Deferred Assignment Child Protection Specialist
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is hiring Deferred Assignment Child Protection Specialists to receive and investigate reports of alleged child abuse and neglect within mandated time limits. The role assesses children’s immediate safety and initiates appropriate child protection measures. Specialists prepare and maintain reports, assessments, and case documentation; select and present case material for transfer to permanency or intact/prevention caseworkers; coordinate placement in substitute care; attend multidisciplinary conferences; and transport clients in specified protective-custody and placement situations. This is a permanent, full-time union position in an expedited hiring process for qualified external applicants. The position is based at 1124 N Walnut St, Springfield, Illinois, with a hybrid schedule of three to five days per week in the office depending on operational needs. The scheduled work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with overtime, evening and weekend availability, and 24-hour on-call availability required as a condition of employment. The position requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
Requirements
- A master’s degree in social work is preferred; the degree must be from an accredited college or university, and the social work degree program must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
- Alternatively, a master’s degree in a related human service field, criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement, plus one year of directly related professional experience.
- Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in social work plus one year of directly related professional experience; the degree must be from an accredited college or university, and the social work degree program must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
- Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in a related human service field, criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement, plus two years of directly related professional experience.
- Valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
- Ability to pass a background check.
- Physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
- Ability to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime; evenings and weekends; and in a 24-hour on-call capacity.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
Nice To Haves
- A master’s degree in social work is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Receive and investigate reports of alleged child abuse and neglect within mandated time limits.
- Assess the immediate safety of children and initiate appropriate levels of child protection.
- Prepare and maintain reports, assessments, and case documentation.
- Select, summarize, and present case material for transfer to a permanency caseworker or intact/prevention caseworker.
- Determine the need for and coordinate placement of children in substitute care facilities.
- Attend multidisciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services.
- Transport clients when taking protective custody, placing them in substitute care, and changing placement location.
- Perform other duties as required or assigned that are reasonably within the scope of the listed duties.
Benefits
- Pension program and retirement packages.
- Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance.
- Three paid personal business days annually.
- Twelve paid sick days annually, with carryover from year to year.
- Ten to 25 days of paid vacation annually, with 10 days in the first year of employment.
- Thirteen paid holidays annually, and 14 in even-numbered years.
- Flexible work schedules when available and dependent on position.
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
- Deferred Compensation supplemental retirement plan.
- Optional pre-tax Medical Care Assistance Plan and Dependent Care Assistance Plan.
- Eligibility for Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
- GI Bill training/apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans.
- Five percent salary differential for bilingual positions.
- Commuter Savings Program for Chicago employees.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
