Child Protective Investigator

Requisition No: 827199

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR (C5-TRNG) - 60052249

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60052249

**Salary**: $50,000.08 annually / $1,923.08 bi-weekly

Posting Closing Date: 04/28/2024

**Total Compensation Estimator **Tool**

**_ Child Protective Investigator_**

**_Department of Children and Families_**

**_Ocala, Florida_**

**_Open Competitive_**

This posting will be used to fill position vacancies in OPS and Career Service.

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

**_How you will make an impact:_**

**WHEN SECONDS COUNT A CHILD CANNOT WAIT**

Children in crisis need quick action from strong, compassionate individuals dedicated to ensuring their safety. This demanding and challenging career could be your opportunity to speak for those with no voice and fight to help ensure the safety of those who cannot protect themselves. We are looking for people who are detailed-oriented, possess good decision-making skills, and can thrive in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment. When seconds count, your career decision may be the critical difference in the life of a child.

**_What you will do_**:

- Conduct investigations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children;
- Collect information through observation and interviews with the children, parents, relatives, and neighbors;
- Assess danger threats, child vulnerabilities and caregiver protective capacities in order to determine whether a child is safe;
- Arrange emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in their home;
- Notify state attorney, law enforcement and child protection teams;
- Provide families with service linkages to agency and community resources;
- Conduct initial/ongoing child present and impending danger assessments;
- Report indication of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

**_Qualifications:_**
- A high school diploma or GED equivalent and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); **or**:

- An associate degree or 60+ credit hours from an accredited college or university and two years of professional work experience (see examples below) or two years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); **or**
- Examples of professional _work experience could be, although not limited to_:

- Guardian Ad Litem or similar child advocate role_
- Family Support Worker_
- Group Home Worker_
- Teacher's Assistant/Aide_
- Daycare Provider/Worker_
- Therapeutic Assistant_
- Behavioral Health Technician_
- Family Intervention Specialist_
- Home Health Aide_
- Nurse (LPN or RN) or similar profession_
- Nursing Facility Assistant_
- EMT_
- Other welfare, education or medical _professional jobs that occur in high-paced, high-stress environments that require critical decision-making to occur_
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- An official letter from the college/university registrar or unofficial transcriptions with anticipated graduation dates and credits _earned must be provided for all diploma/degree requirements._
- Proof of conferred degree such as official transcripts or copy of diploma/degree must be provided within 30 days of hire as a condition of employment._
- Must obtain a Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months after obtaining provisional certification. All Investigators must maintain certification as a condition of employment. Information regarding certification can be found at: Florida Certification Board
- Valid Driver License; and
- Ability to attend an** **8 - 12-week mandatory training course. This training could be scheduled during day, weekend, and evening hours.

**_Special Notes:_**
- Language proficiency may be considered in the selection process as determined by Agency needs at the time of selection.
- May require successful completion of pre-interview assessment or work sample to be eligible for interview.
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or related field preferred.

**Additional Information/Requirements**
- This position will require night, weekend, and holiday work. It has also been designated as an essential position. Incumbents are expected to work during emergency situations or natural disasters and may be required to work before, during and beyond normal work hours/days.
- Incumbents may be exposed to possible hazardous conditions in the field.

**_Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:_**

Following policy and procedures, Managing Time, Assessing, Planning, Intervening, Evaluating, Documenting, Engaging, Teaming, taking appropriate actions related to Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and/or Substance Abuse, Establishing Effective Rela