CPS Conservatorship Worker

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Bryan, TX

68d • $3,816 - $5,372

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for protecting the unprotected — children, elderly, and people with disabilities — from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. DFPS accomplishes this responsibility by employing over 12,000 workers who live up to the agency's Mission, Vision, & Values in service to the citizens of Texas. DFPS is not only a qualifying organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, longevity pay, generous paid leave, access to the Wellness program, lifetime retirement annuity, Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. The position of CPS Conservatorship Worker involves serving as a

Requirements

• An accredited Bachelor's degree OR an 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.
• Knowledge of child development and 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 conduct home visits in isolated or high crime areas.

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.

Responsibilities

• Receives cases from investigators after children are removed from their homes, placed in CPS conservatorship, and placed in care outside their homes.
• Determines each child’s needs and ensures that appropriate referrals for testing, evaluations, records, or further assessments are made.
• Works with children, families, and communities to plan for a child's permanency.
• Identifies potential permanency resources for the child through ongoing contact with parents, family members, and other individuals the child and family identify as important to them.
• Searches for potential kinship providers throughout the case and completes home studies of a child's family members or family friends.
• Meets with the parents to assess risk and safety issues, identify behavior changes necessary to achieve child safety, and refer parents to appropriate services.
• Meets with children, parents, family friends, or foster homes in public as well as in their own homes.
• Collaborates with a Placement Team, including Kinship staff, for placements as needed.
• Participates in meetings and conferences at times and places convenient for the family members as well as everyone involved in the case.
• Visits children monthly to assess the child’s feeling of safety in their current home and discuss their needs, wishes, and progress while in care.
• Attends and participates in court hearings about the child and family, prepares court reports, and testifies in court.
• Keeps the child’s, parents, caregivers, court-appointed attorney and guardian ad litem(s) informed about the child’s circumstances and significant events.
• Works with the department's attorney to prepare for contested-court hearings and trials.
• Works with kinship caregivers and foster parents to ensure they have what they need to care for the child or youth placed with them.
• Transitions children home during reunification services and provides support to the family until the legal case is closed.
• Supervises adoptive placements until the adoption is final or until the case is transferred to an adoption caseworker.
• Documents case records by completing forms, narratives, and reports to form a written record for each client.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships between Child Protective Services staff and law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.

Benefits

• Excellent health benefits.
• Special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program.
• Longevity pay.
• Generous paid leave.
• Access to the Wellness program.
• Lifetime retirement annuity.
• Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree