CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60072743

State of Florida • LEESBURG, FL

17d • $50,000 - $50,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Child Protective Investigator conducts investigations involving child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions to help determine whether children are safe. The role requires detailed decision-making in a demanding, high-pressure, fast-paced environment and involves working with children and families, community resources, and partner agencies. Investigators may encounter hazardous field conditions and must work nights, weekends, holidays, and during emergencies or natural disasters, including beyond normal work hours or days. The position is designated essential.

The role is based in Leesburg, Florida, and is an open-competitive Career Service position with the Florida Department of Children and Families. Salary is $50,000.08 annually. Investigators must obtain Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification within 12 months after obtaining provisional certification and maintain certification as a condition of employment. The job requires a valid driver license and an operational private vehicle for daily work; the Department provides a vehicle insurance allowance. A mandatory 8–12-week training course is required and may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, or 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 at least 60 college credit hours and two years of qualifying 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 showing anticipated graduation dates and earned credits for degree requirements; proof of a conferred degree must be provided 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 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 within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to attend a mandatory 8–12-week training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, or evening hours.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays, and during emergency situations or natural disasters, potentially beyond normal work hours or days.
• Ability to perform physical agility tasks including walking varied terrain and stairs; assisting with emergency evacuations; normal vision and hearing, with corrective devices if used; repetitive arm, hand, neck, and head movements; bending, twisting, turning, kneeling, stooping, squatting, pushing, pulling, lifting, and walking extended distances; lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds; assisting clients in and out of properties, vehicles, and safety equipment; sitting or standing for periods without a break; working 16-hour shifts on occasion; remaining alert while on duty; and driving a car or passenger van to transport clients during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Demonstrated ability in following policy and procedures, managing time, assessing, planning, intervening, evaluating, documenting, engaging, teaming, taking appropriate actions related to domestic violence, mental health, and/or substance abuse, establishing effective relationships with colleagues, and professional competencies.
• Complete the Candidate Profile application in its entirety, provide supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods, explain employment gaps, and ensure experience, education, training, knowledge, skills, abilities, and pre-qualifying responses are verifiable.
• Successfully complete required state and national criminal-history background screening and drug testing as conditions of employment.
• U.S. citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States.
• Eligible male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, must meet Selective Service registration or exemption requirements.
• 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.
• Successful completion of 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.
• Work during emergencies or natural disasters, including before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days when required.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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