CPS Conservatorship Worker

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save. Here’s what you get as a full-time employee: 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out‑of‑pocket medical costs Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for) Optional dental, vision, and life insurance —at rates much lower than most private plans Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment Brief Job Description Whenever a child must be removed from their home, Texas courts appoint Child Protective Services (CPS) to serve as a “Conservator” of the child. Conservatorship Specialists are a specific type of caseworker legally responsible for a child’s welfare whenever they are removed from their home and monitor children’s care while in CPS conservatorship. They work closely with parents, extended family, and legal parties to help children find a permanent, safe place to live. Newly hired employees holding a Master’s Degree in Social Work may qualify for an increase at the point of hire. New opportunities to explore more of what CPS Conservatorship Specialists do are available for interested applicants. For a realistic job preview of this position and to learn more DFPS, a self‑assessment is available to help determine fit for this type of work. Essential Job Functions (EJFs) Receives cases from investigators after children are removed from their homes, placed in CPS conservatorship, and placed in care outside their homes. Determines each child’s needs and ensures that appropriate referrals for testing, evaluations, records, or further assessments are made. Ensures all services are focused on achieving positive permanency. Works with children, families, and communities to plan for a child’s permanency. Identifies potential permanency resources for the child through ongoing contact with parents, family members, and other individuals the child and family identify as important. Searches for potential kinship providers throughout the case, completing home studies of a child’s family members or family friends (kinship providers) who might care for the child. Meets with the parents to assess risk and safety issues, identifies behavior changes necessary to achieve child safety, refers parents to appropriate services to address the identified needs to move toward positive permanency. Discusses with parents their progress toward making changes to behaviors that pose dangers to their child(ren). Meets with children, parents, family friends, or foster homes in public as well as in their own homes. Collaborates with a Placement Team, including Kinship staff, for placements, as needed. Participates in meetings and conferences at times and places convenient for the family members as well as everyone involved in the case. Visits children monthly to assess the child’s feeling of safety in their current home, to plan for permanency, and to discuss their needs, wishes, and progress while in care. Attends and participates in court hearings about the child and family. This includes contacting the parties in the case before hearings, preparing court reports, and testifying in court on the child’s needs, the family’s progress, and the department’s efforts to achieve permanency for the child. Keeps the child’s, parents, caregivers, court‑appointed attorney and guardian ad litem(s) informed about the child’s circumstances and significant events. Works with the department's attorney to prepare for contested‑court hearings and trials. Works with kinship caregivers and foster parents to ensure that they have what they need to care for the child or youth placed with them, i.e., keeping them informed about developments in the case, returning phone calls, and in some areas of the state being available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at certain times. Transitions children home during reunification services and provides support to the family until the legal case is closed. Supervises adoptive placements until the adoption is final or until the case is transferred to an adoption caseworker. Uses effective time‑management skills to make sure all key tasks are done. Documents case records by completing forms, narratives, and reports to form a written record for each client. Develops and maintains effective working relationships between Child Protective Services staff and law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources. Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations. Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers, clients, and all work‑related contacts. Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) 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 5 pm. Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours. Ability to work in an emotion‑filled environment and may require conducting home visits in isolated or high‑crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions. Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications This position requires the use of the applicant’s personal motor vehicle to complete job functions. Applicants must have a reliable motor vehicle, an 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. Proof of driving record, insurance, and license must be provided. Initial Screening Criteria Child Protective Services Conservatorship Worker I

• Accredited bachelor’s degree
• Accredited associate’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience
• 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience
• 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.

Examples of relevant work experience include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at‑risk populations. Child Protective Services Conservatorship Worker II

• Accredited bachelor’s degree
• Accredited associate’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience
• 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience
• 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.
• Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist I for 9 months and have received Child Protective Services Specialist Certification
• Currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II or Child Protective Investigations Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
• Previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II or Child Protective Investigations Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Conservatorship Worker III

• Accredited bachelor’s degree
• Accredited associate’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience
• 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience
• 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.
• Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II for 9 months and have received Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification
• Currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III or Child Protective Investigations Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
• Previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III or Child Protective Investigations Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Conservatorship Worker IV

• Accredited bachelor’s degree
• Accredited associate’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience
• 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience
• 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.
• Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III for 24 months and have received Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification
• Currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV or Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
• Previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV or Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Preferred Criteria Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, or Public Health. Previous professional or volunteer experience in a government agency, nonprofit, child protection, foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, or substance abuse services. Familiarity with trauma‑informed care or experience conducting interviews or assessments with children and families. Additional Information Community‑Based Care (CBC) is a new way to provide services beyond traditional foster care; it gives local communities the flexibility to draw on local strengths and resources and find innovative ways to meet the unique and individual needs of children and their families. CBC includes foster care, case management, kinship, and reunification services. The transition to CBC is projected for 2029 across Texas. This position may shift from a state position with Texas Department of Family Protective Services to a private non‑profit agency serving the same foster care population, and the office location may change within the same county before 2029. Applicants considered for placement in this position will be required to pass a drug screening and, at the point of offer, a testing site will be provided. Fingerprint checks and background checks are required under Texas law. The position requires frequent travel—approximately 60% of the time—including local and occasional out‑of‑county and overnight travel. Physical demands include standing, speaking, occasional climbing, and lifting up to 20 pounds occasionally or 10 pounds frequently. Visual requirements include seeing objects clearly at 20 inches or less and at 20 or more feet, and distinguishing colors, peripheral vision, and three‑dimensional vision. Working conditions involve a mobile environment with exposure to heat, wetness, humidity, chemicals, close quarters, gases, and heights. The role requires the use of mobile technology such as a tablet while on the road and a strong willingness to travel. All Texas state employees must adhere to the State of Texas Business and Commerce Code security provisions, agency cybersecurity policies, and accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508). E‑Verify is used; applicants must bring I‑9 documentation. The department provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities per the Americans with Disabilities Act. #J-18808-Ljbffr FALL CREEK FARM & NURSERY