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. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and communication capabilities. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

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 A master's degree in a related human service field, in criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and one year of directly related professional experience OR A bachelor's degree in social work and one year of directly related professional experience OR 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.
• 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.

Benefits:

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes a pension program, competitive group insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision insurance, paid personal business days, paid sick days, paid vacation time, paid holidays, flexible work schedules, paid parental leave, deferred compensation program, optional pre-tax programs, federal public service loan forgiveness program eligibility, GI Bill® training/apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans, and a commuter savings program (Chicago only).