CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is hiring an organized, professional, and results-oriented Child Protection Specialist to help protect children and support families. The role involves preparing and maintaining reports, assessments, and case documentation; coordinating children’s placements in substitute care; and working with multidisciplinary teams to assess needed services. The specialist also transports clients in connection with protective custody and placement changes, and prepares case material for transfer to permanency, intact, or prevention caseworkers. This is a union position governed by the relevant collective bargaining agreement. The position is based at 10 Collinsville Ave, East St. Louis, Illinois, with hybrid work schedule availability of two to five days per week in the office, depending on operational needs. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; overtime may be required, including evenings, weekends, and 24-hour on-call availability. The role requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
Requirements
- One of the following education and experience combinations is required: a master’s degree in social work; a master’s degree in a related human service field, criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement plus one year of directly related professional experience; a bachelor’s degree in social work plus 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 plus 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.
- Must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
- Must be able to work overtime, including evenings and weekends, and in a 24-hour on-call capacity when requested or required.
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 placement locations.
- Perform other duties as required or assigned that are reasonably within the scope of the position.
Benefits
- Pension program
- Competitive group health, life, dental, and vision insurance
- Three paid personal business days annually
- Twelve paid sick days annually, with carryover
- Ten to 25 days of paid vacation annually; 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 upon position
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave
- Deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan
- Optional pre-tax medical care and dependent care assistance plans
- Eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Eligibility for GI Bill training/apprenticeship benefits for qualifying veterans
- Five percent salary differential for bilingual positions
- Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
