CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

4d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works with families and communities to help keep children and vulnerable adults safe through investigations, services, and referrals. After a family has been investigated, the Family Based Safety Services (FBSS) Worker helps the family make changes to protect children from abuse and neglect and keep them safe at home. The worker provides time-limited in-home services by assessing protective capacities and child safety, developing treatment plans, and connecting families with agency, community, and extended-family resources.

This position responds to crises, maintains contact with parents and children to support treatment goals, and takes appropriate action to reduce immediate threats to child safety. Actions may include identifying relatives who can help keep a child safe, seeking emergency protective services through court, arranging substitute care, or referring a family for crisis intervention or other community resources. The worker documents case information and collaborates with law enforcement, courts, medical professionals, legal resources, and community providers.

The position operates primarily in a mobile environment, with most work conducted away from the office using mobile technology. It requires frequent travel to homes and offices, potentially outside the assigned region, and some overnight travel. The schedule may extend beyond standard weekday office hours; workers may attend visits and appointments after 5 p.m., work irregular hours, and participate in a rotating on-call schedule. This position is not eligible for telework.

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 with social service agencies or communities serving families or other at-risk populations.
• For Worker II, in addition to the listed education and experience alternatives: employment as a Child Protective Services Specialist I for nine months and receipt of Child Protective Services Specialist Certification; current or previous employment as a Child Protective Services Specialist II; or current or previous employment as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist II at Texas DFPS.
• For Worker III, in addition to the listed education and experience alternatives: employment as a Child Protective Services Specialist II for nine months and receipt of Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification; current or previous employment as a Child Protective Services Specialist III; or current or previous employment as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist III at Texas DFPS.
• For Worker IV, in addition to the listed education and experience alternatives: employment as a Child Protective Services Specialist III for 24 months and receipt of Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification; current or previous employment as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV; or current or previous employment as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV at Texas DFPS.
• 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 emotionally intense environment, including conducting home visits in isolated or high-crime areas and potentially encountering substandard or unsanitary living conditions.
• Must use a personal motor vehicle for job functions and 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.
• Selected applicants must pass a background check and, if applicable, a driver’s record check.

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

• Respond quickly in crisis situations.
• Provide time-limited in-home services tailored to family needs by assessing insufficient protective capacities, developing treatment plans, and using appropriate resources to minimize risk and protect children.
• Maintain contact with parents and children to support treatment goals.
• Assess child safety and take appropriate action to protect children, which may include removing a child from the family.
• Interact objectively with caretakers who have abused or neglected children in their care.
• Discuss sensitive family issues, including income, money management, and personal relationships.
• Help families identify available community resources and support.
• Help parents recognize behaviors that lead to abuse or neglect and identify necessary behavioral changes.
• Determine actions to remove or reduce immediate threats to child safety, including identifying supportive relatives, seeking emergency protective services through court, arranging substitute care, or making referrals for crisis intervention or other community resources.
• Gather family and kinship information to support a child in placement if the child enters DFPS custody.
• Document relevant information and complete required forms accurately and promptly.
• Work flexible hours beyond 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Balance objectivity with empathy when working with families in stressful and crisis situations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.
• Attend and participate in trainings, meetings, and staffings.
• Perform other duties as assigned to maintain unit operations.
• Promote respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and work-related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Travel to child and family visits and other work-related appointments and meetings, including after 5 p.m.; be available for rotating on-call duty and irregular hours.

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 401(k) and 457 savings plan options.
• 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 on items and services such as gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment.
• Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• DFPS Certification Program offering professional development and the opportunity to earn additional compensation.
• Eligible newly hired employees may receive a DFPS cellular phone.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree