CPS Conservatorship Worker

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Pearland, TX

7d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works with families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe through investigations, services, and referrals. When a child is removed from their home, courts appoint CPS as the child’s conservator. Conservatorship workers are legally responsible for the child’s welfare while the child is in CPS conservatorship, monitor the child’s care, and work with parents, extended family, and legal parties toward a safe, permanent living arrangement.

This role manages cases involving children placed outside their homes. The worker assesses children’s needs, coordinates services, identifies family and kinship resources, works with parents toward safety and permanency, and monitors children’s well-being through visits and case planning. The worker also participates in court proceedings, prepares reports, maintains case records, and coordinates with caregivers and community professionals.

The position is based in Pearland, Texas, and is not eligible for telework. It operates in a mobile unit, with most work conducted away from the office using mobile technology. Travel is frequent, including to homes and offices within and outside the assigned region; the posting indicates travel may be up to 75% and estimates being on the road about 60% of the time. Some overnight travel is required, and the worker may need to respond to last-minute travel needs. The role involves a rotating on-call schedule and irregular hours, including appointments after 5 p.m.

DFPS may fill the position at any level from Child Protective Services Conservatorship Worker I through IV, with salary determined in part by education and experience. Newly hired employees with a Master’s Degree in Social Work may qualify for an increase at hire. Eligible employees may participate in DFPS’s certification program, which supports professional development and may provide additional compensation. The position may transition to a local Single Source Continuum Contractor as Community-Based Care is implemented; the office location may change within the same county after transition.

Applicants must have a reliable personal motor vehicle, an acceptable five-year driving record, and a current valid Texas driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle and its passenger or cargo load. Proof of driving record, insurance, and license is required. Selected applicants must pass applicable background and driver-record checks, drug screening, and an FBI fingerprint check.

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 experience includes paid or volunteer work in social, human, or protective services serving families or other at-risk populations.
• For Worker II, the education and experience alternatives listed for Worker I, plus one of the following: employment as a CPS Specialist I for nine months and CPS Specialist Certification; current or prior employment as a Texas DFPS CPS Specialist II; or current or prior employment as a Texas DFPS Child Protective Investigations Specialist II.
• For Worker III, the education and experience alternatives listed for Worker I, plus one of the following: employment as a CPS Specialist II for nine months and Advanced CPS Specialist Certification; current or prior employment as a Texas DFPS CPS Specialist III; or current or prior employment as a Texas DFPS Child Protective Investigations Specialist III.
• For Worker IV, the education and experience alternatives listed for Worker I, plus one of the following: employment as a CPS Specialist III for 24 months and Senior Advanced CPS Specialist Certification; current or prior employment as a Texas DFPS CPS Specialist IV; or current or prior employment as a Texas DFPS Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV.
• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and in problem-solving techniques.
• 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 emotionally demanding environment and conduct visits in isolated or high-crime areas, potentially encountering substandard or unsanitary living conditions.
• Reliable personal motor vehicle, acceptable driving record for the preceding five years, and current valid Texas driver’s license suitable for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load; proof of driving record, insurance, and license is required.
• Must pass required drug screening, background checks, applicable driver-record checks, and FBI fingerprint check.
• Must complete required security and cybersecurity training and follow agency security and communications-system policies.
• Must comply with agency accessibility standards when creating electronic information resources, including familiarity with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508.

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 a newly hired employee for an increase at the point of hire.

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, or additional assessments, focusing services on positive permanency.
• Work with children, families, and communities to plan for a child’s permanency.
• Identify potential permanency resources through ongoing contact with parents, family members, 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 protect the child, refer parents to appropriate services, and discuss progress toward those changes.
• Meet with children, parents, family friends, and foster homes in public places and in their homes.
• Collaborate with placement teams, including kinship staff, 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 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 addressing their needs and keeping them informed about case developments; in some areas, be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at designated times.
• Support transitions home during reunification services until the legal case is closed.
• 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 case records by completing forms, narratives, and reports for each client.
• 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.
• 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% paid health insurance for the employee and 50% paid for eligible family members.
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus 401(k) and 457 savings 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.
• Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Eligible employees may participate in the DFPS Certification Program, which offers 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