CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

70d • $3,816 - $5,372 • Remote

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 CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker helps families make changes to protect their children from abuse and neglect and keep them safe at home. This involves providing services offered by the agency, the family's community, and their extended families.

Requirements

• An accredited Bachelor's degree OR 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.
• Knowledge of 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

• Responds quickly in crisis situations.
• Provides time limited in-home services to meet the specific needs of families by identifying insufficient protective capacities, developing treatment plans, and using appropriate and necessary resources to minimize risk and provide for safety of the child.
• Maintains contact with parents and children to achieve treatment goals.
• Assesses child safety and takes necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate.
• Interacts objectively with caretakers who have abused and/or neglected children in their care.
• Discusses issues with families related to income, money management, and personal relationships.
• Helps identify resources and community support available to the family.
• Assists parents to recognize behaviors that lead to child abuse and/or neglect.
• Determines action to be taken to remove or reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child.
• Gathers family and kinship information to support the child in a placement.
• Documents all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation.
• Works flexible hours beyond 8a.m.-5p.m., Monday - Friday.
• Maintains a balance of objectivity and empathic understanding when engaging families.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.
• Attends and participates in trainings, meetings, and staffings.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers 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
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree