Child Protection Specialist

Child Protection Specialist

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking organized, professional, and results oriented individuals to serve as Child Protection Specialists. Under direction, this position will receive and investigate reports of alleged child abuse/neglect intakes within mandated time limits. The position assesses the immediate safety of children and initiates appropriate levels of child protection needed. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in playing a role in ensuring the safety of children and youth.

DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong communication skills. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Position Overview

The essential functions of this position include serving as a Child Protection Specialist, preparing and maintaining a variety of reports, assessments, and case documentation, selecting, summarizing and presenting case material for transfer to permanency caseworker or intact/prevention caseworker, determining the need for and coordinating the placement of children in substitute care facilities, attending multi-disciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services, transporting clients when taking protective custody, when placing them in substitute care, and when changing placement location, and performing other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

Preferably requires a master's degree in social work; OR requires a master's degree in a related human service field, in criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and one (1) year of directly related professional experience; OR requires a bachelor's degree in social work and one (1) year of directly related professional experience; OR requires a bachelor's degree in a related human service field, in criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and two (2) years of directly related professional experience.

The college or university issuing a bachelor's or master's degree must be accredited, and the degree program in social work must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education.

Conditions of Employment

Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance. Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history. Requires physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties. Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.

This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends. This also requires the ability to work in a 24 hour "on call" capacity.

About the Agency

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus.