Conservatorship Worker/BRIDGE Team

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

2d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is hiring a Conservatorship Worker for its BRIDGE Team in Region 7. The BRIDGE Team is a specialized, cross-trained regional team that travels throughout the region to provide coaching, mentoring, training, and operational support. It partners with staff and leadership across divisions to promote consistent practice, clarify expectations, strengthen workforce capacity, and support positive outcomes for children and families through consultation, unit support, targeted interventions, and hands-on engagement.

Conservatorship Workers are legally responsible for monitoring the welfare of children removed from their homes and placed in CPS conservatorship. They work with children, parents, extended family, caregivers, legal parties, and community resources to address children’s needs and achieve safe, permanent placements. The work includes assessing safety and risk, arranging services and evaluations, identifying and assessing kinship resources, visiting children and families, participating in court proceedings, maintaining case records, and supporting reunification or adoption-related placements.

The position is full-time, nonexempt, and regular, with a day shift. It is not eligible for telework and is based in a mobile work environment, with the position potentially housed anywhere in Region 7 and a preference for Central Austin. Travel is frequent and may include travel outside assigned counties, short-notice assignments, and some overnight travel. The posting estimates travel at up to 85%, and later describes being on the road about 60% of the time. Work may involve visits to homes and offices, including isolated or high-crime areas and places with substandard or unsanitary conditions. The role may require appointments after 5 p.m., rotating on-call coverage, and irregular hours.

The position may be filled at the Conservatorship Worker I, II, III, or IV level. Starting salary may depend on education and experience. Newly hired employees with a Master’s Degree in Social Work may qualify for an increase at hire. The role requires use of the employee’s personal motor vehicle, a reliable vehicle, an acceptable driving record for the previous five years, and a current valid Texas driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle and its passenger or cargo load. Candidates selected for hire must pass applicable background and driving-record checks, drug screening, and the required FBI fingerprint check. The position may transition to a private nonprofit Single Source Continuum Contractor as Community-Based Care is implemented; office location and job duties may change as part of that transition.

The posting lists state employee benefits including health insurance with the state paying 100% of the employee’s premium and 50% of eligible family members’ premiums; retirement plans, including lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service and optional 401(k) and 457 plans; paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; optional dental, vision, and life insurance; flexible spending accounts; and employee discounts. Public Service Loan Forgiveness may also be available to eligible employees.

Requirements

• For Worker I, an accredited bachelor’s degree; or an accredited associate’s degree plus two years of relevant work experience; or 60 accredited college credit hours plus two years of relevant work experience; or 90 accredited college credit hours plus one year of relevant work experience. Relevant experience may include paid or volunteer work in social, human, or protective services serving families or other at-risk populations.
• For Worker II, the Worker I education and experience criteria, plus qualifying DFPS employment and certification: employment as a CPS Specialist I for nine months and CPS Specialist Certification, current or previous employment as a CPS Specialist II or CPS Investigations Specialist II, or equivalent specified DFPS employment.
• For Worker III, the Worker I education and experience criteria, plus qualifying DFPS employment and certification: employment as a CPS Specialist II for nine months and Advanced CPS Specialist Certification, current or previous employment as a CPS Specialist III or CPS Investigations Specialist III, or equivalent specified DFPS employment.
• For Worker IV, the Worker I education and experience criteria, plus qualifying DFPS employment and certification: employment as a CPS Specialist III for 24 months and Senior Advanced CPS Specialist Certification, current or previous employment as a CPS Specialist IV or CPS Investigations Specialist IV, or equivalent specified DFPS employment.
• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and in problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to operate a personal computer.
• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits and other work-related appointments and meetings after 5 p.m.
• Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours.
• Ability to work in an emotionally demanding environment and conduct home visits in isolated or high-crime areas, potentially involving substandard or unsanitary conditions.
• Use of a personal motor vehicle to complete job functions; a reliable vehicle, acceptable driving record for the past five years, and current valid Texas driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle and its passenger or cargo load are required. Proof of driving record, insurance, and license must be provided.
• Must pass applicable background and driving-record checks, drug screening, and an FBI fingerprint check.
• Must comply with agency cybersecurity and communications-system usage policies and complete related training.
• Staff must be familiar with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards for creating accessible electronic information resources.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, or Public Health.
• Previous professional or volunteer experience in a government agency, nonprofit, child protection, foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, or substance abuse services.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care or experience conducting interviews or assessments with children and families.
• A Master’s Degree in Social Work may qualify a newly hired employee for an increase at the point of hire.

Responsibilities

• Receive cases from investigators after children have been removed from their homes and placed in CPS conservatorship and out-of-home care.
• Determine children’s needs and ensure appropriate referrals are made for testing, evaluations, records, and further assessments, with services focused on positive permanency.
• Work with children, families, and communities to plan for each child’s permanency.
• Identify potential permanency resources through ongoing contact with parents, relatives, and other people important to the child and family.
• Search for kinship providers throughout the case and complete home studies for family members or family friends who may care for the child.
• Meet with parents to assess risk and safety, identify behavioral changes needed for child safety, refer parents to appropriate services, and discuss their progress.
• Meet with children, parents, family friends, and foster homes in public and in their homes.
• Collaborate with the Placement Team, including Kinship staff, on placements as needed.
• Participate in meetings and conferences at times and locations convenient for family members and others involved in the case.
• Visit children monthly to assess their sense of safety, plan for permanency, and discuss their needs, wishes, and progress in care.
• Attend and participate in court hearings; contact case parties before hearings, prepare court reports, and testify about children’s needs, family progress, and the department’s permanency efforts.
• Keep children, parents, caregivers, court-appointed attorneys, and guardians ad litem informed about children’s circumstances and significant events.
• Work with the department’s attorney to prepare for contested hearings and trials.
• Support kinship caregivers and foster parents by ensuring they have the information and resources needed to care for children, including returning calls and, in some areas, providing availability at certain times around the clock.
• Transition children home during reunification services and support families until the legal case closes.
• Supervise adoptive placements until adoption is finalized or the case is transferred to an adoption caseworker.
• Use effective time-management skills to complete key tasks.
• Document case records by completing forms, narratives, and reports for each client.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with CPS staff, law enforcement, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.
• Perform other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Demonstrate appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers, clients, and work-related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• As part of the BRIDGE Team, provide regional coaching, mentoring, training, consultation, and operational support to staff and units; reinforce best practices and support collaboration and accountability.

Benefits

• State-paid health insurance: 100% of the employee premium and 50% of eligible family members’ premiums.
• Retirement plans, including lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service and optional 401(k) and 457 plans.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care.
• Employee discounts, including discounts on gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment.
• Possible eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree