in a professional and courteous manner. Provide feedback to the Shift Supervisor or Mental Health Security Chief as needed.
• Conducts training on Application of Restraints once a month. Conducts training for Two-Way Radio Utilization once a month.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Ability to perform investigations.
• Knowledge of basic investigative techniques.
• Ability to read, interpret and apply regulatory materials.
• Ability to use deductive reasoning.
• Ability to communicate effective.
• Ability to conduct fact finding interviews.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or its equivalent and two years of experience providing for the safety and security of patients and/or staff in either a residential or outpatient mental health or acute care facility.
• Successful completion of a basic recruit training course or its equivalent can substitute for the required experience.
• Successful completion of college course work with a major course of study in one of the social, behavioral or rehabilitative sciences can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required work experience.

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
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• *Gaps 3 months or moremust 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 claimingRight to First Interview , candidateMUSTattach 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 [phone].

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.

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.

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.