CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60071171

State of Florida • Brooksville, FL

18d • Onsite

About The Position

The Florida Department of Children and Families is hiring a Child Protective Investigator in Brooksville, Florida. This is a Career Service position investigating reports of child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions. The role involves assessing child safety and caregiver protective capacities, responding to urgent situations, arranging emergency placements when children cannot safely remain at home, and connecting families with agency and community resources. Investigators work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment and may encounter hazardous conditions in the field. The position is essential and requires work during emergencies or natural disasters, potentially before, during, and beyond normal work hours and days.

Candidates must meet one of the listed education and experience pathways: a high school diploma or GED plus four years of law enforcement experience or qualifying active military service; an associate degree or at least 60 college credit hours plus two years of professional work experience, law enforcement experience, or qualifying active military service; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. A Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification must be obtained within 12 months after provisional certification and maintained as a condition of employment. A valid driver license and an operational private vehicle are required. The department provides a vehicle insurance allowance for use of a private vehicle for work.

The employee must attend an 8–12-week mandatory training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, and evening hours. The position requires night, weekend, and holiday work, and may occasionally require 16-hour shifts. Applicants must complete the application in full and provide verifiable work, education, training, and qualification information. Hiring is contingent on required background screening and successful drug testing.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following qualification pathways: high school diploma or GED plus four years of law enforcement experience or qualifying active military service; associate degree or at least 60 college credit hours plus two years of professional work experience, law enforcement experience, or qualifying active military service; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Provide documentation of degree or diploma requirements; proof of a conferred degree must be provided within 30 days of hire when applicable.
• Obtain Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification within 12 months after provisional certification and maintain certification.
• Hold a valid driver license.
• Possess 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 day, weekend, and evening hours.
• Work nights, weekends, and holidays; work during emergencies or natural disasters and potentially beyond normal work hours or days.
• Be physically able to traverse varied terrain and stairs; assist with emergency evacuations; perform repetitive movements; bend, twist, kneel, stoop, squat, push, pull, lift, and walk extended distances; lift and carry up to 30 pounds; assist clients in and out of properties, vehicles, and safety equipment; sit or stand for extended periods; work 16-hour shifts on occasion; remain alert while on duty; and drive a car or passenger van during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Have normal vision and hearing, including with corrective devices.
• Successfully complete required state and national criminal history screening and a drug test as conditions of employment.
• Complete the Candidate Profile application in its entirety and provide verifiable information, including supervisor names and phone numbers for employment periods and explanations for employment gaps.

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.

Responsibilities

• Investigate allegations of 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 assessments of present and impending danger to children.
• 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.

Benefits

• Vehicle insurance allowance to assist with the cost of insurance coverage for use of a private vehicle for work.
• The State of Florida offers an employee benefits 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