CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Midland, TX

3d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) seeks to build on the strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe through investigations, services, and referrals. After a family has been investigated, a Family Based Safety Services (FBSS) Worker provides time-limited services to help the family make changes that protect children from abuse and neglect and keep them safe at home. The worker coordinates agency, community, and extended-family resources and works with parents and children to achieve safety and treatment goals. The position may be filled at levels I through IV, with starting salary potentially based on education and experience. Newly hired employees with a Master of Social Work degree may qualify for an increase at hire. DFPS offers a certification program intended to support employees’ skills, professional development, and career advancement.

This is a full-time, nonexempt position based in Midland, Texas, with Odessa listed as another location. It is not eligible for telework and is based primarily in a mobile work environment, with most work conducted away from the office using mobile technology such as a tablet. The role requires frequent travel to homes and offices, including travel outside the assigned region and occasional overnight travel. The posting estimates travel may be up to 85%, and separately notes employees can expect to be on the road about 60% of the time. The worker must be available for flexible and irregular hours, including appointments after 5 p.m. and rotating on-call duty.

The position requires use of the employee’s personal motor vehicle, a reliable vehicle, 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. Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and, if applicable, a driver’s record 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 work experience includes paid or volunteer work in social, human, or protective services, such as work with social service agencies or communities serving families or other at-risk populations.
• For Worker II, III, or IV, meet the applicable education and relevant-experience criteria and the stated DFPS employment and certification pathway for that level: Worker II requires the specified Specialist I/II employment and certification status; Worker III requires the specified Specialist II/III employment and certification status; Worker IV requires the specified Specialist III/IV employment and certification status.
• 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 demanding environment, including conducting home visits in isolated or high-crime areas and encountering substandard or unsanitary living conditions.
• Use of a personal motor vehicle to complete job functions; a reliable vehicle, 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 are required. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance, and license.
• Applicants selected for hire 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 to crisis situations.
• Provide time-limited in-home services tailored to family needs by identifying insufficient protective capacities, developing treatment plans, and using appropriate resources to reduce risk and protect children.
• Maintain contact with parents and children to support achievement of treatment goals.
• Assess child safety and take necessary protective actions, 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 identify resources and community supports available to families.
• Help parents recognize behaviors that lead to child abuse or neglect and identify necessary behavioral changes.
• Determine and take actions to remove or reduce immediate threats to child safety, including identifying family members who can help keep a child safe, seeking emergency protective services through court, placing children in substitute care, or referring families for crisis intervention or other community resources.
• Gather family and kinship information to support a child if placed in DFPS custody.
• Document relevant information gathered during investigations and complete required forms accurately and promptly.
• Maintain objectivity and empathic understanding when engaging families experiencing stress and crisis.
• 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.
• Promote and demonstrate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and work-related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Perform other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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