CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60004515

State of Florida • Fort Myers, FL

29d • Onsite

About The Position

The Child Protective Investigator conducts investigations involving child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions to assess child safety and arrange appropriate interventions. The role requires detailed decision-making in a demanding, fast-paced environment and involves responding to children and families in crisis. Investigators work with children, parents, relatives, neighbors, law enforcement, state attorneys, child protection teams, and community service providers.

The position is based in Fort Myers, Florida, and is an essential position requiring night, weekend, and holiday work. Employees may need to work during emergencies or natural disasters, including before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days. Fieldwork may expose employees to hazardous conditions. The position requires an operational private vehicle for daily work activities; the department provides a vehicle insurance allowance. Investigators must complete an 8–12-week mandatory training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, or evening hours, and obtain and maintain Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or currently serving honorably); 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 as specified; 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.
• Hold a valid driver's license.
• Have an operational private vehicle for daily work activities and provide proof of vehicle registration and appropriate insurance within 30 days of hire.
• Attend an 8–12-week mandatory training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, and evening hours.
• Be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays and, as an essential employee, respond during emergencies and natural disasters, including outside normal work hours and days.
• Meet the physical agility and capacity requirements, including navigating varied terrain and stairs; assisting with evacuations and clients; having normal vision and hearing, with corrective devices if needed; performing repetitive movements; bending, twisting, kneeling, stooping, squatting, pushing, pulling, lifting, and walking extended distances; lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds; sitting or standing for extended periods; working 16-hour shifts on occasion; remaining alert on duty; and driving a car or passenger van during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Complete the application in its entirety and provide supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods; explain employment gaps and ensure application information is verifiable.
• Successfully complete the required state and national criminal background screening and drug test as conditions of employment.
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully authorized alien worker.
• Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, must meet the stated Selective Service registration or exemption requirement.
• Enroll in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program within the first 30 calendar days of appointment.

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.
• May require successful completion of a pre-interview assessment or work sample.

Responsibilities

• Investigate 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 for children who 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.
• Perform job tasks in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and state and federal requirements.
• Work during emergency situations or natural disasters, potentially before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days.

Benefits

• Vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs related to using a private vehicle for work.
• State employee benefits are described as a competitive total compensation package; specific benefits are not listed in the posting.
• Department opportunities, training, advancement, and professional development are available.

What This Job Offers

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