CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST
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; selects, summarizes, and presents case materials for transfer to permanency, intact, or prevention caseworkers; determines and coordinates placements in substitute care; attends multidisciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services; and transports clients when taking protective custody, placing them in substitute care, or changing their placement. Other duties reasonably within the scope of the role may be assigned. The position is based at 1101 Eastport Plaza Drive in Collinsville, Illinois. The anticipated hybrid schedule provides for two to five days per week in the office, depending on operational needs. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; overtime may be required, including evenings and weekends, and the employee must be able to work in a 24-hour on-call capacity. The role requires travel, a valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance. Applicants must pass a background check and have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
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.
- The institution granting the bachelor’s or master’s degree must be accredited; a social work degree program 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.
- Must have the 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 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 listed duties.
Benefits
- Pension program
- Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance
- 3 paid personal business days annually
- 12 paid sick days annually, with carryover from year to year
- 10–25 days of paid vacation annually; 10 days in the first year of employment
- 13 paid holidays annually, and 14 in even-numbered years
- Flexible work schedules when available and dependent upon position
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave
- Deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan
- Optional pre-tax Medical Care Assistance Plan and Dependent Care Assistance Plan
- Eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Eligibility for GI Bill training/apprenticeship benefits for qualifying veterans
- 5% salary differential for bilingual positions
- Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
