CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results-oriented individual to serve as a Child Protection Specialist. The role supports DCFS’s mission to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. The position prepares and maintains reports, assessments, and case documentation; coordinates children’s placement in substitute care when needed; and works with multidisciplinary staff to assess services. It also involves transporting clients during protective custody and placement-related activities. The position is based at 1911 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County, and reports to Asha Mosi.
Requirements
- A 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.
- The college or university issuing the bachelor's or master's degree must be accredited, and a 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.
Nice To Haves
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Strong leadership and communication capabilities.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a Child Protection Specialist.
- Prepare and maintain a variety of 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 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 carryover 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 the position.
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
- Deferred Compensation Program supplemental retirement plan.
- Optional pre-tax programs, including 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.
- Five percent salary differential for bilingual positions.
- Commuter Savings Program for Chicago.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
