CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60072447

State of Florida • Vero Beach, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Child Protective Investigator conducts investigations into child abuse, neglect, abandonment, and special conditions to help ensure children’s safety. The role requires compassionate, detail-oriented decision-making in a demanding, high-pressure, fast-paced environment. Investigators gather information from children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other sources; assess child safety and caregiver capacities; and arrange emergency placements when children cannot safely remain at home. They also coordinate with state attorneys, law enforcement, child protection teams, agencies, and community resources.

The position is based in Fort Pierce and Vero Beach, Florida, and follows a Saturday-through-Tuesday work shift. Night, weekend, and holiday work is required. It is an essential position, and incumbents may need to work during emergencies or natural disasters, including before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days. Field work may involve exposure to hazardous conditions. Employees must attend a mandatory 8–12-week training course, which may be scheduled during daytime, weekend, and evening hours. The position requires a valid driver license and an operational private vehicle for work activities; a vehicle insurance allowance is provided.

Candidates must meet one of the listed education and experience pathways: a high school diploma or GED with four years of law enforcement experience or active military service; an associate degree or at least 60 college credits with two years of qualifying professional work experience, law enforcement experience, or active military service; or a bachelor’s degree. A Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification must be obtained within 12 months after provisional certification and maintained as a condition of employment. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or a related field is preferred.

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 conferred degree must be provided within 30 days of hire.
• 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 documentation within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to attend a mandatory 8–12-week training course, potentially scheduled during day, weekend, and evening hours.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and during emergencies or natural disasters, potentially before, during, and beyond normal work hours or days.
• Ability to perform physical agility tasks, including walking varied terrain and stairs; assisting with evacuations and clients; repetitive movements; bending, twisting, kneeling, stooping, squatting, pushing, pulling, lifting, and walking extended distances; carrying up to 30 pounds; sitting or standing for periods without a break; working 16-hour shifts on occasion; remaining alert; and driving a car or passenger van during daytime and nighttime hours.
• Normal vision and hearing, including with corrective devices.
• Successfully complete required state and national background screening and drug testing as conditions of employment.
• Complete the Candidate Profile application in full, provide supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods, explain employment gaps, and provide verifiable experience, education, training, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

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 for interview eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reports of 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.
• Perform job tasks in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and state and federal requirements.

Benefits

• Vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs related to using a private vehicle for work.
• 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