CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST

Child Protection Specialist

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Child Protection Specialist. Under direction, this position will receive and investigate reports of alleged child abuse/neglect within mandated time limits. The position assesses the immediate safety of children and initiates appropriate levels of child protection needed, utilizing Spanish speaking skills in the performance of duties. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in playing a role in ensuring the safety of children and youth.

DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong communication skills.

Essential Functions:

• Serves as Child Protection Specialist
• Prepares and maintains a variety of reports, assessments, and case documentation
• Selects, summarizes and presents case material for transfer to permanency caseworker or intact/prevention caseworker
• Translates and interprets, both orally and in writing, for Spanish speaking clients regarding services available and the proper completion of forms
• Determines the need for and coordinates the placement of children in substitute care facilities
• Attends multi-disciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services
• Transports clients when taking protective custody, when placing them in substitute care, and when changing placement location
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Preferably requires a master's degree in social work OR
• Requires a master's degree in a related human service field, incriminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and one year of directly related professional experience OR
• Requires a bachelor's degree in social work and one year of directly related professional experience OR
• Requires a bachelor's degree in a related human service field, in criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and two years of directly related professional experience

The college or university issuing a bachelor's or master's degree must be accredited, and the degree program in social work must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education. Requires ability to speak and write Spanish at a colloquial skill level.

About the Agency:

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus.

This position does not contain "Specialized Skills" (as that term is used in CBAs).