Social Service Specialist 1 - Child Protective Services Worker (CPS)

Oregon Department of Human Services; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oregon Department of Human Services seeks two Social Service Specialist 1 - Child Protective Services Workers for the Alberta office in NE Portland. You will respond to referrals, interview families, assess safety, and coordinate care for children in need.

You will document cases, collaborate with partners, testify in court, and participate in on-call duties as part of a dynamic child welfare team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services or related field, or
• Bachelor's in unrelated field with related experience or certification
• Associate degree with relevant experience or training
• Experience with diverse populations and trauma-informed care
• Proficient in documenting cases and using databases

Responsibilities

• Respond to referrals and determine abuse or neglect.
• Gather information via interviews with parents and children.
• Observe and assess home safety and conditions.
• Collect collateral information from school, doctors, therapists, and police.
• Document thoroughly and enter data into systems.
• Arrange medical evaluations and substitute care placement.
• Present and testify in court.

Skills

Collaborative relationships

Narrative documentation

Diverse populations experience

Trauma-informed practices

Effective communication

Data entry and databases

Case management

Education

Bachelors in Human Services

Bachelors in related field + experience

Associate degree + experience or cert

Job description

Social Service Specialist 1 - Child Protective Services Worker (CPS)

Position Title

Social Service Specialist 1 - Child Protective Services Worker (CPS)

Initial Posting Date

09/21/2026

Application Deadline

09/29/2026

Agency

Department of Human Services

Salary Range

$4,954 - $7,592

Position Type

Employee

Job Description

The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by ourEquity North Star and our vision for a positiveRiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Opportunity awaits! Step into a transformative role where your passion for the well-being of children and your ability to connect with families come together to create lasting change. Become a catalyst for positive impact in the lives of Oregon’s children and their loved ones. Are you ready to unlock the potential within every family—and make a real difference?

We are currently seeking two Social Service Specialist 1-Child Protective Services Workers (CPS) to join our team based at the Alberta office located in NE Portland.

As an employee working within the Child Welfare Program, you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. Your dedication will help us achieve the Child Welfare Vision for Transformation that will support children and young adults to be safer, healthier, experience less trauma and achieve a greater well-being.

Summary Of Duties

• Respond to referrals and determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred.
• Gather information through interviews with parents and children.
• Observe and analyze the safety of home environments.
• Gather collateral information from school personnel, doctors, therapists, and law enforcement officers.
• Fulfill documentation requirements and enter info into databases.
• Arrange medical evaluations and substitute care placement for children.
• Present and testify in court.

Minimum Qualifications

• A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record are required for this position. And
• A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a field related to human service, or;
• A bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services and either:
• One year of Human Services related experience, or;
• Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency, or;
• An associate degree and either:
• Two years of Human Services related experience, or;
• One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.

Essential Attributes

• Experience building collaborative relationships with community partners, agency staff, clients, and impacted communities.
• Experience in preparing detailed narrative documentation and individual client cases, including case activities, client interactions, and other pertinent observations.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Experience adopting trauma-informed practices that consider individual needs, safety, trust-building, and cultural sensitivity.
• Experience in effective communication with individuals via telephone and face-to-face interactions.
• Demonstrated proficiency in navigating technology, inputting, and retrieving data, and using various computer systems or databases.
• Experience providing services and resources to children and families in social services settings.
• Experience with case management which includes assessing individual needs, developing and implementing personalized action plans, monitoring progress, and collaborating with various service providers to ensure comprehensive support.

Working Conditions

• The Alberta office will be your daily work site, with frequent case work tasks being conducted in schools, clients homes, hospitals, and other community settings as needed.
• Employee’s work schedule will be Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm PT; hours may fluctuate based on service needs. Occasional compensated overtime during evening and weekend work may be required.
• This position will be required to participate in an on-call rotation for mandatory on call for child protective services.
• Frequent travel is required. Some travel may be hours away. Some travel may be in hazardous weather conditions.
• You may interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions.
• Walking into stressful situations that may require quick decision-making skills to ensure safety of those being serviced and own physical safety. This may also be trauma inducing.

Background Checks And Requirements

• The Oregon Department of Human Services does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
• If selected as a finalist, we will conduct a criminal history and background check. Adverse criminal history or background check may lead to disqualification. Additional background check information.
• Finalists must be cleared by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) through a fingerprint-based criminal records check.
• Per pursuant to ORS 419B.021, states that any position engaged in child protective investigations and/or custody determinations must meet the educational requirements. Experience alone will not meet the minimum qualifications for those positions. Degree must be completed, not in progress.

Benefits

• ODHS Employee Resource Group communities that promote shared learning.
• Cost of Living Adjustments.
• Annual salary increases (until you reach the top of the listed salary range).
• Amazing benefits package.
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Employment Preference

Veterans’ Preference

• Veterans’ preference information.
• How to submit your Veteran documents for preference. Please do not attach your Veterans’ preference documentation in the Resume/CV field of your application.

General Information

• This is a permanent , full-time position and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
• The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.
• This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification.

Contact Information

• The recruiter for this position is Bonnie Nyssen . Please include the REQ# when corresponding.
• Email: [e-mail]