CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60071489

Florida; Orange Park (FL); On-site; USD 43,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle Insurance Allowance

Job summary

Florida Department of Children and Families in Florida is seeking a Child Protective Investigator to conduct investigations of abuse, neglect, and other conditions affecting children's safety. You will interview family, neighbors, and professionals, assess danger, arrange emergency placements when needed, and coordinate with state attorneys and law enforcement.

This role requires strong decision-making, attention to detail, and the ability to work in high-pressure environments.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED plus 4 years of law enforcement or military service, or
• Associate degree or 60+ credits plus 2 years of professional work experience or law enforcement/military service.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required or preferred.
• Official transcripts or diploma must be provided within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children.
• Collect information through observation and interviews with children, parents, relatives, and neighbors.
• Assess danger threats, child vulnerabilities and caregiver protective capacities to determine safety.
• Arrange emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in their home.
• Notify state attorney, law enforcement and child protection teams.
• Provide families with service linkages to agency and community resources.
• Conduct initial/ongoing child present and impending danger assessments.
• Report indications of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

Skills

Detail orientation

Decision making

Strong, compassionate

Ability to work under pressure

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree or 60+ credits

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60071489

Date: Oct 7, 2026

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

Requisition No:885213

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60071489

Position Number:60071489

Salary: $50,000.08 annually / $1,923.08 bi-weekly

This posting will be used to fill position vacancies in OPSandCareer Service.

Current employees will be compensatedin accordance withthe DCF salary policy.

How you will make an impact:

Be The One Who Shows Up!

Children in crisis need quick action from strong, compassionate individuals dedicated to ensuring their safety. This demanding and challenging career could be your opportunity to speak for those with no voice and fight to help ensure the safety of those who cannot protect themselves . We are looking for people who are detailed- oriented, possess good decision-making skills, and can thrive in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment. When seconds count, your career decision may be the critical difference in the life of a child.

What you will do :

• Conduct investigations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children;
• Collect information through observation and interviews with the children, parents, relatives, and neighbors ;
• Assess danger threats, child vulnerabilities and caregiver protective capacities in order to determine whether a child is safe;
• Arrange emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the ir home;
• Notify state attorney, law enforcement and child protection team s;
• Provide families with service linkages to agency and community resources;
• Conduct initial/ongoing child present and impending danger assessments;
• Reportindicationof abuse,neglectand/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

Qualifications:

A high school diploma or GED equivalent and four years of lawenforcementexperience or active military service(honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); OR

An associate degree or 60+ credit hours from an accredited college or university and two years of professional work experience (see examples below) or two years of law enforcement experience or active military service(honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably);

Examples of professional work experience could be, although not limited to :

• Guardian Ad Litem or similar child advocate role
• Family Support Worker
• Group Home Worker
• Teache r / Teacher's Assistant/Aide
• Therapeutic Assistant
• Family Intervention Specialist
• Home Health Aide / CNA
• Healthcare Practitioner (LPN , RN) or similar profession
• Nursing Facility Assistant
• Paramedic / EMT
• Dispatcher
• Security /Safety Officer
• Emergency Management Deputy/Director or similar position
• Investigator (sworn/non-sworn) for a government entity
• Other welfare, education , first responder , emergency management or medical professional jobs that occur in high-paced, high-stress environments that require critical decision-making to occur .

OR

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

An official letter from the college/university registrar or unofficial transcriptions withanticipatedgraduation dates and credits earned must be provided for all diploma/degree requirements.

Proof of conferred degree such as official transcripts or copy of diploma/degree must be provided within 30 days of hire as a condition of employment.

Must obtaina Florida Child Protective InvestigatorCertification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months after obtaining provisional certification. All Investigators mustmaintaincertification as a condition of employment. Informationregardingcertification can be found at: Florida Certification Board

Valid Driver License; and

Mustpossessoperational private vehicle for use in the performance of daily work activities. Selectedcandidatesare required toprovide proof of vehicle registration and documentation of theappropriate insurancecoveragewithin 30 days ofhire as a condition of employment. The Department provides a Vehicle Insurance Allowance toassistwith the cost of insurance coverage due to the use of private vehicle for work purposes.

Ability to attend an 8 -12-weekmandatory training course. This training could be scheduled during day, weekend, and evening hours.

Special Notes:

Language proficiency may be considered in the selection process as determined by Agency needs at the time of selection .

May require successful completion of pre-interview assessment or work sample to be eligible for interview.

Bachelor’s or master’sdegree in social work or related field preferred.

Additional Information/Requirements

This position will require night, weekend, and holiday work . It has also been designated as an essential position . Incumbents are expected to work during emergency situations or natural disasters and may be required to work before, during and beyond normal work hours/days.

Incumbents may be exposed to possible hazardous conditions in the field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Following policy and procedures, Managing Time, Assessing, Planning, Intervening, Evaluating, Documenting,Engaging, Teaming,takingappropriate actionsrelated toDomestic Violence, Mental Health,and/orSubstance Abuse,EstablishingEffective Relationships with Colleagues,Professional Competencies.

Must be physically able and have the ability to perform the following physical agility tasks: a.) ambulate in varied terrains to enter residences/locations as well as up and down stairs/stairwells, b.)assist with evacuation of persons served during an emergency situation, c.) have normal vision and hearing, including use of corrective devices, d.) do repetitive movements with arms, hands, neck and head, e.) bend, twist, turn, kneel, stoop, squat, push