State of Florida

  • West Palm Beach, FL


  • $41,500 per year

  • Permanent

  • Full-time

Requisition No: 409901

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR – 60069269

Position Number: 60069269

Salary: $41,500.16

Posting Closing Date: 07/01/2021

SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR

Pay Grade 20

Broadband Level 21-1099-03

This is an Internal Agency Advertisement. Only current employees of the Department, including OPS, may apply.

Salary: $41,500.16*

*Note: A base salary increase of 4.80% may be applicable based upon the Statewide Pay Guidelines.

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 contributing role and be a model of child protection practice to other Child Protective Investigators during preservice training and beyond.

Examples of Work Performed:

  • 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 signed safety plans 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.
  • Acts as a role model and mentor for new Child Protective Investigators, portraying a positive attitude, good communication and productive field visits on preservice shadowing days.

The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.

Note: The examples of work as listed above are not all-inclusive. The omission of specific statements does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are of a logical assignment to the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position: Knowledge of theories and practices in child protection. Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child protection and counseling. Knowledge of family-centered interviewing, counseling, investigative and observational techniques. Skills in considering child development. Ability to recognize indicators of abuse and neglect. Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. Ability to apply relevant laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Ability to actively listen and communicate effectively.

Minimum qualifications:

  • Current valid State of Florida drivers license; and
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; and
  • Current Florida Child Protective Investigator certification
  • Minimum 1 year experience as a Child Protective Investigator

Preferences:

  • Bachelor’s degree in social work, behavioral science, criminal justice, nursing or education field;

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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. 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 . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

State of Florida

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