SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60070697

State of Florida • Palm Bay, FL

8d

About The Position

This is professional work protecting children, working with families, and investigating allegations involving abused, abandoned, neglected, or exploited children. The Senior Child Protective Investigator serves as an individual contributor and models child protection practice for other Child Protective Investigators. The role investigates child safety concerns, assesses danger and family needs, coordinates protective interventions and services, and works with legal, law enforcement, medical, educational, and community partners. It also provides consultation and subject matter expertise to less experienced investigators and may co-investigate complex cases.

The position requires maintaining thorough case documentation and records, preparing reports and providing court testimony, and carrying out all work in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Work may involve physical agility tasks, transporting clients, and working 16-hour shifts on occasion. The investigator must have an operational private vehicle for daily work activities; the Department provides a vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs related to work use.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following qualification pathways:
• Pathway 1: High school diploma or GED; four years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or currently serving honorably); at least 18 months of child welfare experience; current, active Child Welfare Certification Board credentials; valid driver license; and an operational private vehicle for daily work activities.
• Pathway 2: Associate degree or at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university; two years of professional work experience in a relevant field or two years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or currently serving honorably); at least 18 months of child welfare experience; current, active Child Welfare Certification Board credentials; valid driver license; and an operational private vehicle for daily work activities.
• Pathway 3: A conferred bachelor’s degree; at least 18 months of child welfare experience; current, active Child Welfare Certification Board credentials; valid driver license; and an operational private vehicle for daily work activities.
• Provide proof of private vehicle registration and documentation of appropriate insurance coverage.
• Knowledge of theories and practices in child protection and professional ethics relating to child protection and counseling.
• Knowledge of family-centered interviewing and counseling techniques, as well as interviewing and observation techniques.
• Skill in considering child development when guiding placement decisions.
• Ability to recognize indicators of abuse and neglect and conduct risk and safety investigations.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; actively listen; and communicate effectively.
• Ability to maintain well-executed case files, establish and maintain effective working relationships, use computer systems, and write accurate investigative reports.
• Physical ability to navigate varied terrain and stairs; assist with evacuations; perform repetitive movements; bend, twist, turn, kneel, stoop, squat, push, pull, lift, and walk extended distances; lift and carry up to 30 pounds; assist clients in and out of properties, vehicles, and safety equipment; sit or stand for periods without a break; remain alert while on duty; and drive a vehicle.
• Normal vision and hearing, including with corrective devices.
• Ability to work 16-hour shifts on occasion.
• Complete the Candidate Profile application in its entirety, provide supervisor names and phone numbers for all employment periods, explain employment gaps, and ensure reported experience, education, training, knowledge, skills, abilities, and pre-qualifying answers are verifiable.
• Successfully complete required state and national criminal history screening before beginning employment.
• U.S. citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States.
• Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, must meet the stated Selective Service registration or exemption requirement.
• Enroll in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program within the first 30 calendar days of appointment.

Nice To Haves

• Child welfare experience, preferably in Child Protective Investigations, is preferred.
• For the bachelor’s-degree pathway, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or a related field is preferred.
• Examples of relevant professional experience for the associate-degree pathway include Guardian ad Litem or similar child advocacy, family support work, group home work, teacher’s aide work, family intervention specialist work, EMT work, case management, or other welfare, education, or medical work in high-paced, high-stress environments requiring critical decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Investigate allegations of child abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, and special conditions.
• Gather information through interviews with children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other people associated with cases.
• Engage families, identify needs, assess the required level of intervention, and link families to agency and community resources, including voluntary or court-ordered services.
• Recommend case-plan development to the Case Manager.
• Conduct initial and ongoing child Present and Impending Danger assessments.
• Develop and obtain family signatures on Present Danger Plans and safety plans addressing identified threats and interventions.
• Arrange emergency placement when a child cannot safely remain in the home.
• Notify the state attorney, law enforcement, the child protection team, and other required individuals as appropriate.
• Schedule and gather information for case staffings and participate in them.
• Prepare reports and documentation in coordination with Children’s Legal Services and provide testimony in court.
• Maintain thorough client-record documentation in appropriate information systems and keep organized client files.
• Report indications of abuse, neglect, or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
• Provide subject matter expertise to help less experienced investigators improve their investigative skills.
• Consult on and/or co-investigate complex cases to ensure their appropriateness, clarity, quality, and thoroughness.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with community-based providers, Children’s Legal Services, law enforcement, medical personnel, schools, and other relevant organizations and resources.
• Ensure effective communication with deaf or hard-of-hearing customers or companions in accordance with the ADA and/or Section 504, and manage service records and report related data and resource or training needs.
• Perform job tasks in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Drive a car or passenger van to transport clients during daytime and nighttime hours as needed.

Benefits

• The State of Florida offers a competitive employee benefits package; details are available at mybenefits.myflorida.com.
• The Department provides a vehicle insurance allowance to assist with insurance costs for use of a private vehicle for work purposes.
• Employees are encouraged to take advantage of department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

What This Job Offers

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