Child Protection Worker

About the role

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Family Well-Being & Protection, Bureau of Child Protective Services, is hiring a Child Protection Worker (CPW) for the Northern Iowa Service Area based out of the Black Hawk County HHS (1407 Independence Ave., Waterloo, IA 50704) covering Waterloo and surrounding areas.

Responsibilities

• Conduct risk and safety assessments for children in potentially unsafe environments.
• Perform home visits and interviews, document findings with clarity and accuracy.
• Support families in crisis, helping to resolve issues and promote child well-being.
• Gather and evaluate information, apply Iowa Code and agency policies to determine appropriate case outcomes.
• Apply analytical reasoning to complex casework.
• Gather and evaluate information to determine appropriate case outcomes.
• Attend court hearings and testify as required.
• Collaborate with community partners to coordinate services and resources.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards.
• Adapt to changing situations, schedules, and priorities with professionalism and resilience.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree and the equivalent of three years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency; OR graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in social work and the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency; OR a Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university; OR an equivalent combination of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university and qualifying experience up to a maximum of thirty semester hours for one year of the required experience; OR employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Social Worker 2 shall be considered as qualified.
• For designated positions in case management, the appointing authority may request those applicants possessing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major or at least 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the behavioral sciences, education, health care, human services administration, or social sciences and the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience in the delivery of human services in the combination of: chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, and intellectual disabilities as a Targeted (Medicaid) Case Manager; OR an Iowa license to practice as a registered nurse and the equivalent of three years of full-time nursing or human services experience with the above population groups.

Qualifications

• Communicating with families through engagement and advocacy.
• Crisis Management.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Observational, critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Prioritization and time management.

Skills

• Empathy.
• Integrity.
• A deep commitment to child welfare.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage.
• Paid Time Off.
• Retirement Plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Employee Discount Programs.

Pay

Competitive salary.

Schedule

Full-time Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. On-call rotation: evenings, weekends, some holidays. Telework may be available after a 6-month probation.

Background Check

Required.

EEO/AA Employer

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer.

Additional Information

Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.

Lived Experience

The State of Iowa encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply.

Equal Opportunity

Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).