CPS Family Based Safety Services Worker (Coastal Bend Area)

Please apply to the Health and Human Services Job Portal at https://jobshrportal.hhsc.state.tx.us/ENG/careerportal/

Essential Job Functions:

Responds quickly in crisis situations.

· Provides time limited in-home services to meet the specific needs of families by identifying insufficient protective capacities, developing treatment plans, and using appropriate and necessary resources to minimize risk and provide for safety of the child; and maintains contact with parents and children to achieve treatment goals.

· Assesses child safety and takes the necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate. This could include removing a child from their family.

· Interacts objectively with “caretakers” who have abused and/or neglected children in their care.

· Discusses issues with families related, but not limited to income, money management, and personal relationships that they will probably consider personal and private.

· Encounters family members who are angry and/or scared.

· Helps identify resources and community supports available to the family.

· Assists parents to recognize behaviors that led to child abuse and/or neglect and empower parents to identify ways to make the necessary behavioral changes.

· Determines action to be taken to remove or to reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child to include working with families to identify family members who can assist with keeping the child safe, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis intervention therapy or other community resources.

· Gathers family and kinship information to support the child in a placement, should the child be placed in DFPS custody.

· Documents all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completing all required forms accurately and in a timely manner.

· Works flexible work hours beyond 8a.m.-5p.m., Monday - Friday.

· Maintains a balance of objectivity and empathic understanding when engaging families living in stressful and crisis situations.

· Develops and maintains effective working relationships with law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.

· Attends and participates in trainings, meetings and staffings.

· Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.

· Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and all work-related contacts.

· Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions. Applicants for positions must have a reliable motor vehicle and acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance and license. This position is a 75% Travel.

Knowledge, Skills & Ability:

· Knowledge of child development

· Knowledge of family dynamics

· Skill in effective verbal and written communication.

· Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

· Skill in problem solving techniques

· Ability to operate a personal computer.

· Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other work related appointments and meetings after 5pm.

· Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours.

· Ability to work in an emotion-filled environment and which may require conducting home visits in isolated or high crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Child Protective Services Specialist I: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.

Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.