LICENSING SPECIALIST - CHILD CARE OPS - 1

Requisition No: 865641


Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: LICENSING SPECIALIST - CHILD CARE OPS - 60901013 1

Position Number: 60901013


Salary: $34,760.00


Posting Closing Date: 10/24/2026


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Family Service Counselor

Department of Children and Families

Fort Walton Beach

Open Competitive

Anticipated Vacancy

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

Counselor will be responsible for working with child care providers in Circuit 1: Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties.

This is a professional position specializing in counseling, investigative, and administrative activities in Child Care Licensing, responsible for the inspection and licensing of Family Day Care Homes, Large Family Child Care Homes, Child Care Facilities and School Readiness Providers within established time frames.

• Conducts inspections for child care homes and facilities to monitor compliance with Child Care Handbooks, Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code and Health and Safety Checklist standards. Maintains tracking system to ensure inspection timeframes are met and the correct number of inspections are completed annually.
• Processes initial and renewal applications, including background screening clearances and training as required by statute, determines eligibility and makes recommendations for licensure to supervisor/regional program manager.
• Investigates complaints on licensed providers, illegal child care operations and School Readiness providers. Prepares reports and initiates administrative action as required by statute and/or administrative code.
• Inputs and updates provider databases, Child Care Administration Regulation and Enforcement [CARES], on a regular basis. Archives inspections timely and monitors accuracy of data.

Develops professionally by acquiring a proficient working knowledge of the applicable statutes, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and community resources which provide the framework for the child care regulation program.

• Provides technical assistance and support to child care providers to promote sustained compliance with licensing standards and ensure corrective action requirements are met.
• Attains a high proficiency/skill level as demonstrated through the competent utilization of the program's hardware, software, system applications and web pages.
• Manages 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.
• Responds to telephone and email inquiries and walk-in requests from the public, parents, other agencies and providers and provides accurate information on child care programs. Consults with stakeholders and other clients regarding child care regulation.
• Responds positively and timely to special assignments and performs othe related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Must pass fingerprint and background screening. Must have valid, unrestricted Florida driver's license and daily access to personal vehicle.
• College degree preferred, but not required.
• This position requires frequent travel and often the use of a personal vehicle while on state business.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of child development and appropriate practices.
• Knowledge of theories and practice in child protection and family support.
• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child care, child protection and counseling. Knowledge of interviewing and counseling techniques.
• Skill in organizing community resources to assist families.
• Ability to recognize indicators of abuse and neglect.
• Ability to conduct risk and safety investigations.
• Ability to complete assessments and develop plans with children and families.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to be flexible and work independently.
• Ability to actively listen to others.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain current and well-organized files, both paper and electronic
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with children, providers, families, co-workers and community partners.
  • Ability to interact appropriately with families, community resources, service providers and other department professionals.
  • Ability use computer systems to complete inspections, maintain communications, run reports and track data for the job.
  Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.
  • Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
  • Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
  • Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
  • It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume" in place of entering work history.
  • If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
  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.
  For a more complete list of benefits, visit
  Growth Opportunities:
  With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all. Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government. They are also among the most rewarding. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.
  Where you will work:
  Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. In other words, no matter where you land in Florida, you're never more than 60 miles from a body of saltwater. And if the beach isn't your scene, there are 175 state parks to explore! Meanwhile, Floridians hail from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life, making it an incredibly diverse melting pot that many residents and visitors to Florida love. The Sunshine State is a great place to live and work - Come join our team!
  About Department of Children and Families:
  Mission: The mission of the Department of Children and Families 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.
  Vision: We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.
  Values: A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High
  performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve.
  To learn more please visit
  • 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 will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
  • The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.
  
  We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
  Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113 , and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment.
  SELECTIVE SERVICE: 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) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the SSS website:
  BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: 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 also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, 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.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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 click.appcast.io). 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.


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