CPS Conservatorship Worker

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • TX

123d • $3,816 - $5,094

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. Whenever a child must be removed from their home, Texas courts appoint Child Protective Services (CPS) to serve as a "Conservator" of the child. Conservatorship Specialists are a specific type of caseworker legally responsible for a child's welfare whenever they are removed from their home and monitors children's care while in CPS conservatorship. They work closely with parents, extended family, and legal parties to help children find a permanent, safe place to live. Newly hired employees holding a Master's Degree in Social Worker may qualify for an increase at the point of hire. DFPS is committed to its employees' professional development and ongoing success, and offers the DFPS Certification Program to enhance skills and advance careers within our organization.

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.
• 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.
• This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.
• Applicants 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.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in Social Work may qualify for an increase at the point of hire.

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 who might care for the child.
• 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 to 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 that 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.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers, clients, and all work-related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

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