PERMANENCY SPECIALIST - BLOOMINGTON Job Details | State of Illinois

Illinois Department of Children & Family Services; Bloomington (IL); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension program

Health Insurance

Paid personal days

Paid vacation days

Paid sick days

Flexible work schedules

Parental leave

Deferred compensation

Job summary

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services seeks a dedicated Permanency Specialist in Bloomington. The role provides professional child welfare casework to children and families, coordinating placements and conducting client interviews to inform treatment plans.

The position requires a social work degree (MSW preferred) with relevant experience; overtime and driving license may be required. Hybrid scheduling is available, with in-office days as needed.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work preferred or related field with 1 year of directly related professional casework experience.
• Bachelor's degree in social work with 1 year of related professional casework experience or related field with 2 years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional child welfare casework services to children and families.
• Work with intact families and children in home and/or substitute care.
• Conduct interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for diagnosis and treatment plans.
• Transport clients for protective custody, placement changes, or substitute care.
• Prepare and maintain case documentation for planning, implementation, and evaluation of services.
• Participate in case staffings and multidisciplinary conferences to assess needed services.
• Perform other duties within the scope of the listed duties.

Skills

Casework expertise

Interviewing clients

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in Social Work

Master's in related field + 1 year experience

Bachelor's in Social Work + 1 year experience

Job description

PERMANENCY SPECIALIST - BLOOMINGTON

We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents → Additional Documents section for each application. Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant's wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant's wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials .

Date: Oct 30, 2026

Location: Bloomington, IL, US, 61701

Job Requisition ID: 59839

Opening Date: 10/30/2026

Closing Date: 11/17/2026

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Class Title: CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST - 07218

Skill Option: UMP Credential

Bilingual Option: None

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $6,460/mo; Full Range $6,460/mo - $9,337/mo

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time

Number of Vacancies: 1

Bargaining Unit Code: RC063 Professional Employees, Educators,Juvenile Justice School Counselors and Special Education Resources Coordinators,and Physicians AFSCME

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm

Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 3 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs

Headquarter Location: 401 Brown St, Bloomington, Illinois, 61701

Work County: McLean

Supervisor: Michelle Buckle

Agency Contact: Denise Bean-Mathis

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you're helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you're part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you're looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Permanency Specialist. Under general supervision, this position will provide professional child welfare casework services to children and families, determining the need and coordinating the placement of children in substitute care facilities. Additionally, the position will conduct interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for the continued diagnosis of problems and development of treatment plans. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in playing a role in ensuring the safety and stability of children and youth. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong communication skills. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Permanency Specialist providing experienced professional casework services to children and families.
• Works with intact families and children in home and/or substitute care.
• Conducts interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for the continued diagnosis of problems and development of treatment plans.
• Transports clients when taking protective custody, when placing them in substitute care, and when changing placement location.
• Prepares and maintains case documentation for planning, implementing, and evaluating services.
• Participates in case staffings to facilitate case transfer and participates in multi-disciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Preferably requires a master's degree in social work; OR a master's degree in a related human service field, supplemented by one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience; OR requires a bachelor's degree in social work and one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience; OR requires a bachelor's degree in a related human service field and two years of directly related professional casework/case management experience.

The college or university issuing a bachelor's or master's degree must be accredited, and the degree program in social work must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education. The directly related professional casework/case management experience must be related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling, and advocacy services or a related field.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
• Requires ability to pass a background check.
• Requires physical, visual and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends. This also requires the ability to work in a 24 hour "on call" capacity.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus.

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A Pension Program
• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
• Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan