CPS KIN Spec IV

CPS KIN Spec The position assists staff in identifying kinship placements for children in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship. Work involves referring families to supportive services, which could include training, case management, family counseling, support groups, and information and referral services. The position coordinates these services and assists families in obtaining financial assistance offered by DFPS to help stabilize placements. The position works to identify community activities, services and resources designed to preserve, strengthen, and reunify families. The position assures that kinship caregivers and foster parents are provided the opportunity to participate in the development of child plans that address child safety, permanency, and well-being issues. The position attends related CPS meetings, case staffing's and court hearings. The position interacts routinely with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services regional and state office staff, and the community at large. Essential Job Functions:

The position assists staff in identifying kinship placements for children in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship. Work involves referring families to supportive services, which could include training, case management, family counseling, support groups, and information and referral services.

The position assesses kinship families continually, to determine the family's strengthens and needs; to include home visits. The position coordinates these services and assists families in obtaining financial assistance offered by DFPS to help stabilize placements.

The position works to identify community activities, services and resources designed to preserve, strengthen, and reunify families. The position assures that kinship caregivers are provided the opportunity to participate in the development of child plans that address child safety, permanency, and well-being issues.

The position attends related CPS meetings, case staffing and court hearings. The position interacts routinely with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services regional and state office staff, and the community at large. The position requires flexibility and the ability to work evenings and on the weekends. Establishes self as an expert in the knowledge of community services available to kinship caregivers to strengthen, stabilize and maintain kinship placements for children in care;

*Assists in case planning activities as it pertains to identifying and preparing caregivers to meet the needs of the children, who have been abused and/or neglected, including individual case staffing or Permanency Planning Conference as needed.

• Conducts home studies

• Complete Developmental Plans to address family's needs

• Conducts Kinship Safety Evaluations *Determines kinship families' eligibility for kinship financial benefits *Provides input to CPS staff on best practice in the area of kinship care.

*Identifies and collects needed statistical information in order to evaluate safety, permanency, and well -being outcomes.

*Provides other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.

• Ability to conduct home visit in the evening and on weekends *Promotes and develop appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.

*Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy. Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• In depth knowledge of CPS program policies and procedures, applicable laws and regulations.

*Knowledge of community resources and services available for children

• Skill in leading others

• Skill in organizing and managing time

• Skill in effective written and verbal communication to organize facilitate and maintain meetings

• Ability to work well with a variety of levels of staff inside and outside the agency in order to secure placements, resources, and services to meet children's needs.

• Ability to clearly articulate and advocate placement issues and specific needs for children.

• Ability to concisely document specific needs and the services required to meet the children's needs.

• Ability to work in the evenings and on the weekends.

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 III or IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III or IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Additional Information:

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.

Applicants for this position who are screened and selected for further consideration are required to complete on-line assessments as part of the hiring process.

Newly hired DFPS employees in eligible positions will be assigned a DFPS cellular phone.

This job may be posted for multiple locations. Humble and Harwin Offices

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED/ACQUIRED DURING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT:

PROCESS COMPETENCIES

A process competency refers to a general approach to practice that can be observed in a newly hired CPS Specialists' interactions with children, families, and safety networks.

Engaging

• Understands and is able to articulate how family engagement is critical to achieving safety, permanency, and well-being.

• Can identify basic strategies for engaging children and families.

• Understands and appreciates the different views, expertise and experience of others; takes into account the perspectives of other individuals

Teaming

• Understands the need to expand the child's safety network beyond caregivers and to other adults who care about the child and can participate in day to day safety of the child.

• Interviews caregivers to identify individuals who may be supportive of the caregiver and/or child.

• Interviews children to identify individuals who may be supportive of the child and/or caregiver.

Assessing

• Understands and is able to articulate the concept of child safety.

• Is able to identify one's own biases and is willing to challenge one's own thinking.

• Regularly seeks information from a variety of sources to make and revise assessments.

• Understands the importance of and is able to make judgments based on factual information vs. assumptions. Planning

• Considers ways to ensure personal safety in addition to safety of children and families during interviews and other meetings Intervening

• Understands and is able to articulate what an intervention is and the variety of interventions CPS might use under which circumstances.

