SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60047196

Requisition No: 871096 | Agency: Children and Families | Location: Bartow Service Center

About the role

This is professional work protecting children, working with families, and conducting investigations of alleged abused, abandoned, neglected, or exploited children. This position will assume an individual contributor role and serve as a model of child protection practice to other Child Protective Investigators (CPIs).

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and/or special conditions for children.
• Collect information through interviews with children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other parties associated with the case.
• Engage families, identify needs, and determine the level of intervention needed, including voluntary services or court-ordered dependency services; provide service linkages to agency and community resources based on needs assessment.
• Provide recommendations for the development of case plans to Case Managers.
• Conduct initial and ongoing child Present and Impending Danger assessments.
• Develop with the family a signed Present Danger Plan and a signed safety plan for any identified threats and interventions.
• Arrange emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the home.
• Notify the state attorney, law enforcement, child protection team, and other required individuals as appropriate.
• Schedule and gather information for, and participate in, case staffings.
• Prepare appropriate reports/documentation in coordination with Children’s Legal Services and provide testimony in court.
• Maintain thorough documentation in client records/appropriate information system(s) and keep organized client files.
• Report indications of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agencies involved in child protective investigations, such as community-based providers, Children’s Legal Services, law enforcement, medical personnel, schools, and other community/agency resources.
• Ensure effective communication with deaf or hard-of-hearing customers or companions in accordance with the ADA and/or Section 504, and manage service records and report data and any resources/training needs to the designated program point of contact.

Requirements

• Knowledge of theories and practice in child protection.
• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child protection and counseling.
• Knowledge of family-centered interviewing and counseling techniques.
• Knowledge of investigative techniques.
• Knowledge of interviewing and observation techniques.
• Skill in considering child development when guiding the placement of children.
• Ability to recognize indicators of abuse and neglect.
• Ability to conduct risk and safety investigations.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to actively listen to others.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to maintain well-executed case files.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to utilize computer systems.
• Ability to write accurate investigative reports.

Pay

$54,500.16 annually

Schedule

Posting Closing Date: 08/19/2026