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 position prepares and maintains reports, assessments, and case documentation; coordinates children’s placement in substitute care; and works with multidisciplinary staff to assess needed services. The specialist also transports clients when taking protective custody, arranging substitute care, or changing placement locations. The position is based at 1101 Eastport Plaza Dr, Collinsville, Illinois. The anticipated hybrid work schedule is 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 position requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, proof of vehicle insurance, and passing a background check. This is a union position covered by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Applicants must apply electronically through the Illinois jobs website. The anticipated starting salary is $6,768 per month, with a full range of $6,460 to $9,337 per month.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work; or 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 bachelor’s degree in social work and one year of directly related professional experience; or 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 and master’s degrees must be issued by an accredited college or university; social work degree programs must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
Requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
Must be able to pass a background check.
Requires physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
Must be able to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime; evenings and weekends; and in a 24-hour on-call capacity.

Nice To Haves

Excellent organizational skills.
Strong leadership and communication capabilities.

Responsibilities

Serve as a Child Protection Specialist.
Prepare and maintain reports, assessments, and case documentation.
Select, summarize, and present case material for transfer to a permanency caseworker or 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 their placement location.
Perform other duties as required or assigned that are reasonably within the scope of the position.

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.
Ten to 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.
Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
Deferred Compensation Program, a supplemental retirement plan.
Optional pre-tax programs, including Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) and Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP).
Eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Eligibility for GI Bill training and apprenticeship benefits for qualifying veterans.
Five percent salary differential for bilingual positions.
Commuter Savings Program for Chicago employees.