CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60074924

State of Florida • Fort Lauderdale, FL

37d • Onsite

About The Position

The Child Protective Investigator conducts investigations involving child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions. The role requires quick, compassionate action to help protect children in crisis and calls for strong decision-making, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment. Investigators assess child safety, arrange emergency placements when children cannot safely remain at home, and connect families with agency and community resources.

The position is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is designated as essential. It requires night, weekend, and holiday work, and investigators may be expected to work during emergencies or natural disasters, including before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days. Field work may involve exposure to hazardous conditions. A mandatory 8–12-week training course is required and may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, or evening hours. The position also requires use of a personal vehicle for daily work activities; the department provides a vehicle insurance allowance.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service with honorable discharge or qualifying current honorable service; OR an associate degree or at least 60 college credit hours and two years of professional work experience, law enforcement experience, or active military service with honorable discharge or qualifying current honorable 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; proof of a conferred degree must be provided within 30 days of hire.
• 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.
• Valid driver's license.
• Operational private vehicle for daily work activities; provide proof of vehicle registration and appropriate insurance documentation within 30 days of hire.
• Attend a mandatory 8–12-week training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, and evening hours.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, emergency situations, and natural disasters, and to work beyond normal hours or days when required.
• Physical ability to navigate varied terrain and stairs; assist with evacuations and clients in or out of properties, vehicles, and safety equipment; perform repetitive movements; bend, twist, kneel, stoop, squat, push, pull, lift, and walk extended distances; lift and carry up to 30 pounds; sit or stand for periods without a break; work occasional 16-hour shifts; remain alert while on duty; and drive a car or passenger van during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Normal vision and hearing, including with corrective devices.
• Complete the candidate application in its entirety, including supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods, explanations for employment gaps, and verifiable experience, education, training, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Successfully complete required state and national background screening and a drug test as conditions of employment.
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully authorized alien worker.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's or master's degree in social work or a related field preferred.
• Language proficiency may be considered based on agency needs at the time of selection.

Responsibilities

• Investigate allegations of child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and 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 when a child cannot safely remain at home.
• Notify the state attorney, law enforcement, and child protection teams.
• Connect families with agency and community resources.
• Conduct initial and ongoing child present and impending danger assessments.
• Report indications of abuse, neglect, or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
• Work during emergencies or natural disasters when required.

Benefits

• Vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs related to use of a private vehicle for work.
• State of Florida employee benefits are described as a highly competitive total compensation package; details are available through the state's benefits website.
• Department opportunities and training for advancement and professional development.

What This Job Offers

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