Child Protection Specialist

State of Illinois•Madison, WI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results-oriented Child Protection Specialist to help protect children and support families. The role includes preparing and maintaining reports, assessments, and case documentation; coordinating substitute-care placements; participating in multidisciplinary conferences to assess needed services; and transporting clients in specified circumstances. The position is based at 1101 Eastport Plaza Dr, Collinsville, Illinois, and offers a hybrid schedule of two to five days per week in the office, depending on operational needs. Regular work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; overtime, evening and weekend work, and 24-hour on-call availability may also be required. The role requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, vehicle insurance, and passing a background check.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work; or a master’s degree in a related human service field, criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and one year of directly related professional experience; or a bachelor’s degree in social work and one year of directly related professional experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a related human service field, criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and two years of directly related professional experience.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree must be issued by an accredited college or university; social work degree program must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
Valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
Ability to pass a background check.
Physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
Ability to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime; evenings and weekends; and in a 24-hour on-call capacity.
Ability to travel.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in social work is preferred.
Excellent organizational skills.
Strong leadership and communication capabilities.

Responsibilities

Prepare and maintain reports, assessments, and case documentation.
Select, summarize, and present case material for transfer to a permanency caseworker or an intact/prevention caseworker.
Determine the need for and coordinate the placement of children in substitute-care facilities.
Attend multidisciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services.
Transport clients when taking protective custody, placing them in substitute care, and changing placement location.
Perform other duties as required or assigned that are reasonably within the scope of the listed duties.

Benefits

Pension program.
Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance.
Three paid personal business days annually.
Twelve paid sick days annually, with unused sick days carrying over from year to year.
10–25 days of paid vacation annually, with 10 days in the first year of employment.
Thirteen paid holidays annually, and 14 in even-numbered years.
Flexible work schedules when available and dependent on position.
12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Deferred Compensation Program, a supplemental retirement plan.
Optional pre-tax Medical Care Assistance Plan and Dependent Care Assistance Plan.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility.
GI Bill training/apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans.
5% salary differential for bilingual positions.
Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only).