CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60061310

State of Florida • Homestead, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Children and Families is hiring Child Protective Investigators for positions in Homestead, Miami, and Key West, Florida. This open-competitive posting will be used to fill vacancies in OPS and Career Service. Investigators respond to reports involving children in crisis and work to protect children who may be unable to protect themselves. The role requires compassion, attention to detail, sound decision-making, and the ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.

Investigators assess children’s safety and family circumstances, take appropriate actions when children cannot safely remain at home, and connect families with agency and community services. The position is designated essential and requires night, weekend, and holiday work, including work during emergencies or natural disasters and potentially beyond normal work hours. Field work may involve exposure to hazardous conditions. Employees must maintain Florida Child Protective Investigator certification and use an operational personal vehicle for daily work activities; a vehicle insurance allowance is provided.

The role requires successful completion of an 8–12-week mandatory training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, or evening hours. Candidates must meet one of the listed education and experience pathways, hold a valid driver license, and be able to perform the physical tasks described in the posting. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or a related field is preferred. Employment is subject to required background screening and successful drug testing.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following qualification pathways: a high school diploma or GED and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service; an associate degree or at least 60 college credit hours and two years of professional work experience, law enforcement experience, or active military service; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Provide an official registrar letter or unofficial transcripts showing anticipated graduation dates and credits earned for diploma or degree requirements; provide proof of a conferred degree within 30 days of hire when applicable.
• Obtain Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months after obtaining provisional certification and maintain certification as a condition of employment.
• Hold a valid driver license.
• Have an operational private vehicle available for daily work activities and provide proof of vehicle registration and appropriate insurance within 30 days of hire.
• Attend a mandatory 8–12-week training course, which may be scheduled during day, weekend, and evening hours.
• Be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays, and during emergencies or natural disasters; work may extend beyond normal work hours or days.
• Be physically able to navigate varied terrain and stairs; assist with emergency evacuations; have normal vision and hearing, with corrective devices if needed; perform repetitive movements; bend, twist, kneel, stoop, squat, push, pull, lift, and walk extended distances; lift and carry up to 30 pounds; assist clients in and out of properties, vehicles, and safety equipment; sit or stand for periods without a break; work 16-hour shifts on occasion; remain alert while on duty; and drive a car or passenger van during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Complete the candidate profile in its entirety, including supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods, and explain employment gaps.
• Ensure experience, education, training, knowledge, skills, abilities, and responses to pre-qualifying questions are verifiable.
• Complete required state and national criminal history screening and any applicable screening under Chapters 435 and 408, Florida Statutes.
• Successfully complete a drug test as a condition of employment.
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully authorized alien worker.
• For applicable male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, meet the stated Selective Service registration or exemption requirement.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or a related field.
• Language proficiency may be considered based on agency needs at the time of selection.
• Successful completion of a pre-interview assessment or work sample may be required for interview eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Investigate allegations of child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and/or special conditions.
• Gather information through observation and interviews with children, parents, relatives, and neighbors.
• Assess danger threats, child vulnerabilities, and caregiver protective capacities to determine whether a child is safe.
• Arrange emergency placement for children who cannot safely remain in their homes.
• Notify the state attorney, law enforcement, and child protection teams.
• Connect families with agency and community resources and services.
• Conduct initial and ongoing child present and impending danger assessments.
• Report indications of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
• Perform job tasks in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and state and federal requirements.

Benefits

• The Department provides a vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs arising from use of a private vehicle for work.
• State employee benefits are described as a competitive total compensation package; details are available through the State of Florida benefits website.
• Employees are encouraged to pursue available Department advancement and professional development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED