CPI Investigation Worker Trainee

About the Role

Child Protective Investigations (CPI) Investigators investigate claims of child abuse and neglect. They have the difficult task of figuring out what happened and predicting what will happen in the future. CPI receives and investigates reports of abuse and neglect 24 hours per day, every day of the year. A CPI investigation includes interviewing and gathering information to see if abuse or neglect happened and if intervention is necessary. The investigator considers both risk and safety issues and may recommend services for the child and family to reduce the risk of further abuse or neglect.

What You Will Do

• Respond quickly in crisis situations involving children who may be in an abusive or neglectful situation, sometimes in dangerous circumstances
• Conduct forensic investigations of reports of abuse/neglect to determine if abuse or neglect occurred and assess current or future risk of harm to children
• Observe children for signs of harm and assess whether those signs result from abuse or neglect, including cases involving serious injuries and child fatalities
• Interview parents, caregivers, reporters, family members, and others familiar with the family situation, including medical staff, teachers, law enforcement, and other professionals
• Assess child safety and take necessary actions to protect children, including removing a child from their family when appropriate
• Talk frankly and objectively with families about personal and private matters such as parenting decisions, sexual abuse, income, money management, and personal relationships
• Determine actions to remove or reduce immediate threats to child safety, including working with families to identify kinship supports, testifying in court for emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, and referring families to crisis intervention therapy or community resources
• Document all relevant information gathered during investigations and complete required forms accurately and in a timely manner
• Gather family and kinship information to support placement should a child be placed in DFPS custody
• Participate in a regular on-call rotation requiring response to abuse/neglect situations after normal business hours, including overnight and weekend hours
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and the community

Professional Development

DFPS is committed to its employees' professional development and ongoing success and offers the DFPS Certification Program to enhance skills and advance careers within our organization. The program is tailored specifically for DFPS employees, provides the opportunity to earn additional compensation through a supportive learning environment that fosters growth and innovation, and equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to deepen their expertise in their respective role.