CPS Conservatorship Worker

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

7d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) hires CPS Conservatorship Workers to serve as conservators for children removed from their homes and placed in CPS care. Workers are legally responsible for the children’s welfare, monitor their care, and work with children, parents, extended family, caregivers, legal parties, and community resources to achieve a safe, permanent living arrangement.

The position may be filled at the Child Protective Services Conservatorship Worker I, II, III, or IV level. It is a full-time, nonexempt, regular day-shift position based in Austin and is not eligible for telework. The work is primarily mobile and requires frequent travel to homes and offices, including travel outside the assigned region and occasional overnight travel. Workers use mobile technology while away from the office and work independently while remaining responsive to supervision and their unit. The posting estimates travel at up to 75%; a later description says workers can expect to be on the road about 60% of the time.

Workers may need to attend visits and appointments after 5 p.m., work irregular hours, and participate in a rotating on-call schedule. They must have reliable personal transportation, a current valid Texas driver’s license, and an acceptable driving record. The posting describes work in emotionally demanding circumstances, including visits in isolated or high-crime areas and possible exposure to substandard or unsanitary living conditions. The job also has physical requirements, including frequently standing, hearing, and talking; occasional climbing; and occasional lifting or exertion of up to 20 pounds.

DFPS describes professional development through its employee certification program. The posting notes that the position’s duties and office location may change if the relevant community transitions to Community-Based Care, with a possible transfer from DFPS to a Single Source Continuum Contractor before 2029. Applicants selected for hire must pass applicable background and driving-record checks, drug screening, and fingerprint checks.

Requirements

• For Worker I, an accredited bachelor’s degree; or an accredited associate 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 experience may include paid or volunteer work in social, human, or protective services, including services to families or other at-risk populations.
• For Worker II, meet the stated education and experience alternatives and either have the specified prior DFPS Specialist I employment and certification, currently hold the specified DFPS Specialist II or Child Protective Investigations Specialist II role, or have previously held one of those roles.
• For Worker III, meet the stated education and experience alternatives and either have the specified prior DFPS Specialist II employment and advanced certification, currently hold the specified DFPS Specialist III or Child Protective Investigations Specialist III role, or have previously held one of those roles.
• For Worker IV, meet the stated education and experience alternatives and either have the specified prior DFPS Specialist III employment and senior advanced certification, currently hold the specified DFPS Specialist IV or Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV role, or have previously held one of those roles.
• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate a personal computer.
• Ability to travel and attend visits, appointments, and meetings, including after 5 p.m.
• Ability to work irregular hours and be on call on a rotating basis.
• Ability to work in an emotionally demanding environment and conduct visits in isolated or high-crime areas, potentially encountering substandard or unsanitary living conditions.
• Use of the applicant’s personal motor vehicle to perform 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. Proof of driving record, insurance, and license is required.
• Pass applicable drug screening, background checks, fingerprint checks, and driver’s-record checks.
• Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including frequent standing, hearing, and talking; occasional climbing; and the stated exertion requirements.
• Staff must be familiar with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards for creating accessible electronic information resources.

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.
• A master’s degree in Social Work may qualify newly hired employees for an increase at the point of hire.

Responsibilities

• Receive cases 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, or 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 for relatives or family friends who may care for the child.
• Meet with parents to assess risk and safety, identify necessary behavior changes, refer them to appropriate services, and discuss progress toward addressing dangers to their children.
• Meet with children, parents, family friends, and foster homes in public places and in their homes.
• Collaborate with the Placement Team, including Kinship staff, on placements as needed.
• Participate in meetings and conferences at times and places convenient to 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 toward permanency.
• Keep the child, parents, caregivers, court-appointed attorney, and guardian 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 information about case developments, responding to calls, and, in some areas, being available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at certain times.
• Transition children home during reunification services and support the family until the legal case closes.
• Supervise adoptive placements until adoption is final or the case transfers to an adoption caseworker.
• Use effective time-management skills to complete key tasks.
• Document cases by completing forms, narratives, and reports.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with CPS staff, law enforcement, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.
• Perform other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Demonstrate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers, clients, and work-related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Travel to and attend child and family visits, work-related appointments, and meetings, including after 5 p.m. when needed.
• Work irregular hours and participate in a rotating on-call schedule.
• Work primarily in a mobile environment using mobile technology while remaining responsive to supervision and the assigned unit.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for the employee and 50% paid coverage for eligible family members.
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus optional 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.
• Employee discounts, including gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment.
• Possible eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• DFPS Certification Program offering professional development and the opportunity to earn additional compensation.
• Eligible newly hired DFPS employees are assigned a DFPS cellular phone.

What This Job Offers

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