CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60071455

State of Florida • CRAWFORDVILLE, FL

16h

About The Position

The Child Protective Investigator conducts investigations involving child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions to help ensure children’s safety. The role involves gathering information through observation and interviews, assessing danger threats and caregiver protective capacities, arranging emergency placements when a child cannot safely remain at home, and connecting families with agency and community resources. Investigators notify state attorneys, law enforcement, and child protection teams and report indications of abuse, neglect, or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

This is an essential position that may require night, weekend, and holiday work, as well as work before, during, and beyond normal hours during emergencies or natural disasters. Field work may involve exposure to hazardous conditions. Investigators must be able to attend a mandatory 8–12-week training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, evening, or weekend hours. The position requires use of an operational personal vehicle for work activities; the department provides a vehicle insurance allowance.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following education and experience pathways: 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.
• Active military service used to meet a qualification must be honorable, including current service status that reflects honorable service.
• Provide an official registrar letter or unofficial transcripts showing anticipated graduation date 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's license.
• Have access to an operational private vehicle for daily work activities and 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 day, weekend, and evening hours.
• Be physically able to navigate varied terrain and stairs; assist with emergency evacuations and clients entering or exiting properties, vehicles, and safety equipment; 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; sit or stand for periods without a break; work 16-hour shifts on occasion; remain alert while on duty; and drive during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Complete the application in its entirety, including supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods, and explain employment gaps.
• Successfully complete required background screening and drug testing 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.
• Experience in child advocacy, family support, group homes, education, daycare, therapeutic assistance, behavioral health, family intervention, healthcare, nursing facilities, emergency medical services, firefighting, dispatch, security, emergency management, government investigations, or related high-stress welfare, education, first responder, emergency management, or medical work.

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 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.
• Transport clients in a car or passenger van as needed.

Benefits

• Vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs related to using a private vehicle for work.
• State employee benefits and total compensation package.
• Training, advancement opportunities, and professional development.

What This Job Offers

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