CPS Conservatorship Worker

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Sinton, TX

11d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The CPS Conservatorship Worker is legally responsible for the welfare of children removed from their homes and placed in CPS conservatorship. The worker monitors children's care and works with children, parents, extended family, caregivers, courts, and other legal parties to help each child reach a safe, permanent living arrangement. The role may be filled at the level of Child Protective Services Conservatorship Worker I, II, III, or IV, with starting salary determined in part by education and experience.

The position is based in Sinton, Texas, and is not eligible for telework. It operates primarily in a mobile environment, with most work conducted away from the office using mobile technology. The posting anticipates travel of up to 85%; the description states workers can expect to be on the road about 60% of the time, with frequent local and out-of-county travel, occasional overnight travel, and some trips on short notice. Workers may need to attend visits and meetings after 5 p.m., work irregular hours, and take rotating on-call assignments.

The role requires use of the employee's personal motor vehicle, a reliable vehicle, a current and valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load, an acceptable five-year driving record, and proof of license, insurance, and driving record. Employees in eligible positions will be assigned a DFPS cellular phone. The position may transition to a private, nonprofit Single Source Continuum Contractor as Community-Based Care is implemented; the posting says this is projected to occur before 2029 and that the office location may change within the same county.

Applicants must pass a drug screening and background check; a driver-record check applies where applicable. Conservatorship staff must also complete an FBI fingerprint check. The posting notes that newly hired employees with a master's degree in social work may qualify for a hiring salary increase. DFPS offers a certification program intended to develop job skills and support career advancement, with opportunities to earn additional compensation.

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 work experience may include paid or volunteer work in social, human, or protective services, including work in social service agencies or communities serving families or other at-risk populations.
• For Worker II, meet the applicable education and experience threshold and either have nine months as a Child Protective Services Specialist I with Child Protective Services Specialist Certification, be currently employed as a Texas DFPS Child Protective Services Specialist II or Child Protective Investigations Specialist II, or have previously held one of those Texas DFPS Specialist II positions.
• For Worker III, meet the applicable education and experience threshold and either have 9 months as a Child Protective Services Specialist II with Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification, be currently employed as a Texas DFPS Child Protective Services Specialist III or Child Protective Investigations Specialist III, or have previously held one of those Texas DFPS Specialist III positions.
• For Worker IV, meet the applicable education and experience threshold and either have 24 months as a Child Protective Services Specialist III with Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification, be currently employed as a Texas DFPS Child Protective Services Specialist IV or Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV, or have previously held one of those Texas DFPS Specialist IV positions.
• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Problem-solving skills.
• 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 emotion-filled environment and conduct visits in isolated or high-crime areas, potentially encountering substandard or unsanitary living conditions.
• Use of a personal motor vehicle to complete job functions; applicants must have reliable transportation, an 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, and provide proof of driving record, insurance, and license.
• Pass required drug screening and background checks, applicable driver-record check, and an FBI fingerprint check.
• Ability to work in a mobile environment, independently while remaining responsive to supervision and the assigned unit.
• Ability to travel frequently, including outside assigned counties and occasionally overnight or on short notice.
• Staff must be familiar with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards for creating accessible electronic information resources.
• Provide I-9 documentation establishing identity and authorization to work in the United States.

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

• Receive cases from investigators after children are removed from their homes and placed in CPS conservatorship and out-of-home care.
• Determine each child's needs and arrange appropriate referrals for testing, evaluations, records, and further assessments, ensuring services support positive permanency.
• Work with children, families, and communities to plan for a child's permanency.
• Identify potential permanency resources through ongoing contact with parents, relatives, and other important people identified by the child and family.
• Search for potential kinship providers and complete home studies of family members or family friends who may care for the child.
• Meet with parents to assess risk and safety, identify behavior changes needed to ensure child safety, refer parents to appropriate services, and discuss progress toward those changes.
• 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 the child's needs, family progress, and the department's efforts to achieve permanency.
• Keep children, parents, caregivers, court-appointed attorneys, and guardians ad litem informed about the child'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 providing case updates, responding to calls, and, in some areas, being available 24/7 at assigned times.
• Transition children home during reunification services and support families until the legal case closes.
• Supervise adoptive placements until the adoption is final or the case transfers 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 community resources.
• Perform other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promote and demonstrate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers, clients, and work-related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance for the employee and 50% paid coverage for eligible family members.
• Retirement plans providing lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, with additional savings options through 401(k) and 457 plans.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance at rates described as lower than most private plans.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent-care expenses.
• Employee discounts, including gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment.
• Possible eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• DFPS Certification Program offering professional development and opportunities for additional compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level