CPS Conservatorship Worker I, II, III, or IV

This position interacts routinely with children, caregivers, judges, attorneys, advocacy center personnel, law enforcement, medical personnel, school personnel and all other aspects of the community. This position will be tasked with working closely with child deaths, serious injury cases, sexual abuse cases, high profile media cases, and other cases of significance. This position consistently works with the police and criminal District Attorney’s and our partners at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. This position will require excellent presentation skills as this position requires presentation of cases at a monthly multi-disciplinary team meeting.

A Child Protective Services Caseworker - SAO CPS Spec I.

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 monitors 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.

To explore more of what Conservatorship Specialists do, click here.


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 , 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:
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 ensuring that appropriate referrals for testing, evaluations, records, or further assessments are made. Ensures all services are focused on achieving positive permanency.

Working with children, families, and communities to plan for a child's permanency.

Identifying potential permanency resources for the child through ongoing contact with parents, family members, and other individuals the child and family identify as important to them.

Searching 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, identify behavior changes necessary to achieve child safety, referring parents to appropriate services to address the identified needs to move towards positive permanency. Discusses with parents their progress towards 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.

Using 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 Abilities:

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.

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:
Req 550861
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.

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.

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.