SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60075266

About the role

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• SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60075266
• Date: Oct 30, 2026

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• Requisition No: 886768
• Agency: Children and Families
• Working Title: SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60075266
• Pay Plan: Career Service
• Position Number: 60075266
• Salary: agency to update
• Posting Closing Date: 11/11/2026
• Total Compensation Estimator
• Tool
• Senior Child Protective Investigator
• Department of Children and Families
• New Port Richey, FL
• Pasco County

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

Duties and Responsibilities

This is professional work protecting children, working with families and conducting investigations of alleged abused, abandoned, neglected or exploited children. This position will assume an individual contributor role and be a model of child protection practice to other Child Protective Investigators (CPIs).

• Conducts investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children;
• Collects information through interviews with the children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other parties associated with the case;

Engages families, identifies needs and determines the level of intervention needed to include voluntary services or court ordered dependency services; provides services linkages to agency and community resources based on needs assessment. Provides recommendations for development of case plan to Case Manager.

• Conducts initial/ongoing child Present and Impending Danger assessments;
• Develops with the family a signed Present Danger Plan and a signed safety plan for any identified threats and interventions;
• Arranges emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the home;
• Notifies state attorney, law enforcement, child protection team and other required individuals as appropriate;
• Schedules and gathers information for and participates in case staffings;
• Prepares appropriate reports/documentation in coordination with Children’s Legal Services and provides testimony in court;
• Maintains thorough documentation in the client records/appropriate information system(s) and maintains organized client files;
• Reports indication of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline;
• Provides subject matter expertise to help less experienced CPIs build increased capacity in investigative skills;
• Provides case consultation and advises and/or co-investigates complex cases with other CPIs to assure appropriateness, clarity, quality, and thoroughness;

Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agencies involved with child protective investigations such as community based providers, Children’s Legal Services, law enforcement, medical personnel, schools, and other community/agency resources;

Ensures effective communication with deaf or hard-of hearing Customers or companions in accordance with the ADA and/or Section 504 and shall manage service records and report this data and any resources and/or training needs to their designated program point of contact.

The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of theories and practice in child protection.
• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child protection and counseling.
• Knowledge of family-centered interview and counseling techniques.
• Knowledge of interviewing and observation techniques.
• Skilled in considering child development in guiding placement of children.
• Ability to recognize indicators of abuse and neglect.
• Ability to conduct risk and safety investigations.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to actively listen to others.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to maintain well-executed case files.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to utilize computer systems.
• Ability to write accurate investigative reports.

Minimum qualifications

• Current valid State of Florida driver's license; and
• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Two years of child welfare experience with 1 of those years in investigations; and
• Current Florida Child Welfare Certification from the Florida Certification Board

Preferences

Bachelors or Masters degree in social work, behavioral science, criminal justice, nursing or education field;

Growth Opportunities

• With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all.
• Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government.
• They are also among the most rewarding.
• All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Vision

We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.

Values

A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve.

Selective Service

Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the SSS website:

Background Screening Requirement

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.

Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.

Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here

• . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.
• VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.

• Location: NEW PORT RICHEY, FL, US, 34654
• Nearest Major Market: Tampa
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