Child Protection Specialist
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is hiring a Child Protection Specialist to help protect children and support families. The position is based at 1101 Eastport Plaza Dr, Collinsville, Illinois, and has an anticipated hybrid schedule of 2 to 5 days per week in the office, depending on operational needs. Regular work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with overtime and on-call duties that may require evenings and weekends. The specialist prepares and maintains reports, assessments, and case documentation; coordinates child placements in substitute care; attends conferences to assess needed services; and transports clients in connection with protective custody and placement changes. The role requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, vehicle insurance, and successful completion of a background check. The position is represented by a union, and the relevant collective bargaining agreement applies. The anticipated starting salary is $6,768 per month, with a full range of $6,460 to $9,337 per month. The State of Illinois offers a pension program and a benefits package that includes insurance, paid leave, parental leave, flexible schedules when available, and other programs.
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.
- 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.
- Ability to travel, a 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
- A master’s degree in social work is preferred.
Responsibilities
- 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 placement of children in substitute care facilities.
- Attend multi-disciplinary 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
- Group health insurance
- Life insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 3 paid personal business days annually
- 12 paid sick days annually, with carryover
- 10–25 paid vacation days annually, with 10 days in the first year
- 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 Program supplemental retirement plan
- Optional pre-tax 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
- 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
