CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60074871

State of Florida • CHIPLEY, FL

19d • Onsite

About The Position

The Child Protective Investigator conducts investigations involving child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions. The role requires detailed observation, interviewing, sound decision-making, and the ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment to assess child safety and help protect children who may be unable to protect themselves.

Investigators assess danger threats, child vulnerabilities, and caregiver protective capacities; determine whether children are safe; arrange emergency placements when children cannot safely remain at home; notify relevant authorities and child protection teams; and connect families with agency and community resources. The position is essential and involves field work, possible exposure to hazardous conditions, and work during emergencies or natural disasters. It requires night, weekend, and holiday work, and may involve working beyond normal hours or days, including occasional 16-hour shifts.

The position is based in Chipley, Florida. Investigators must obtain Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification within the specified period and maintain certification as a condition of employment. A valid driver license and an operational private vehicle are required for daily work activities; the department provides a vehicle insurance allowance. Mandatory training lasts 8–12 weeks and may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, and evening hours.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service, with honorable discharge or current service status reflecting honorable service; OR an associate degree or 60 or more college credit hours and two years of professional work experience or two years of law enforcement experience or active military service; OR a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• 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 license.
• Operational private vehicle for daily work activities; provide proof of vehicle registration and appropriate insurance coverage within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to attend a mandatory 8–12-week training course, which may be scheduled during day, weekend, and evening hours.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays; work during emergencies or natural disasters and beyond normal work hours or days when required.
• Ability to perform physical agility tasks, including traversing varied terrain and stairs; assisting with evacuations and clients; repetitive movements; bending, twisting, kneeling, stooping, squatting, pushing, pulling, lifting, and extended-distance walking; lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds; sitting or standing for periods without a break; working occasional 16-hour shifts; remaining alert on duty; and driving a car or passenger van during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Normal vision and hearing, including use of corrective devices.
• Complete the candidate profile and provide verifiable work history, education, training, knowledge, skills, and abilities; explain employment gaps and include supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods.
• Successful completion of required background screening and a drug test as conditions of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or a related field.
• Language proficiency may be considered based on agency needs.
• Successful completion of a pre-interview assessment or work sample may be required to be eligible for interview.

Responsibilities

• Investigate child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions.
• Collect information through observation and interviews with children, parents, relatives, and neighbors.
• Assess danger threats, child vulnerabilities, and caregiver protective capacities to determine child safety.
• 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.
• Conduct initial and ongoing child-present and impending-danger assessments.
• Report indications of abuse, neglect, and abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
• Work during emergency situations or natural disasters, including before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days when required.
• Perform job tasks in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and state and federal requirements.

Benefits

• Vehicle insurance allowance to assist with the cost of insurance coverage for use of a private vehicle for work purposes.
• State of Florida employee benefits and total compensation package; details are available through the State benefits website.
• Department opportunities and training for advancement and professional development.

What This Job Offers

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