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 and support children and 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 services. The specialist also translates and interprets orally and in writing for Spanish-speaking clients about available services and completing forms. The role requires travel and transportation of clients, and may require overtime, evening and weekend work, and 24-hour on-call availability.
Requirements
- Requires the ability to speak and write Spanish at a colloquial skill level.
- Requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
- Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
- Requires physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
- One of the following education and experience pathways 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 and one year of directly related professional experience; 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 a 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.
- Overtime is a condition of employment; the employee may be requested or required to work scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime, including evenings and weekends, and must be able to work in a 24-hour on-call capacity.
Nice To Haves
- A master’s degree in social work is preferred.
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.
- Translate and interpret orally and in writing for Spanish-speaking clients regarding available services and proper completion of forms.
- 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
- 3 paid personal business days annually
- 12 paid sick days annually, with carryover from year to year
- 10–25 days of paid vacation annually, including 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 on position
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave
- Deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan
- Optional pre-tax medical care and dependent care assistance plans
- 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 for Chicago employees
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
