RCI Investigator - Angleton, TX

FALL CREEK FARM & NURSERY; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 48,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation/holidays/sick leave

Dental/vision/life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Employee discounts

Job summary

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Houston, TX is seeking a Residential Child Care Investigator IV. The role involves investigating reports of abuse or neglect, assessing child needs, and coordinating service plans, foster care, or adoption processes across multiple locations.

Requires mobility and willingness to travel 60–75% of the time. The position offers a competitive state salary with full-time benefits, a mobile work environment, and opportunities for professional

Qualifications

• Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist I–IV levels; degree/credit-hour requirements and experience are outlined.
• Initial Screening Criteria describe degrees and years of relevant work experience.
• Requires driving, mobility, and travel as described for DFPS roles.

Responsibilities

• Investigates reports of abuse or neglect and takes corrective action.
• Assesses needs and develops service plans; interviews families and children.
• Visits, studies, and coordinates foster or adoptive placements; prepares reports.

Job description

Posting ID21747-Posted09/22/2026-Dept of Family & Protectve Svc-Residential Investigations-Protective Services-Not Eligible for Telework- Other Locations (1) - Additional Shifts available (1) -b. $3000 - $4999 per month

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance —at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

Functional Title: RCI Investigator - Angleton, TX

Job Title: RCI Investigator IV

Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc

Department: Residential Investigations

Posting Number: 21747

Closing Date: 10/06/2026

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Protective Services

Salary Range: $4,263.16-$6,779.25

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-20

Shift: Day

Additional Shift: Days (First)

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 75%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt

Job Location City: HOUSTON

Job Location Address: 9702 BISSONNET ST 2200W

Other Locations: Angleton

MOS Codes: 0149,5805,5821,5822,5832,14N,14NX,183X,1N0X1,230X,311A,31D,351L,351M,35L,35M,42SX,43HX,4C0X1,4E0X1
5IX,683X,68X,71SX,73A,783X,HM,INV,IS,ISS,IV,MST,NC,OAP12

A Residential Child Care Investigator (RCI) works within Child Care Investigations (CCI) to help protect children from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. RCIs gather information, investigate reports in licensed and unlicensed foster homes, Child Placing Agencies, Residential Treatment Centers, and Group Homes, and play a key role in ensuring corrective action is taken when necessary. In some cases, RCIs may also serve as a conservator for a child to safeguard their well-being.

This work can be demanding and stressful at times, but few roles provide as many opportunities to gain insight into families, communities, and yourself.

DFPS is committed to its employees' professional development and ongoing success and offers the DFPS Certification Program to enhance skills and advance careers within our organization. The program is tailored specifically for DFPS employees, provides the opportunity to earn additional compensation through a supportive learning environment that fosters growth and innovation, and equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to deepen their expertise in their respective role.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

All Levels

• Obtains information and investigates reports of alleged abuse or neglect and emergency situations and takes corrective action.
• Assesses child’s needs for degree and priority of services and develops service plans.
• Advices, counsels, and interviews children, parents, caregivers, family members, and others to gather social, functional, and physical and mental health information for evaluation.
• Visits child to assess the child’s safety; plan for permanency; and discuss needs, wishes, and progress while in care.
• Removes children in dangerous situations from homes and admits children to emergency shelters until foster homes are found.
• Arranges for educational, medical, and psychiatric examinations or treatments.
• Studies, recruits, and recommends foster families to provide care for abused or neglected children.
• Monitors foster homes and children to ensure that the children’s needs are met.
• Conducts home studies of families wishing to adopt children and coordinates visits between children and prospective parents prior to adoption.
• Prepares adoption readiness studies and conducts adoption social studies.
• Prepares documentation and seeks court orders for emergency protective services actions.
• Prepares and maintains case documentation.
• Supervises adoptive placements until the adoption is final or until the case is transferred to an adoption caseworker.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Level 2

1. Advise and counsel parents and children during stressful situations.
2. Testify in court.

Level 3

• Participate in community awareness activities.
• Investigate reports alleging illegal child care and/or standards violations in licensed and registered child care facilities and document findings.
• Conduct risk assessments of protective services cases and determine and implement case actions.
• Prepare statistical and special reports for management.

