CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker

Overview

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is hiring a CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker to protect children from abuse and neglect. The role involves providing in‑home services, assessing risk, developing treatment plans, and coordinating with families, law enforcement, and community resources.

• Respond quickly in crisis situations to protect children.
• Provide time‑limited in‑home services, develop treatment plans, and use appropriate resources to minimize risk.
• Assess child safety, determine and take necessary actions to protect the child (including removal from family).
• Interact objectively with caretakers who have abused or neglected children in their care.
• Discuss family issues related to income, money management, and personal relationships.
• Encounter and manage families who are angry and/or scared.
• Help families identify community resources and support available.
• Assist parents in recognizing behaviors that lead to child abuse and empower them to make behavioral changes.
• Determine actions to remove or reduce immediate threats, including working with families, seeking emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, and referring to crisis intervention therapy.
• Collect family and kinship information to support child placement when the child is placed in DFPS custody.
• Document all relevant information gathered during the investigation and complete required forms accurately and timely.
• Work flexible hours beyond 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday‑Friday, and maintain objectivity and empathic understanding when engaging families in stressful situations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement, judicial officials, medical professionals, and other community resources.
• Attend and participate in trainings, meetings, and staffings, and perform other duties as assigned to maintain unit operations.
• Promote appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and all work‑related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in problem‑solving techniques and operating a personal computer.
• Ability to travel, attend child and family visits after 5 p.m., and work irregular hours on a rotating basis.
• Ability to work in an emotionally charged environment and conduct home visits in isolated or high‑crime areas with substandard living conditions.
• Use of personal motor vehicle, reliable driving record, current valid Texas driver’s license, proof of driving record, insurance, and license required.
• Initial screening criteria: accredited bachelor’s degree OR accredited associate’s degree plus two years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two years of relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one year of relevant work experience.
• Preferred criteria:
  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.

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Pension plan
• Disability insurance
• Student loan assistance
• Tuition assistance