Child Protection Worker Jobs

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) merged on July 1, 2022, to form one agency, The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Division of Family and Child Well-Being is hiring a Child Protection Worker to work in Linn County helping families and supporting children around issues of abuse/neglect.

Do you enjoy helping people overcome challenges? If so, this is a great opportunity for you!

This position is responsible for working with families who have experienced abuse and neglect. You play a key role in preparing and supporting children and families to be successful. You also pay a key role in identifying a family’s strengths, helping the family come up with a plan to assure child safety and provide referrals for formal and informal services.

HOURS: Core hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M; however, overtime often will be required in order to assure the safety of children and dependent adults. This position will be required to work or be on standby during nights and weekends on a rotational basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Travel, a valid driver’s license, and reliable vehicle.

LOCATIONS: This position is for Linn County and does require in-office presence with a probationary period of six months. Upon completion of probation, some telework may be an option for this position if requested by the employee and approved by leadership.

DUTIES: The responsibilities of a Child Protection Worker include:

• Assess the ongoing risk to the child or dependent adult, develop safety plans, assess the strengths and needs of the child or dependent adult and family, and make recommendations to various county attorneys and courts;
• This position will represent the Department in the community as directed by the supervisor;
• Actively participate in multi-disciplinary teams and implement emergency services in order to assure the safety of the child or dependent adult;
• Evaluate the immediate safety of the child or dependent adult and conduct multiple interviews with the subjects and other collateral sources;
• Use of technology, including various computer systems and mobile phone;
• Gather physical and documentary evidence, etc. in order to determine whether abuse occurred;
• Participate in and provide professional testimony in Juvenile Court, District Court, and Appeal Court;
• Frequent interaction with law enforcement, medical/mental health community partners, schools, etc.;
• Conduct child or adult abuse assessments in accordance with the Code of Iowa, which includes Child in Need of Assistance assessments;
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to travel.

To ensure the Cedar Rapids Service Area is providing the best service to the residents of Iowa, applicants should demonstrate exceptional customer service skills, integrity, and a strong work ethic.

• Critical thinking skills and plan development
• Customer service including de-escalation of conflictual or adversarial situations
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication and report composition
• The following experience/skills are preferred:
• Teamwork, collaboration, and consultation

Our Benefits at a Glance outlines the great benefits for this position.

Minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and those with the ability to speak, read, and/or write additional languages (include in your application or resume) is encouraged to apply.

(Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD). DHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages foster youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply.

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree and the equivalent of three years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;

OR

graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in social work and the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;

OR

a Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university;

OR

an equivalent combination of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university and qualifying experience up to a maximum of thirty semester hours for one year of the required experience;

OR

employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Social Worker 2 shall be considered as qualified.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description .

Additional Qualification Requirements

For designated positions in case management, the appointing authority may request those applicants possessing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major or at least 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the behavioral sciences, education, health care, human services administration, or social sciences and the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience in the delivery of human services in the combination of: chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, and intellectual disabilities as a Targeted (Medicaid) Case Manager;

OR

an Iowa license to practice as a registered nurse and the equivalent of three years of full-time nursing or human services experience with the above population groups.