Child Protective Services (Social Service Specialist 1
Listed on 2026-08-08
-
Social Work
Child Development/Support, Community Health, Family Advocacy & Support Services -
Child Care/Nanny
Child Development/Support
Child Protective Services (Social Service Specialist
1)
The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Opportunity awaits!
Step into a transformative role where your passion for the well-being of children and your ability to connect with families come together to create lasting change. Become a catalyst for positive impact in the lives of Oregon's children and their loved ones. Are you ready to unlock the potential within every family—and make a real difference?
We are currently seeking a Child Protective Services Worker (Social Service Specialist
1) to join our team based in the Portland office located on Glisan Street.
Summary of Duties
- Respond to referrals and determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred.
- Gather information through interviews with parents and children.
- Observe and analyze the safety of home environments.
- Gather collateral information from school personnel, doctors, therapists, and law enforcement officers.
- Fulfill documentation requirements and enter info into databases.
- Arrange medical evaluations and substitute care placement for children.
- Present and testify in court.
Interested in learning more? Here are some testimonials from current ODHS Workers.
Minimum Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree in Human Services or a field related to human service, or;
- A bachelor's degree unrelated to Human Services and either:
- One year of Human Services related experience, or;
- Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency, or;
- An associate degree and either:
- Two years of Human Services related experience, or;
- One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
Essential Attributes
- Experience building partnerships with community organizations, agency staff, clients, and affected communities.
- Experience communicating clearly with diverse groups in both verbal and written forms.
- Experience preparing and maintaining thorough records, such as reports, narratives, and observations.
- Experience identifying client needs and connecting them to relevant and culturally responsive services.
- Experience organizing tasks, prioritizing responsibilities, and managing time to meet deadlines.
- Experience providing services and resources to children and families in social services settings.
Working Conditions
- Your work will be conducted in offices, participant's homes, and other community sites.
- Employee's work schedule will be Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm PT; hours may fluctuate based on service needs. Occasional compensated overtime during evening and weekend work may be required.
- This position will be required to participate in an on-call rotation for mandatory on call for child protective services.
- Frequent travel is required. Some travel may be hours away. Some travel may be in hazardous weather conditions.
- You may interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions.
- Walking into stressful situations that may require quick decision-making skills to ensure safety of those being serviced and own physical safety. This may also be trauma inducing.
Attention all candidates! Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Your application materials will determine if you are selected to move forward in the selection process. Please include detailed work and education history.
- Please upload a resume or complete the work history profile.
Note:
Your resume and cover letter may be uploaded in the Resume/CV field on the online application. - If you are selected as the final candidate and a degree is listed as a minimum qualification for the…
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).