TRIAL COMP INSTRUCTOR - 67070690 APD/ DDDP CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL

Requisition No: 884070 

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: TRIAL COMP INSTRUCTOR - 67070690 APD/ DDDP CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67070690 

Salary: $1,386.00- $1,575.49 BIWEEKLY 

Posting Closing Date: 11/02/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator 

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

POSITION: Behavioral Program Specialist Forensic

POSITION NUMBER: 67056565

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

SALARY RANGE: $1,386.00- $1,575.49 BIWEEKLY

This posting may close before the posted closing date.

CANDIDATE POOL: Future vacancies may be filled from this advertisement for a period of up to six months.

The 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 eligible employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits, including:

• 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 (For more information, please click ).
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tuition waivers.
• And more! For a more complete list of benefits, visit .
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave.

The Agency seeks team members who demonstrate the qualities of being humble, hungry, and smart and lead others to embody the same. This entails lacking excessive ego, sharing credit, being self-motivated, and exercising good judgment and intuition regarding the subtleties of group dynamics.

This position with APD will serve staff and management across the Agency. Your work will impact the workplace culture, our community, and the population we serve as we continuously strive to achieve the Agency’s mission.

Position Summary

Duties and responsibilities of a Behavioral Program Specialist F/C include: 

The incumbent assigned to this position is responsible for the custody, personal care, safety, security, and well-being of residents ordered by the Court to the custody of the Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program. The incumbent is responsible for facilitating and conducting trial competency training for assigned residents. The incumbent is responsible for the appropriate implementation of the Trial Competency Training Curriculum. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following tasks:

• Provides trial competency or other training using the approved materials and curriculum as trained, including classroom management and facilitation of trial competency-related activities.
• Functions as a role model for residents to reinforce the behavioral and social skills required to be successful in integrating into community and/or residential environments.
• Implements the Trial Competency Training Curriculum and documents and communicates relevant facts to ensure any problems or resident needs are addressed.
• Accurately completes all data and documentation requirements for this position, including class attendance, monthly progress notes, support plans, trial competency main information documentation, trial competency activity documentation, required time and leave documentation, and other assigned documentation.
• Aids with resident supervision for other areas to assist DDDP as needed and assigned.
• Deploys training, instruction, and other therapeutic interventions to the residents as assigned and/or required.
• Completes all required training, including annual training, MANDT certification, CPR/First Aid certification, and other training as required.
• Maintains time sheet, ensuring accuracy and submitting timely in accordance with policy and procedure.
• Attends treatment team to provide updates on resident progress in trial competency training.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Program Overview

The Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program (DDDP) operates on the campus of Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee and at Sunland in Marianna under the auspices of The State of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). DDDP is a forensic facility working with individuals with disabilities in a secure setting. These individuals have been adjudicated by the courts as incompetent to proceed to trial and have significant behavioral and psychiatric issues. DDDP provides rehabilitative, vocational, and daily living skills training to the individuals served which allows for a smooth transition back into a non-secure residential or community setting. DDDP is dedicated to empowering people with developmental disabilities charged with a felony crime to:

1. Acquire the skills and supports that will prepare them for success in their future environments

2. Acquire the skills needed to become competent to stand trial.

Minimum Qualifications

• A valid driver’s license.

• A high school diploma or its equivalent
• At least two (2) years of professional experience providing educational, recreational, rehabilitative, therapeutic, court education, trial competency, or related services in a group or individual setting. College education or technical training may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis (30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or 720 classroom hours equals one year of experience).

Knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of appropriate practices and protocols used in the treatment of developmentally disabled persons.
• Knowledge of classroom management skills and techniques
• Knowledge of developmental disabilities, mental illness, and the unique needs of individuals with cognitive impairments.
• Knowledge of group facilitation techniques and therapeutic activity planning.
• Ability to assist professionals in implementing prescribed treatment and training programs.
• Ability to observe residents and identify and document changes and/or unusual events which could result in safety and well-being issues.
• Ability to motivate resident participation and foster engagement.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate activities and work assignments.
• Ability to develop and monitor self-care behavioral modification prescriptive treatment plans, activities, and programs.
• Ability to evaluate client services for compliance with program objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to maintain and update resident records and charts.
• Ability to work in a training capacity with people in individual and group settings.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and other instructional materials.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to listen effectively.
• Skilled in using a computer to complete documentation using appropriate programs such as Microsoft Office.

Other job-related requirements for this position:

• Certification in the agency approved crisis prevention and intervention program at the Advanced level is required unless the incumbent requests reasonable accommodation supported by an annual medical certification. Incumbent is required to submit to pre-employment TB screening and on an annual on-going basis as prescribed by DDDP.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee and/or resident information. This specific standard is mission critical as the Agency is entrusted with information about employees and residents, which is protected by HIPAA and other federal and state laws. The Agency’s ability to maintain and protect confidential information has a direct relationship to our ability to gain and maintain the public’s trust.
• Based on the duties and essential functions of this position, incumbents will be required to spend a minimum of 75% of work time performing duties that involve direct contact with residents in a secure forensic facility. This position requires lifting, pulling, and squatting.
• Employees of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities are required to demonstrate total commitment to outstanding customer service. This includes, but is not limited to, acting in a responsive, professional, courteous manner with the employees, customers, and public we serve at all times.
• This position may be required to perform essential services before, during, and after an emergency per APD OP 2-0035. This position is critical to the safety and supervision of residents and may require the incumbent to work beyond their normal work schedule to maintain minimum coverage levels in the facility. 

Work Schedule

The selected candidate will work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Due to working in a 24/7 facility, employees may be required to work additional days/hours based upon the needs of the facility. This includes but is not limited to ensuring facility coverage during holidays and emergency situations.

Direct Deposit Program – As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in State government is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT- It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.   

THIS POSITION REQUIRES A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION INCLUDING FINGERPRINTING, PURSUANT TO S. 110.1127(1), FLORIDA STATUTES.   

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.  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.    

WE HIRE ONLY U.S. CITIZENS AND THOSE LAWFULLY AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE U.S. APD PARTICIPATES IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-VERIFY).  E-VERIFY IS A PROGRAM THAT ELECTRONICALLY CONFIRMS AN EMPLOYEE’S ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER COMPLETION OF THE EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION FORM (I-9).   

ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD COMPLETE THE ON-LINE APPLICATION PROCESS.  IF ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE CALL THE PEOPLE FIRST SERVICE CENTER AT View phone number on us.fitly.work. RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. ANSWERS TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.  

Recruiting Contact:

Jodi NeSmith        

Recruitment Manager- Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program & Pathways    

Agency for Persons with Disabilities        

Telephone: View phone number on us.fitly.work 

Email: View email address on us.fitly.work

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 View phone number on us.fitly.work). 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.