CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker

Overview

After a family has been investigated, a Family‑Based Safety Services (FBSS) worker helps them make changes to protect their children from abuse and neglect and keep them safe  worker provides services from the agency, community resources, and extended families.

• Respond quickly in crisis situations and provide time‑limited in‑home services to meet families' specific needs, identify insufficient protective capacities, develop treatment plans, and use appropriate resources to minimize risk and ensure child safety; maintain contact with parents and children to achieve treatment goals.
• Assess child safety and take necessary actions to protect the child, including removing a child from a family when appropriate.
• Interact objectively with caretakers who have abused and/or neglected children, discussing issues related to income, money management, and personal relationships that families consider private.
• Encounter and respond to family members who are angry or scared.
• Identify resources and community support available to the family.
• Assist parents in recognizing behaviors that lead to child abuse or neglect and empower them to make necessary behavioral changes.
• Determine actions to remove or reduce an immediate threat to child safety, including working with families to identify supportive family members, testifying in court for emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, and referring families for crisis intervention therapy or other community resources.
• Gather family and kinship information to support placement of the child in DFPS custody, if required.
• Document all relevant information, complete required forms accurately and in a timely manner.
• Work flexible hours beyond 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday.
• Maintain objectivity and empathic understanding when engaging families in stressful or crisis situations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.
• Attend and participate in trainings, meetings, and staff meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned to maintain unit operations.
• Promote and demonstrate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and all work‑related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policies.

• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in problem‑solving techniques.
• Ability to operate a personal computer.
• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other appointments and meetings after 5:00 p.m.
• Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours.
• Ability to work in an emotion‑filled environment, which may require conducting home visits in isolated or high‑crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard or unsanitary living conditions.

• Minimum educational or experience requirements vary by level:
  • Level I:
    Accredited bachelor’s or associate’s degree (or 60 accredited college credit hours) plus 2 years of relevant work experience, OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus 1 year of relevant work experience.
  • Level II:
    Same educational options as Level I with 2 years of relevant experience, or employment as a Child Protective Services Specialist I for 9 months and certification, or current employment as a Specialist II or Investigation Specialist II in DFPS.
  • Level III:
    Same educational options as Level I with 2 years of relevant experience, or employment as a Specialist II for 9 months and certification, or current employment as a Specialist III or Investigation Specialist III in DFPS.
  • Level IV:
    Same educational options as Level I with 2 years of relevant experience, or employment as a Specialist III for 24 months and certification, or current employment as a Specialist IV or Investigation Specialist IV in DFPS.
• Applicants must have a reliable personal motor vehicle with a valid Texas driver’s license and an acceptable driving record for the past five years; proof of vehicle insurance and driving record is required.

• Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, or Public Health.
• Previous professional or volunteer experience in a government agency, nonprofit, child protection, foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, or substance abuse services.
• Familiarity with trauma‑informed care or experience conducting interviews or assessments with children and families.