CPS Foster/Adoption Worker
Company: Texas Health & Human Services Commission
Location: Beaumont
Posted on: June 23, 2022
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Job Description:
A Child Protective Services Caseworker - SAO CPS Spec I.
This position recruits, studies licenses, and develops foster homes
for the Child Protective Services program. The position interacts
routinely with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
staff, clients, and the general public.
To view a realistic online video about Child Protective Services
workers and clients, please click here.
You will also have access to a self-assessment that will help you
determine if this type of work is something that is a good fit for
you.
WHY WORK FOR DFPS?
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is
responsible for protecting the unprotected - children, elderly, and
people with disabilities - from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
DFPS accomplishes this responsibility by employing over 12,000
workers who live up to the agency's Mission, Vision, & Values in
service to the 27 million citizens of Texas.
DFPS is not only a qualifying organization for the Service Loan
Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on
college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly
payments, but also offers excellent health benefits, special
discounts on many products and services through the Discount
Purchase Program, a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as
Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement
System of Texas. An additional benefit you will receive is 12 days
of paid annual leave, 12 sick days, and the potential to earn up to
four days of administrative leave each year. Your annual paid leave
accrual increases as your tenure increases.
Newly hired employees holding a Master's Degree in Social Work may
qualify for an increase at the point of hire.
Essential Job Functions:
* Conducts Parent Resource Information and Development Education
training groups and completes foster home studies to certify homes
for child placement.
* Conducts quarterly visits and revalidation studies on licensed
foster homes to ensure continued compliance with standards for
child placement.
* Investigates reports of abuse/neglect to children to assess
current or future risk to children by interviewing parents, family
members, and others, interviewing and examining children; assessing
home environment; and gathering pertinent formation from other
sources.
* Recruits prospective foster parents through media contact and
speaking engagements.
* Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit
operations.
* Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural
diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
* Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
* Knowledge of agency policies and procedures.
* Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
* Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working
relationships.
* Skill in investigative techniques.
* Ability to operate a personal computer and use various software
packages including, the Information Management Protecting Adults
and Children System and Word.
* Ability to travel and attend community board meetings after
5pm.
* Ability to be on call on a rotating basis. Registration or
Licensure Requirements:
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.
Initial Selection 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.
Child Protective Services Specialist II: Employed as a Child
Protective Services Specialist I for 9 months AND have received
Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently
employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed
as a Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas Department of
Family and Protective Services.
Child Protective Services Specialist III: Employed as a Child
Protective Services Specialist II for 9 months AND have received
Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR
currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously
employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services.
Child Protective Services Specialist IV: Employed as a Child
Protective Services Specialist III for 24 months AND have received
Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification
OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV
in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously
employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services.
Additional Information:
This position may be filled at any level from a CPS Specialist I to
CPS Specialist IV. Factors such as education and experience may be
considered when establishing the starting salary. The starting
salary for former agency employees and employees transferring
directly from other Texas state agencies may exceed the range
above.
Applicants considered for placement in this position will be
required to pass a drug screening. At the point of offer,
candidates will be referred to a testing site. Note that it is
important to maintain current contact information in the event you
are referred for testing. A final offer of employment will not be
extended until the agency receives confirmation of successful test
results.
During the 83rd Legislature (2013), the Texas Legislature passed
Senate Bill (SB) 427 which requires prospective and current child
placing agency (CPA) employees to complete a Federal Bureau of
Investigations (FBI) fingerprint check. Child Protective Services
functions as a CPA therefore a fingerprint check will be required
for each Conservatorship (CVS) and Foster/Adoption home (FAD)
direct delivery staff or applicant being considered for
employment.
This position will be in a mobile unit which means the majority of
the work will be conducted using mobile technology, such as a
tablet, while away from the office. Being mobile requires working
independently yet still being responsive to supervision and your
assigned unit.
Newly hired DFPS employees in eligible positions will be assigned a
DFPS cellular phone.
Bilingual applicants (SPANISH/ENGLISH) are encouraged to apply.
Bilingual applicants selected for this position may qualify for an
increase at the point of hire after successfully passing a
bilingual skills test. (The applicant will need to be fluent in
writing/speaking in Spanish in order to receive the salary
increase)
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
These requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job related
physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies
on an as needed basis. Corrective devices may be used to meet
physical requirements. These are typical requirements; however,
reasonable accommodations are possible.
Physical Activities: He/she is frequently asked to stand, hear and
talk; he/she is occasionally asked to climb.
Physical Demands: The incumbent typically performs work that
requires him/her to exert up to 20 pounds occasionally, and/or up
to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of
force constantly to move objects.
Visual Requirements: The incumbent must be able to see objects
clearly at 20 inches or less, and at 20 or more feet. In addition,
he/she must be able to adjust his/her eyes to bring objects into
focus, distinguish colors, see objects in his/her peripheral
vision, and see objects in three dimensions.
Working Conditions: He/she typically works in a mobile environment
(the majority of work is performed outside of the office
environment) and is exposed occasionally to adverse environmental
conditions including, but not necessarily limited to, extreme heat,
wetness and humidity, chemicals, close quarters, gases and
heights.
Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called to an agency
for an interview must notify the interviewing agency in writing of
any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the
interview.
MOS Code:
Note: There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the
initial selection criteria and registration or licensure
requirements for this position. All active duty, reservists,
guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply. For more
information, see the Texas State Auditor's Military Crosswalk
here.
As a state agency, DFPS is required Texas Administrative Code (TAC
206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR)
follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the
WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including
but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs,
webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.
HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation
with you on your first day of work.
I-9 Form - Click here to download the I-9 form.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS
agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring
and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability.
If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact
the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are
contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in
the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the
interview.
Keywords: Texas Health & Human Services Commission, Beaumont , CPS Foster/Adoption Worker, Other , Beaumont, Texas
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