CPI Investigation Worker Trainee

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Decatur, TX

3d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is seeking a CPI Investigation Worker Trainee to join their team. This role is crucial 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. The position is mobile and field-based, requiring significant time spent in homes, schools, hospitals, childcare facilities, law enforcement agencies, courts, and other community locations. The work is not a traditional office job or work-from-home position, and requires regular face-to-face contact with children, families, caregivers, and community partners. The role demands flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. A typical day involves interviewing children and families, coordinating with various professionals and agencies, responding to urgent safety concerns, and completing extensive documentation. Investigators must manage multiple cases, urgent safety concerns, court obligations, and competing demands. The work is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding, often involving crisis situations, substance abuse, family violence, and mental health challenges. Investigators may encounter diverse environments, from professional settings to potentially unsafe homes. The work schedule is 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 across the state. This career is mission-driven and offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children and families.

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
• This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.
• Applicants for positions must have a 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.
• Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance and license.
• Child Protective Investigations Specialist I: 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.
• Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

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.
• 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.
• Interviews people in the case such as the parents, caregivers, person who reports the concern, family members, and others familiar with the family situation.
• Assesses child safety and takes the necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate.
• 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