CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services; Watauga (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Pension plan

Disability insurance

Job summary

A Texas state agency is seeking an entry-level CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker in Watauga, Texas. In this role, you will provide essential services to families aimed at protecting children from abuse and neglect. The position requires an accredited Bachelor's degree or relevant experience in social services. Candidates must be able to assess family safety, document case information, and work flexible hours. Benefits include medical and vision insurance, a 401(k), and a pension plan.

Qualifications

• Must have a reliable motor vehicle, acceptable driving record, and valid Texas driver's license.
• Previous experience in social, human, or protective services is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide services to families to keep children safe from abuse and neglect.
• Assess child safety and take necessary actions to protect them.
• Document all relevant information and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Knowledge of child development

Skill in effective verbal and written communication

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships

Problem solving techniques

Ability to travel and attend child and family visits

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

Apply for the CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker role at Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Job Overview

After a family has been investigated, a Family Based Safety Services (FBSS) worker helps them make changes to protect their children from abuse and neglect and keep them safe at home. This involves providing services offered by the agency, the family's community, and their extended families.

Newly hired employees holding a Master's Degree in Social Work may qualify for an increase at the point of hire.

Essential Job Functions

• Responds quickly in crisis situations.
• Provides time limited in-home services to meet the specific needs of families by identifying insufficient protective capacities, developing treatment plans, and using appropriate and necessary resources to minimize risk and provide for safety of the child; and maintains contact with parents and children to achieve treatment goals.
• Assess child safety and takes the necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate. This could include removing a child from their family.
• Interacts objectively with “caretakers” who have abused and/or neglected children in their care.
• Discusses issues with families related, but not limited to income, money management, and personal relationships that they will probably consider personal and private.
• Encounters family members who are angry and/or scared.
• Helps identify resources and community support available to the family.
• Assists parents to recognize behaviors that lead to child abuse and/or neglect and empower parents to identify ways to make the necessary behavioral changes.
• Determines action to be taken to remove or to reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child to include working with families to identify family members who can assist with keeping the child safe, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis intervention therapy or other community resources.
• Gather family and kinship information to support the child in a placement, should the child be placed in DFPS custody.
• Documents all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completing all required forms accurately and in a timely manner.
• Works flexible work hours beyond 8a.m.-5p.m., Monday - Friday.
• Maintains a balance of objectivity and empathic understanding when engaging families living in stressful and crisis situations.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.
• Attends and participates in trainings, meetings and staffings.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of family dynamics
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in problem solving techniques
• Ability to operate a personal computer.
• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other work-related appointments and meetings after 5pm.
• Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours.
• Ability to work in an emotion-filled environment and which may require conducting home visits in isolated or high crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications

This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions. Applicants must have a reliable motor vehicle, an acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance and license.

Initial Screening Criteria

Child Protective Services Family Based Safety Worker I: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

Child Protective Services Family Based Safety Worker II: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist I for 9 months AND have received Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II or Child Protective Investigations Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II or Child Protective Investigations Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Family Based Safety Worker III: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II for 9 months AND have received Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III or Child Protective Investigations Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III or Child Protective Investigations Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Family Based Safety Worker IV: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III for 24 months AND have received Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV or Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV or Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Preferred Criteria

• Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, or Public Health.
• Previous professional or volunteer experience in a government agency, nonprofit, child protection, foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, or substance abuse services.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care or experience conducting interviews or assessments with children and families.

Seniority Level

Entry level

Employment Type

Full-time

Job Function

Administrative

Industries

Individual and Family Services

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Pension plan
• Disability insurance