Child Protective Services Worker (Social Service Specialist 1)

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Imagine a role where you engage with children, families, resource parents and caregivers to achieve safety and optimal outcomes for Oregon’s children and families. Imagine yourself conducting child safety assessments through an equity and culturally relevant lens. If you're looking to make a difference and this sounds intriguing, this Child Protective Services Worker position may be for you! 

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As an employee working within the Child Welfare Program, you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. Your dedication will help us achieve the Child Welfare Vision for Transformation that will support children and young adults to be safer, healthier, experience less trauma and achieve a greater well-being.  

As a Child Protective Services Worker, you will: 

• Respond to referrals and determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred. 
• Gather information through interviews with parents and children. 
• Observe and analyze the safety of home environments. 
• Gather collateral information from school personnel, doctors, therapists, and law enforcement officers. 
• Fulfill documentation requirements and enter info into databases. Arrange medical evaluations and substitute care placement for children. 
• Present and testify in court. ​

Interested in learning more? Here are some testimonials from current ODHS Workers. 

Per pursuant to ORS 419B.021, states that any position engaged in child protective investigations and/or custody determinations must meet the educational requirements. Experience alone will not meet the minimum qualifications for those positions. Degree must be completed, not in progress. 

• A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record are required for this position. And

• A bachelor’s degree in human services or a field related to human service. Or
• A bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services and either:
  • One year of Human Services related experience. Or
  • Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency, or
• An associate degree and either:
  • Two years of Human Services related experience. Or
  • One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework, or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.

• The Oregon Department of Human Services does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
• If selected as a finalist, we will conduct a criminal history and background check. Adverse criminal history or background check may lead to disqualification. Additional background check information.
• Finalists must be cleared by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) through a fingerprint-based criminal records check. 
• Pursuant to ORS 419B.021, states that any position engaged in child protective investigations and/or custody determinations must meet the educational requirements. Experience alone will not meet the minimum qualifications for those positions. Degree must be completed, not in progress. 

We are looking for candidates with: 

• Experience providing services and resources to children and families while working or volunteering in a social services-related field. 
• Experience conducting assessment and fact-finding interviews related to child safety, risk of abuse, neglect, or harm.
• Experience writing documents or reports that include a conclusion and recommended action (examples: case plans, court reports, investigative reports). 
• Demonstrated experience to think analytically and utilize critical thinking skills in high pressure situations and defuse confrontational situations
• Experience building partnerships with community organizations, agency staff.

• Your work will be conducted in offices, participant's homes, and other community sites. 
• This position requires working a flexible schedule as a condition of employment with a normal workday of 8 hours, from 8 AM to 5 PM; however, working hours may be adjusted within a given week, to provide planned services
• This position will be required to participate in an on-call rotation for mandatory on call for child protective services. 
• Frequent travel is required. Some travel may be hours away. Some travel may be in hazardous weather conditions. Travel is required, including driving to sometimes remote areas and in inclement weather conditions.
• You may interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions. 
• Walking into stressful situations that may require quick decision-making skills to ensure safety of those being serviced and own physical safety. This may also be trauma inducing. 
• This work requires a valid Drivers License from the state in which the employee resides]
•  You will work with local Police Department (PD) personnel in occasionally unsafe and unsanitary home environments.

Veterans’ and Oregon National Guard preference:

• Eligible Veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.

• This is a permanent, full-time position and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  
• The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.
• This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification.

We invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions.

• The recruiter for this position is Sugei Hernandez. Please include the REQ# when corresponding.  
• Email: Sugei.Hernandez@odhs.oregon.gov