Senior Child Protective Investigator

Position: SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60072219 1
Requisition No: 858466

Agency:
Children and Families

Working Title:

SENIOR CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR -  1

Pay Plan:
Career Service

Position Number:

Salary: $54,500.00

Posting Closing Date: 02/26/2026

Total Compensation Estimator
Tool

Senior Child Protective Investigator

Department of Children and Families

Clearwater

Pinellas County

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

What you will do:

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).

How you will make an impact:

• Conduct investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children.
• Collect information through interviews with the children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other parties associated with the case.
• Engage 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.
• Provide recommendations for development of case plan to Case Manager.
• Conduct initial/ongoing child Present and Impending Danger assessments.
• Develop with the family a signed Present Danger Plan and a signed safety plan for any identified threats and interventions.
• Arrange emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the home.
• Notify state attorney, law enforcement, child protection team and other required individuals as appropriate.
• Schedule and gathers information for and participates in case staffings,
• Prepare appropriate reports/documentation in coordination with Children's Legal Services and provide testimony in court.
• Maintain thorough documentation in the client records/appropriate information system(s) and maintains organized client files.
• Report indication of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
• Provide subject matter expertise to help less experienced CPIs build increased capacity in investigative skills.
• Provide case consultation and advises and/or co-investigates complex cases with other CPIs to assure appropriateness, clarity, quality, and thoroughness.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agenices involved with child protective investigations such as community based providers, Children's Legal Services, law enforcement, medical personnel, schools, and other community/agency resources.
• Ensure 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.

Qualifications:

• Criteria 1: (a) A high school diploma or GED equivalent AND

(b) Four years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); AND

(c) Minimum 1.5 years/18 months of Child Welfare Experience, preferred in Child Protective Investigations AND

(d) Current/Active Child Welfare Certification credentials from the Florida Certification Board AND

(e) Valid Driver License; AND

(f) 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.

OR

• • Criteria 2: (a) AA Degree or 60+ credit hours from an accredited college or

university AND

(b) Two years of professional work experience (see examples below) OR two years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably) AND

Examples of Professional Work Experience

Guardian Ad Litem or similar Child Advocate Role

Fa…