CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60004384

State of Florida • MILTON, FL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Children and Families is hiring Child Protective Investigators in Milton, Florida. Investigators respond to reports involving child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions. This demanding role requires compassionate, detail-oriented people who can make sound decisions in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment to help ensure children’s safety.

The position is designated as essential and requires night, weekend, and holiday work. Investigators may need to work during emergencies or natural disasters, including before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days. The role may involve exposure to hazardous conditions in the field. Candidates must complete mandatory training lasting 8–12 weeks, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, or evening hours. A Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification must be obtained within 12 months after provisional certification and maintained as a condition of employment.

The position requires a valid driver license and an operational private vehicle for daily work activities. Selected candidates must provide vehicle registration and appropriate insurance documentation within 30 days of hire; the Department provides a vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs related to work use. Candidates must meet one of the specified education and experience pathways. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or a related field is preferred.

Requirements

• Meet one of these 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 with anticipated graduation dates and credits earned for diploma or degree requirements; provide proof of a conferred degree within 30 days of hire as a condition of employment.
• Obtain Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months after provisional certification and maintain certification as a condition of employment.
• Possess a valid driver license and an operational private vehicle for daily work activities; provide proof of vehicle registration and appropriate insurance coverage within 30 days of hire.
• Attend the mandatory 8–12-week training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, and evening hours.
• Be available for night, weekend, and holiday work, and work during emergencies or natural disasters, potentially before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days.
• Meet the listed physical and agility demands, including walking on varied terrain and stairs; assisting with evacuations and clients; normal vision and hearing, with corrective devices permitted; repetitive movements; bending, twisting, kneeling, squatting, pushing, pulling, lifting, and walking extended distances; lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds; sitting or standing for periods without a break; occasionally working 16-hour shifts; remaining alert while on duty; and driving a car or passenger van during both day and night.
• Complete the application in its entirety and provide verifiable work history, education, training, knowledge, skills, and abilities; include supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods and explain employment gaps.
• Successfully complete required State and National criminal history and background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.
• Successfully complete a drug test as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or a related field is preferred.
• Language proficiency may be considered based on agency needs at the time of selection.
• A pre-interview assessment or work sample may be required to be eligible for an 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 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.
• Conduct initial and ongoing child-present and impending-danger assessments.
• Report indications of abuse, neglect, or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

Benefits

• The Department provides a Vehicle Insurance Allowance to assist with the cost of insurance coverage due to use of a private vehicle for work purposes.
• The State of Florida offers an employee benefits package; details are available through the State benefits website.
• Employees are encouraged to pursue Department opportunities for advancement and professional development, and training is promoted.

What This Job Offers

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