CPI Investigation Worker Trainee After Hours Response

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Brownsville, TX

10d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is seeking a CPI Investigation Worker Trainee After Hours Response. This role is critical in protecting children and strengthening families by responding to reports of alleged child abuse or neglect, gathering and assessing information, evaluating child safety and future risk, and working with families to address concerns and reduce the likelihood of future harm. This is a mobile, field-based position that occurs where children and families live, learn, and receive services, involving significant face-to-face contact with children, families, caregivers, and community partners. The work requires flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, often involving interviewing children and families, coordinating with various professionals, responding to urgent safety concerns, and completing extensive documentation. Investigators must absorb, assess, and act upon large amounts of information while balancing multiple cases, safety concerns, court obligations, and documentation requirements. The work is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding, with investigators potentially encountering crisis situations, substance abuse, family violence, and mental health challenges. They may enter environments ranging from professional settings to unsanitary or potentially unsafe homes. Work schedules are dictated by the safety needs of children and families, often requiring extended workdays, after-hours responses, weekend work, and holiday work. Significant travel is required, including unexpected long-distance trips. This career is demanding but offers a unique opportunity for mission-driven individuals committed to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families. DFPS offers a Certification Program for employee professional development and career advancement.

Requirements

• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of family dynamics
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• Skill in problem solving techniques
• Ability to operate a personal computer
• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other work related appointments and meetings after 5pm
• Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours
• Ability to work in an emotion-filled environment and which may require conducting home visits in isolated or high crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions
• An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.
• Reliable motor vehicle and acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load.
• Must provide proof of driving record, insurance and license.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Social Work, Human Services (Psychology, Sociology, Child & Family Studies, or Counseling), or Criminal Justice.
• Prior work experience in human services, social work, mental health, legal, or criminal justice such as parole/probation or related fields.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Typing and writing proficiency or writing-related experience/education.

Responsibilities

• Responds quickly in crisis situations involving children who may be in an abusive or neglectful situation. Sometimes these situations can be dangerous.
• Conducts forensic investigations of reports of abuse/neglect to children to determine if abuse or neglect occurred and conducts assessments to determine the current or future risk of harm to children.
• Observes children for signs of any harm and assess the signs to determine if they are the result of abuse or neglect. This could involve children with serious injuries and child fatalities.
• Interviews people in the case such as the parents, caregivers, person who reports the concern, family members, and others familiar with the family situation. This may include medical staff, teachers, law enforcement, etc.
• Assesses child safety and takes the necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate. This could include removing a child from their family.
• Talks frankly and objectively with families about matters they may consider personal and private, such as parenting decisions and actions, sexual abuse, income, money management, and personal relationships.
• Determines action to be taken to remove or to reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child to include working with families to identify family members who can assist with keeping the child safe, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis intervention therapy or other community resources.
• Documents all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completes all required forms accurately and in a timely manner.
• Gathers family and kinship information to support the child in a placement, should the child be placed in DFPS custody.
• Participates in a regular on-call rotation that requires response to situations of abuse/neglect after normal business hours including overnight and weekend.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and the community.
• Works under constant deadlines that require prioritizing tasks and the ability to work flexible hours.
• Maintains a balance of objectivity and empathy for families living in stressful and crisis situations.
• Attends and participates in training/meetings/staffings.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service
• Options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

What This Job Offers

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