RCI Investigator

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Dallas, TX

6d • $3,817 - $5,372 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is hiring a Residential Child Care Investigator to help protect children from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Working within Child Care Investigations, the investigator gathers information and investigates reports involving licensed and unlicensed foster homes, Child Placing Agencies, Residential Treatment Centers, and Group Homes. The role helps ensure corrective action is taken when necessary and may include serving as a conservator for a child to safeguard the child's well-being.

This position may be filled at any level from Residential Child Care Investigator I through IV. Work can be demanding and stressful, and the investigator works independently while remaining responsive to supervision and the assigned unit. The position is in a mobile unit; most work is conducted away from the office using mobile technology such as a tablet. Frequent travel to homes and offices is required, including travel outside the assigned region, occasional overnight travel, and last-minute trips. The posting estimates travel at up to 75%, with the role description noting about 60% of time on the road. This position is not eligible for telework.

DFPS offers a certification program intended to support professional development, build job-related expertise, and provide opportunities for additional compensation. Newly hired employees in eligible positions are assigned a DFPS cellular phone. Employees must meet level-specific training requirements within 12 months of hire.

Requirements

• For Level I: an accredited bachelor's degree; or an accredited associate 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 may include paid or volunteer work in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or protective services, including work in social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.
• For Level II, in addition to the base education and experience criteria, employment as an RCI Specialist I for nine months and RCI Investigator II Certification, or current employment as a DFPS Child Protective Services Specialist II, or previous employment as a DFPS Child Protective Services Investigator Specialist II.
• For Level III, in addition to the base education and experience criteria, employment as an RCI Specialist II for nine months and RCI Investigator III Certification, or current or previous employment as a DFPS Child Protective Services Specialist III.
• For Level IV, in addition to the base education and experience criteria, employment as an RCI Specialist III for 24 months and RCI Investigator IV Certification, or current or previous employment as a DFPS Child Protective Services Specialist IV.
• Have a reliable personal motor vehicle and an acceptable driving record for the past five years.
• Hold a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load, and provide proof of the license and driving record.
• Pass a background check and, if applicable, a driver's record check.
• Maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure and comply with related training and agency cybersecurity and communications-system policies.
• Be prepared to work independently in a mobile environment and travel frequently, including outside the assigned counties and occasionally overnight.

Nice To Haves

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or a related field is generally preferred.

Responsibilities

• Obtain information and investigate reports of alleged abuse or neglect and emergency situations, and take corrective action.
• Assess children's needs and the degree and priority of services, and develop service plans.
• Advise, counsel, and interview children, parents, caregivers, family members, and others to gather social, functional, physical, and mental health information.
• Visit children to assess safety, plan for permanency, and discuss needs, wishes, and progress while in care.
• Remove children from dangerous situations and admit them to emergency shelters until foster homes are found.
• Arrange educational, medical, and psychiatric examinations or treatments.
• Study, recruit, and recommend foster families for abused or neglected children.
• Monitor foster homes and children to ensure children's needs are met.
• Conduct home studies of families wishing to adopt and coordinate visits between children and prospective parents.
• Prepare adoption readiness studies and conduct adoption social studies.
• Prepare documentation and seek court orders for emergency protective services actions.
• Prepare and maintain case documentation.
• Supervise adoptive placements until adoption is final or the case is transferred to an adoption caseworker.
• At Level 2, advise and counsel parents and children during stressful situations and testify in court.
• At Level 3, participate in community awareness activities; investigate alleged illegal child care or standards violations in licensed and registered facilities and document findings; conduct risk assessments and determine and implement case actions; and prepare statistical and special reports for management.
• At Level 4, review referrals and make case assignments; instruct staff on work methods, organizational procedures, and case documentation; develop community resources and specialized service plans; monitor and review child adoption or foster home studies; and approve children's movement into or out of placement.
• Perform related work as assigned.

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 401(k) and 457 savings plans.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care.
• Employee discounts, including gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment.
• Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• DFPS Certification Program offering professional development and opportunities to earn additional compensation.
• DFPS cellular phone for newly hired employees in eligible positions.

What This Job Offers

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