Senior Child Protection Investigator

My Florida Families; Immokalee (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Department of Children and Families seeks a Senior Child Protective Investigator to lead investigations into abuse, neglect, and related conditions affecting children. You will collect information from multiple sources, engage families, and determine intervention needs, including referrals to services and potential court involvement.

You will develop case plans, assess danger, coordinate with legal services, and provide testimony in court.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree (degree must be conferred at the time of application).
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or related field preferred. (When applying please attach required education, certification or licensure).
• 1 year of child protective investigative experience.
• Must obtain Child Welfare Certification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months after obtaining provisional certification. All Investigators must maintain certification as a condition of employment.
• Valid Driver License; and
• Must possess operational private vehicle for use in the performance of daily work activities. Selected applicants are required to provide proof of vehicle registration and documentation of the appropriate insurance coverage. The Department provides a Vehicle Insurance Allowance to assist with the cost of insurance coverage due to the use of private vehicle for work purposes.

Responsibilities

• Conducts investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children.
• Collects information through interviews with the children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other parties associated with the case.
• Engages families, identifies needs and determines the level of intervention needed to include voluntary services or court ordered dependency services; provides services linkages to agency and community resources based on needs assessment.
• Provides recommendations for development of case plan to Case Manager.
• Conducts initial/ongoing child Present and Impending Danger assessments.
• Develops with the family a signed Present Danger Plan and a signed safety plan for any identified threats and interventions.
• Arranges emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the home.
• Notifies state attorney, law enforcement, child protection team and other required individuals as appropriate.
• Schedules and gathers information for and participates in case staffings,
• Prepares appropriate reports/documentation in coordination with Children’s Legal Services and provides testimony in court.
• Maintains thorough documentation in the client records/appropriate information system(s) and maintains organized client files.
• Reports indication of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
• Provides subject matter expertise to help less experienced CPIs build increased capacity in investigative skills.
• Provides case consultation and advises and/or co-investigates complex cases with other CPIs to assure appropriateness, clarity, quality, and thoroughness.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agenices involved with child protective investigations such as community based providers, Children’s Legal Services, law enforcement, medical personnel, schools, and other community/agency resources.
• Ensures effective communication with deaf or hard-of hearing Customers or companions in accordance with the ADA and/or Section 504 and shall manage service records and report this data and any resources and/or training needs to their designated program point of contact.

Skills

Child protection knowledge

Interview techniques

Case documentation

Verbal/written communication

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree (conferred)

Bachelor’s or Master’s in social work or related field preferred

Job description

Florida Department of Children and Families seeks a Senior Child Protective Investigator to lead investigations into abuse, neglect, and related conditions affecting children. You will collect information from multiple sources, engage families, and determine intervention needs, including referrals to services and potential court involvement.

You will develop case plans, assess danger, coordinate with legal services, and provide testimony in court.