CHILD PROTECTIVE FIELD SUPPORT ANALYST - 60055417

State of Florida • Alachua, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Children and Families is hiring a Child Protective Field Support Analyst, also known as the “brain,” to support Child Protective Investigators (CPIs) and their supervisors. The role reviews investigations received through the Florida Abuse Hotline, helps ensure critical information is collected, assessed, and shared with involved staff, and supports critical thinking about information gathering, parental protective capacities, safety planning, and safety determinations. When needed, the analyst requests and reviews relevant family records and coordinates appointments and referrals that inform family assessments, including Child Protection Team appointments and service-provider referrals.

The analyst observes and documents investigative casework, reviews casework, assessments, and safety plans, and provides real-time consultation, direction, coaching, and mentoring to investigators. The position collaborates with CPI staff and leadership, elevates concerns to supervisors and program administrators as appropriate, and contributes to system-based solutions for CPI training and development. The analyst is co-located with investigative staff to support at least two CPI investigative units but reports directly to the Family Safety Program Office, helping incorporate investigative practice trends and case reviews into training and quality assurance activities.

The position also establishes cooperative relationships with community and agency partners, supports effective communication with customers who use alternative languages or are deaf or hard of hearing, maintains service records, and may manage or assist with special projects. Work must comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and state and federal requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• At least 2 years of experience as a Child Protective Investigator.
• Must be trained in and practicing Florida’s Safety Practice method.
• Current and active Child Welfare Certification credentials from the Florida Certification Board.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Operational private vehicle for daily work activities; selected applicants must provide proof of vehicle registration and appropriate insurance coverage.
• Excellent critical-thinking skills.
• Competence in data collection and analytics.
• Knowledge of child-protection theory and practice, professional ethics relating to child protection and counseling, family-centered interviewing and counseling techniques, investigative techniques, and interviewing and observation techniques.
• Skill in considering child development when guiding placement of children.
• Ability to recognize indicators of abuse and neglect and conduct risk and safety investigations.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; actively listen; communicate effectively; maintain well-executed case files; establish and maintain effective working relationships; use computer systems; and write accurate investigative reports.

Responsibilities

• Review investigations received through the Florida Abuse Hotline to help ensure critical information is provided to CPIs, CPI supervisors, and other involved staff.
• Identify and facilitate collection of information needed to assess investigations, parental protective capacities, safety plans, and safety determinations.
• Request and review records pertinent to family assessments and coordinate appointments and referrals, including Child Protection Team appointments and service-provider referrals.
• Meet with CPIs, CPI supervisors, and, when required, the Operations Program Administrator to elevate concerns identified through record reviews or other information.
• Observe and document investigator casework, service-needs assessments, and referrals to service providers.
• Review casework, assessments, and safety plans with investigators and provide consultation and direction on appropriateness, clarity, quality, thoroughness, and documentation.
• Provide real-time support by reviewing investigative documents and assessments and helping CPIs determine and facilitate appropriate service referrals and supports.
• Coach, motivate, model, and mentor investigators, including assisting CPIs with documenting investigative activity and updating appropriate information systems.
• Collaborate with CPI staff to evaluate and analyze information in support of decision-making.
• Participate on the leadership team responsible for developing system-based solutions to CPI training and development issues.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in child protective investigations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with community-based providers, Child Protection Teams, Children’s Legal Services, law enforcement, medical personnel, schools, and other community or agency resources.
• Ensure effective communication with customers who speak alternative languages or are deaf or hard of hearing, in accordance with the ADA and/or Section 504; manage service records and report data and resource or training needs.
• Manage or assist with ongoing or one-time special projects as requested.

Benefits

• Competitive employee benefits package.
• Vehicle Insurance Allowance to assist with the cost of insurance coverage for use of a private vehicle for work purposes.
• Training, advancement opportunities, and professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level