Investigator - Pinal

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Arizona Department of Child Safety

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully engage children and families to ensure safety, strengthen families, and achieve permanency. DCS has field office locations located throughout the state of Arizona, with its central office located in Downtown Phoenix. DCS employs over 2,800 employees who share the common vision of ensuring children thrive in family environments free from abuse and neglect.

Job Location:

663 W Main Ave.
Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Hourly Salary: $29.08

Grade: 20

The Child Welfare Investigative Specialist primarily investigates criminal conduct reports with allegations of felony child abuse and/or neglect, which may have resulted in serious injury, or death of a child. This position conducts home visits, documents interviews, testifies in court, and assists and trains staff in navigating a variety of registries and inter‑agency databases. Under supervision, with latitude for independent action and decision‑making, the specialist is assigned to an Office of Child Welfare Investigations (OCWI) unit.

The specialist adheres to county‑specific joint investigation protocol throughout the investigation.

• Assesses, responds to, and conducts investigations in conjunction with internal and external stakeholders involving allegations of criminal conduct child abuse or criminal neglect of Arizona's children that have resulted in serious injury or death of a child.
• Accompanies Department of Child Safety Specialist on investigations, which are anticipated to be unusually difficult and may at times become confrontational.
• Conducts and documents interviews, prepares reports for management, and makes entries into the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System.
• Testifies in court regarding OCWI investigations.
• Attends unit meetings, high‑profile staffing, multidisciplinary meetings, Team Decision Meetings, and fatality review meetings as determined by case and business needs.
• Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment.

• Arizona law related to special victims, forensics, homicide, domestic violence, missing persons or a closely related law enforcement unit.
• Multi-disciplinary approach, including child and family advocacy centers.
• Child welfare practices.
• Policy pertaining to abuse and neglect of children.
• Conducting high‑profile, complex, and sensitive investigations.

• Working with public relations.
• Conducting interviews with children and family members.
• Training investigative techniques and approaching families and children.
• Identifying criminal or neglect and abuse in investigations.
• Strong verbal and written communication.
• Preparing reports.
• Working with diverse groups and individuals.

• Conduct a high‑profile, complex and sensitive investigation.
• Identify and analyze highly confidential situations and resolve them.
• Testify in court.
• Document investigations.
• Recognize issues/concerns at the inception of and take appropriate action.
• Share and enhance the understanding of investigative techniques.
• Demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving, conflict resolution.
• Travel in‑state.
• Maintain a high level of self‑direction and responsibility.

At least 18 months in law enforcement experience AND/OR eighteen (18) months of DCS Specialist or OCWI Investigator with experience in an investigations unit.

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing an extensive background investigation through State and Federal agencies.

Must be able to secure and maintain clearance from DCS Central Registry.

Must be able to secure and maintain an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: driver’s license requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E‑Verify).

• Affordable…