SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60002554

State of Florida; Sebring (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Florida seeks a Senior Child Protective Investigator in the Sebring service center. This professional role protects children, works with families and conducts investigations of alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation.

You will be a model of practice for other investigators and handle individual contributions with integrity. The position involves interviewing multiple parties, developing safety plans, coordinating with agencies, and providing testimony when required.

Qualifications

• Investigations of abuse, neglect, abandonment or exploitation of children.
• Interview children, parents, relatives, neighbors and others related to the case.
• Develop case plans and link services based on needs assessment.
• Prepare and present investigative findings and reports to the relevant authorities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children.
• Collect information through interviews with the children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other parties.
• Engage families, identify needs and determine intervention level including voluntary or court-ordered services.
• Conduct Present and Impending Danger assessments and develop safety plans.
• Arrange emergency placement when needed and coordinate with legal services.
• Prepare reports and provide testimony in court; maintain thorough records.
• Notify authorities and participate in case staffings; maintain cooperative relationships with agencies.

Skills

Child protection

Interview techniques

Case management

Communication

Legal awareness

Job description

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SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60002554

Date: Aug 10, 2026

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

Requisition No:881442

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60002554

This posting is for the Sebring Service Center.

Duties & Responsibilities

This is professional work protecting children, working with families and conducting investigations of alleged abused, abandoned, neglected or exploited children. This position will assume an individual contributor role and be a model of child protection practice to other Child Protective Investigators (CPIs).

• Conduct investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children.
• Collect information through interviews with the children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other parties associated with the case;
• Engage families, identify needs and determine the level of intervention needed to include voluntary services or court ordered dependency services; provide services linkages to agency and community resources based on needs assessment. Provide recommendations for development of case plan to Case Manager;
• Conduct initial/ongoing child Present and Impending Danger assessments;
• Develop with the family a signed Present Danger Plan and a signed safety plan for any identified threats and interventions;
• Arrange emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the home;
• Notify state attorney, law enforcement, child protection team and other required individuals as appropriate;
• Schedule and gathers information for and participates in case staffings;
• Prepare appropriate reports/documentation in coordination with Children’s Legal Services and provides testimony in court;
• Maintain thorough documentation in the client records/appropriate information system(s) and maintains organized client files;
• Report indication of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline;
• Establish and maintain 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;
• Ensure 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.

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge of theories and practice in child protection. Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child protection and counseling. Knowledge of family-centered interviewing and counseling techniques. Knowledge of investigative techniques. Knowledge of interviewing and observation techniques. Skill in considering child development in guiding placement of children. Ability to recognize indicators of abuse and neglect. Ability to conduct risk and safety investigations. Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. Ability to understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulation, policies and procedure. Ability to actively listen to others. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to maintain well-executed case files. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to utilize computer systems. Ability to write accurate investigative reports.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.

Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes,candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

Location

SEBRING, FL, US, 33870

Nearest Major Market: Central Florida
Nearest Secondary Market: Sebring

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.