SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60023537

Florida; Bartow (FL); On-site; USD 49,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Florida Department of Children and Families, Winter Haven Service Center (Bartow location), seeks a Senior Child Protective Investigator to lead investigations of alleged child abuse, neglect, or exploitation. You will work as an individual contributor and model best practices in child protection, conducting interviews and coordinating with agencies to ensure child safety.

Responsibilities include collecting information from multiple sources, developing case plans, assessing dangers,

Qualifications

• Knowledge of theories and practice in child protection.
• Knowledge of ethics relating to child protection and counseling.
• Ability to document investigations and write accurate reports.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children.
• Interview children, parents, relatives, neighbors and other parties to gather information.
• Engage families, identify needs and determine intervention level, linking to services and drafting case plans.
• Perform initial and ongoing Present Danger and safety assessments.
• Develop safety plans with families and arrange emergency placements when needed.
• Coordinate with legal services, law enforcement and other agencies; provide testimony in court.
• Maintain thorough client records and documentation in ADS/case management systems.
• Notify the Florida Abuse Hotline of abuse/neglect/abandonment when indicated.
• Establish cooperative relationships with community providers and agencies involved in investigations.
• Ensure accessibility and ADA-compliant communication with deaf or hard-of-hearing customers.

Skills

Child protection theory

Ethics in child protection

Family-centered interviewing

Investigative techniques

Interviewing skills

Legal knowledge

Documenting reports

Communication skills

Case file management

ADA communication

Job description

Requisition No: 883589

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60023537

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60023537

Salary: $54,500.16

Posting Closing Date: 11/08/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

This posting is for the Winter Haven Service Center which sits in the Bartow location.

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.