Residential Child Care Investigator

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Arlington, TX

5d • $4,263 - $6,779 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals. A Residential Child Care Investigator (RCI) works within Child Care Investigations (CCI) to help protect children from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. RCIs gather information, investigate reports in licensed and unlicensed foster homes, Child Placing Agencies, Residential Treatment Centers, and Group Homes, and play a key role in ensuring corrective action is taken when necessary. In some cases, RCIs may also serve as a conservator for a child to safeguard their well-being. This work can be demanding and stressful at times, but few roles provide as many opportunities to gain insight into families, communities, and yourself. DFPS is committed to its employees' professional development and ongoing success and offers the DFPS Certification Program to enhance skills and advance careers within our organization. The program is tailored specifically for DFPS employees, provides the opportunity to earn additional compensation through a supportive learning environment that fosters growth and innovation, and equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to deepen their expertise in their respective role. This position will be in a mobile unit which means the majority of the work will be conducted using mobile technology, such as a tablet, while away from the office. Being mobile requires working independently yet still being responsive to supervision and your assigned unit. Newly-hired DFPS employees in eligible positions will be assigned a DFPS cellular phone.

Requirements

• Ability to maintain the security and integrity of the infrastructure per Governor Abbot Executive Order GA-48.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to child care, abuse, and neglect; child development principles and theories and of family dynamics; community social services resources; the laws and regulations related to child protective services; and crisis intervention techniques and skills.
• Skill in interviewing and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to obtain information and conduct investigations, to conduct risk assessments, to develop client programs, to evaluate living conditions, to prepare reports, to testify in court, and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to develop community resources; to develop policies, procedures, and standards; and to oversee and/or to supervise the work of others.
• This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.
• Applicants for positions must have a reliable motor vehicle, and 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. Applicants must provide proof of driving record and license.
• Experience in social work.
• 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.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another.
• 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.
• Examples of relevant work experience in social work, counseling, early childhood education, psychology, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.
• Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.
• State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.
• As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.
• DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .
• In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Nice To Haves

• Initial Screening Criteria: Experience in social work. 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.
• Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist II: In addition to the requirements above, to meet this level, you must also have been employed as a RCI Specialist I for 9 months AND have received RCI Investigator II Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Investigator Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
• Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist III: In addition to the requirements above, to meet this level, you must also have been employed as a RCI Specialist II for 9 months AND have received RCI Investigator III Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
• Residential Child Care Investigator Specialist IV: In addition to the requirements above, to meet this level, you must also have been employed as a RCI Specialist III for 24 months AND have received RCI Investigator IV Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Responsibilities

• Obtains information and investigates reports of alleged abuse or neglect and emergency situations and takes corrective action.
• Assesses child’s needs for degree and priority of services and develops service plans.
• Advises, counsels, and interviews children, parents, caregivers, family members, and others to gather social, functional, and physical and mental health information for evaluation.
• Visits child to assess the child’s safety; plan for permanency; and discuss needs, wishes, and progress while in care.
• Removes children in dangerous situations from homes and admits children to emergency shelters until foster homes are found.
• Arranges for educational, medical, and psychiatric examinations or treatments.
• Studies, recruits, and recommends foster families to provide care for abused or neglected children.
• Monitors foster homes and children to ensure that the children’s needs are met.
• Conducts home studies of families wishing to adopt children and coordinates visits between children and prospective parents prior to adoption.
• Prepares adoption readiness studies and conducts adoption social studies.
• Prepares documentation and seeks court orders for emergency protective services actions.
• Prepares and maintains case documentation.
• Supervises adoptive placements until the adoption is final or until the case is transferred to an adoption caseworker.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Advise and counsel parents and children during stressful situations.
• Testify in court.
• Participate in community awareness activities.
• Investigate reports alleging illegal child care and/or standards violations in licensed and registered child care facilities and document findings.
• Conduct risk assessments of protective services cases and determine and implement case actions.
• Prepare statistical and special reports for management.
• Review referrals and make case assignments.
• Instruct staff on work methods, organizational procedures, and case documentation techniques.
• Develop community resources.
• Develop specialized service plans to meet the needs of protective services clients.
• Monitor and review child adoption or foster home studies.
• Approve the movement of children into or out of placement.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness

What This Job Offers

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