Child Protective Services (CPS) Training Specialist

Loudoun County Government • Leesburg, VA

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

Loudoun County Department of Family Services is seeking a skilled and experienced Child Protective Services (CPS) Training Specialist to design, deliver, and continuously improve training that strengthens frontline child welfare practice and directly impacts child safety outcomes. This position ensures fidelity to Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) CPS practice standards and strengthens consistent application of child welfare policy, safety decision-making, and family engagement across all CPS practice areas. This is a practice-focused training and consultation role, not limited to classroom instruction. The Training Specialist functions as an instructional leader, field coach, and practice partner—supporting staff in Intake, Investigations, Family Assessments, and In-Home Services to build skill, consistency, and confidence in high-stakes child welfare work. This position reports to the CPS Program Administrator and plays a key role in workforce readiness, quality improvement, and strengthening outcomes for children and families.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, education or related field, or a bachelor’s degree in any field with at least two (2) years of directly related human services experience.
• Pass pre-employment background checks to include criminal, credit, CPS/APS, and DMV.
• Have a valid driver’s license and good driving record (driving records may be reviewed annually for continued qualification).
• Hold or obtain certifications such as CPR if required for assigned position.
• Obtain specific training such as CPS/Foster Care/APS state training as required or desired for assigned area.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in social work, human services, education, or related field.
• Direct experience in Child Protective Services or Virginia child welfare practice strongly preferred.
• Experience delivering training, facilitating adult learning, or providing staff development.
• Experience developing curriculum, training materials, or e-learning content.
• Strong working knowledge of VDSS CPS policy, safety/risk assessment, and in-home practice standards.
• Experience with systems such as OASIS, SafeMeasures, or COMPASS.
• Spanish/English bilingual skills.
• Certifications such as: Motivational Interviewing. Trauma-Informed Care. Train-the-Trainer. Forensic Interviewing.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver engaging, skills-based CPS training grounded in adult learning theory.
• Ensure training aligns with VDSS CPS policy, practice standards, and regulatory guidance.
• Facilitate instruction in: Safety and risk assessment (VDSS Structured Decision-Making practices, where applicable). Family engagement and interviewing techniques. CPS legal and policy requirements. Trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and bias-aware practice.
• Provide onboarding, coaching, and practice support for new CPS staff.
• Observe field practice and provide real-time feedback to improve decision-making and consistency.
• Serve as a practice consultant to supervisors and program leadership.
• Develop and update training curricula, e-learning modules, and instructional materials.
• Integrate policy updates, case practice trends, and field feedback into training design.
• Continuously refine training based on emerging needs and performance gaps.
• Use workforce and case practice data to identify training needs and skill gaps.
• Utilize systems such as: OASIS (case documentation system). Safe Measures (performance and quality monitoring). COMPASS (training and compliance tracking, where applicable).
• Evaluate training effectiveness based on: Skill application in the field. Case quality and timeliness. Staff competency development and retention trends.
• Partner with CPS supervisors and leadership to align training with operational priorities.
• Support consistency in practice across all CPS units.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in CPS policy and practice.
• Coordinate with state and regional partners to ensure alignment with VDSS expectations.

Benefits

• Hiring salary commensurate with experience.
• Eligible for Loudoun County Hiring & Retention Bonus Program ($3,000).
• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and retirement plan.
• Opportunity to directly influence CPS practice quality, workforce readiness, and child safety outcomes across Loudoun County.

What This Job Offers

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