Level 4

• Review referrals and make case assignments.
• Instruct staff on work methods, organizational procedures, and case documentation techniques.
• Develop community resources.
• Develop specialized service plans to meet the needs of protective services clients.
• Monitor and review child adoption or foster home studies.
• Approve the movement of children into or out of placement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to maintain the security and integrity of the infrastructure per Governor Abbot Executive Order GA-48.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to child care, abuse, and neglect; child development principles and theories and of family dynamics; community social services resources; the laws and regulations related to child protective services; and crisis intervention techniques and skills.
• Skill in interviewing and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to obtain information and conduct investigations, to conduct risk assessments, to develop client programs, to evaluate living conditions, to prepare reports, to testify in court, and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to develop community resources; to develop policies, procedures, and standards; and to oversee and/or to supervise the work of others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications

This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.

Applicants for positions must have a reliable motor vehicle, and 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 and license.

Initial Screening Criteria

Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist I: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experienceOR90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experienceORExamples of relevant work experience in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist II: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experienceOR90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experienceORExamples of relevant work experience in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

In addition to the requirements above, to meet this level, you must also have beenemployed as aRCI SpecialistI for 9 months AND have receivedRCI Investigator IICertification OR currently employed as aChild Protective Services SpecialistII in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as aChild Protective Services Investigator SpecialistII in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist III: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experienceOR90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experienceORExamples of relevant work experience in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

In addition to the requirements above, to meet this level, you must also have beenemployed as aRCI SpecialistII for 9 months AND have receivedRCI Investigator IIICertification OR currently employed as aChild Protective Services SpecialistIII in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as aChild Protective Services SpecialistIII in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist IV: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experienceOR90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experienceORExamples of relevant work experience in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

In addition to the requirements above, to meet this level, you must also have beenemployed as aRCI SpecialistIII for 24 months AND have receivedRCI Investigator IVCertification OR currently employed as aChild Protective Services SpecialistIV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as aChild Protective Services SpecialistIV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Preferred Criteria

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or a related field is generally preferred.

Additional Information

This position may be filled at any level from a Residential Child Care Investigator I to a Residential Child Care Investigator IV. Factors such as education and experience may be considered when establishing the starting salary. The base salary for a Residential Child Care Investigator I is $3816.65.

Attention current and former DFPS employees

Each level of this position has specific training requirements. If selected for this position, these requirements must be met within 12 months of hire. More information can be found about training requirements here: Caseworker and Supervisor Certification - Career Plans

This position will be in a mobile unit which means the majority of the work will be conducted using mobile technology, such as a tablet, while away from the office. Being mobile requires working independently yet still being responsive to supervision and your assigned unit.

Newly-hired DFPS employees in eligible positions will be assigned a DFPS cellular phone.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

These requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job related physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies on an as needed basis. Corrective devices may be used to meet physical requirements. These are typical requirements; however, reasonable accommodations are possible.

Physical Activities: He/she is frequently asked to stand, hear and talk; he/she is occasionally asked to climb.

Physical Demands: The incumbent typically performs work that requires him/her to exert up to 20 pounds occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Visual Requirements: The incumbent must be able to see objects clearly at 20 inches or less, and at 20 or more feet. In addition, he/she must be able to adjust his/her eyes to bring objects into focus, distinguish colors, see objects in his/her peripheral vision, and see objects in three dimensions.

Working Conditions: He/she typically works in a mobile environment (the majority of work is performed outside of the office environment) and is exposed occasionally to adverse environmental conditions including, but not necessarily limited to, extreme heat, wetness and humidity, chemicals, close quarters, gases and heights.

This role requires frequent travel to homes and offices both within and outside your assigned region. Reliable transportation and a strong willingness to travel is essential, as you can expect to be on the road about 60% of the time. While much of your travel will be local, there will be instances—including last-minute situations—where you’ll need to go outside your assigned counties, sometimes with little notice. Some overnight travel is also required, especially during initial training held outside your area and as cases demand. Flexibility is critical, as our mission to protect the most vulnerable means you must be ready to serve clients wherever and whenever you are needed.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions . You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at [e-mail] with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.