Evaluating

• Understands and is able to articulate personal responsibility for outcomes in a case.

CONTENT COMPETENCY

A content competency refers to a specialized domain of knowledge that should be integrated into process competencies.

Domestic Violence

• Understands and is able to identify power and control.

• Distinguishes domestic violence from other types of violence

• Can identify and refer both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence to appropriate services.

Mental Health

• Can articulate symptoms of broad mental health diagnostic categories.

• Is able to make appropriate referrals for crisis intervention, psychological and psychiatric evaluations. • Can articulate mental health resilience factors and recovery process.

Substance Abuse

• Distinguishes between substance use, abuse, and chemical dependency.

• Can articulate physical and behavioral warning signs of substance use and abuse.

• Administers and/or makes referrals for drug testing as appropriate.

• Makes referrals to community and contracted services available to treat substance abuse.

• Can articulate substance abuse resiliency factors and recovery process.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

Demonstrates a basic understanding of the following:

• Federal and state law, regulations and rules for the operation of child protection programs.

• The statutory responsibility for reporting suspected abuse and neglect

• Roles and responsibilities of participants in the global child welfare system, including children, families, child protection, various courts, and other child/family serving agencies

• Legal definitions and concepts, including ethics, and is able to apply them within the law to casework and judicial process

Establishes Effective Relationships with Colleagues

• Is willing to accept and provide support and assistance from/to co-workers, supervisors and other child protective services employees

• Is able to build and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders

Follows policy and procedures

• Is able to learn and understand the specific policies and procedures for child protective services

• Understands the policy requirements of ethical practice and the ramifications to staff and clients when this does not occur.

• Demonstrates adherence to policy and best practice

Documenting

• Records observations accurately as part of case documentation, using specific quotes and precise behavioral descriptions of the danger and its impact on the child

• Prepares clear, accurate, and appropriate written communications or documents

• Prepares court documents such as petitions, affidavits and court reports

Managing Time

• Acts quickly to solve problems and to get things done

• Uses technology, "to-do" lists or other tools to manage time, keep track of what needs to be done, and manage multiple, pressing job demands

• Regularly re-assesses and re-prioritizes in order to focus attention on the most important tasks

MOS Code:

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

These requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job related physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies on an as needed basis. Corrective devices may be used to meet physical requirements. These are typical requirements; however, reasonable accommodations are possible.

Physical Activities: He/she is frequently asked to stand, hear and talk; he/she is occasionally asked to climb.

Physical Demands: The incumbent typically performs work that requires him/her to exert up to 20 pounds occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Visual Requirements: The incumbent must be able to see objects clearly at 20 inches or less, and at 20 or more feet. In addition, he/she must be able to adjust his/her eyes to bring objects into focus, distinguish colors, see objects in his/her peripheral vision, and see objects in three dimensions.

Working Conditions: He/she typically works in a mobile environment (the majority of work is performed outside of the office environment) and is exposed occasionally to adverse environmental conditions including, but not necessarily limited to, extreme heat, wetness and humidity, chemicals, close quarters, gases and heights.

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called to an agency for an interview must notify the interviewing agency in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

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.

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.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

These requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job related physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies on an as needed basis. Corrective devices may be used to meet physical requirements. These are typical requirements; however, reasonable accommodations are possible.

Physical Activities: He/she is frequently asked to stand, hear and talk; he/she is occasionally asked to climb.

Physical Demands: The incumbent typically performs work that requires him/her to exert up to 20 pounds occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Visual Requirements: The incumbent must be able to see objects clearly at 20 inches or less, and at 20 or more feet. In addition, he/she must be able to adjust his/her eyes to bring objects into focus, distinguish colors, see objects in his/her peripheral vision, and see objects in three dimensions.

Working Conditions: He/she typically works in a mobile environment (the majority of work is performed outside of the office environment) and is exposed occasionally to adverse environmental conditions including, but not necessarily limited to, extreme heat, wetness and humidity, chemicals, close quarters, gases and heights.

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called to an agency for an interview must notify the interviewing agency in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

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.

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.

I-9 Form - Click here to download the I-9 form.

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.