Criteria 3: (a) A bachelor's degree (degree must be conferred at the time of
application). Bachelor's or master's degree in social work or related field preferred. (When applying please attach required education, certification or licensure). AND
(b) Minimum 2 years of Child Welfare Experience, preferred in Child Protective Investigations AND
(c) Current/Active Child Welfare Certification credentials from the Florida Certification Board AND
(d) Valid Driver License; AND
(e) Must possess operational private vehicle for use in the performance of daily work activities. Selected applicants are required to provide proof of vehicle registration and documentation of the appropriate insurance coverage. The Department provides a Vehicle Insurance Allowance to assist with the cost of insurance coverage due to the use of private vehicle for work purposes.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of theories and practice of child protection, counseling, social work, investigations, and assessments. Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child protection and counseling. Knowledge physical and behavioral indicators of abuse and neglect. Knowledge of effective management skills. Knowledge of court procedures and legal requirements. Knowledge of methods of collecting, organizing and analyzing data. Knowledge of management and supervision techniques. Knowledge of family-centered interviewing and counseling techniques. Knowledge of investigative techniques. Knowledge of interviewing and observation techniques. Skill in direct observation of investigator's abilities in interacting appropriately with families, community resources, service providers and other department professionals. Skill 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 actively listen to others. Ability to maintain well-executed case files. Ability to write accurate investigative reports. Ability to develop and implement individual case plans. Ability to assess investigators' performance and develop performance improvement plans. Ability to analyze the effectiveness of service programs and identify resources or make adjustments to meet needs. Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to effectively supervise staff members. Ability to understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Ability to use computer systems. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of group dynamics. Ability to staff cases. Ability to conduct thorough case staffings, and other meetings.
Must be physically able and have the ability to perform the following physical agility tasks: a.) ambulate in varied terrains to enter residences/locations as well as up and down stairs/stairwells, b.)assist with evacuation of persons served during an emergency situation, c.) have normal vision and hearing, including use of corrective devices, d.) do repetitive movements with arms, hands, neck and head, e.) bend, twist, turn, kneel, stoop, squat, push, pull, lift and walk extended distances, f.) lift and carry up to 30 pounds, g.) assist clients in and out of properties, vehicles and safety equipment/devices, h.) sit and/or stand for periods of time without a break, i.) work 16 hour shifts on occasion, j.) remain alert while on duty, k.) drive a vehicle (car or passenger van) to transport clients, during both daytime hours and nighttime hours.
Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.
Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume" in place of entering work history.
If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.
Additional Information/Requirements
This position will require night, weekend, and holiday work. It has also been designated as an essential position. Incumbents are expected to work during emergency situations or natural disasters and may be required to work before, during and beyond normal work hours/days.
Incumbents may be exposed to possible hazardous conditions in the field.
Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
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.
Where you will work:
Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. In other words, no matter where you land in Florida, you're never more than 60 miles from a body of saltwater. (https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/travel-ideas/10-florida-facts.html#:~:text=It) And if the beach isn't your scene, there are 175 state parks to explore! Meanwhile, Floridians hail from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life, making it an incredibly diverse melting pot that many residents and visitors to Florida love. The Sunshine State is a great place to live and work - Come join our team!
About Department of Children and Families:
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.
To learn more please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/.
If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.
We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment
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: http://www.sss.gov.
BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S.
No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
Location:
BARTOW, FL, US, 33830
Nearest Major Market:Lakeland
