Child Protective Investigator-Kissimmee

Requisition No: 855009 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60070937

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60070937 

Salary:  $50,000.08 annually / $1,923.08 bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 06/22/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Child Protective Investigator

Department of Children and Families

Kissimmee, Florida

Open Competitive

This posting will be used to fill position vacancies in OPS and Career Service.

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

How you will make an impact:

The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love!

Ready to roll up your sleeves? Dive into a career where curiosity meets compassion. This job is for the resilient; Those who don’t back down from a challenge. If you’re in pursuit of a meaningful career, look no further. Florida’s Department of Children and Families is looking for individuals like you to Protect Florida’s Future.

Child Protective Investigators with the Florida Department of Children and Families are at the forefront of advocating for children’s safety and well-being. This role isn’t about sitting behind a desk; it’s about actively making a difference by investigating, locating resources, and protecting. With each case, you’ll have the chance to impact a child’s future, giving them the opportunity for a safer tomorrow.

What you will do:

• Conduct investigations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children.
• Collect information through observation and interviews with the children, parents, relatives, and neighbors.
• Assess danger threats, child vulnerabilities and caregiver protective capacities in order to determine whether a child is safe.
• Arrange emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in their home.
• Notify state attorney, law enforcement and child protection teams.
• Provide families with service linkages to agency and community resources.
• Conduct initial/ongoing child present and impending danger assessments.
• Report indication of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); OR
• An associate degree or 60+ credit hours from an accredited college or university and 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);

Examples of professional work experience could be, although not limited to: 

Guardian Ad Litem or similar child advocate role 

Family Support Worker  

Group Home Worker 

Teacher's Assistant/Aide 

Daycare Provider/Worker 

Therapeutic Assistant 

Behavioral Health Technician 

Family Intervention Specialist  

Home Health Aide 

Nurse (LPN or RN) or similar profession 

Nursing Facility Assistant  

EMT 

Other welfare, education or medical professional jobs that occur in high-paced, high-stress environments that require critical decision-making to occur.

OR

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.  Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or related field preferred.

An official letter from the college/university registrar or unofficial transcriptions with anticipated graduation dates and credits earned must be provided for all diploma/degree requirements. 

Proof of conferred degree such as official transcripts or copy of diploma/degree must be provided within 30 days of hire as a condition of employment.

• Must obtain a Florida Child Protective Investigator Certification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months after obtaining provisional certification. All Investigators must maintain certification as a condition of employment. Information regarding certification can be found at: Florida Certification Board
• Valid Driver License; and
• Must possess operational private vehicle for use in the performance of daily work activities. Selected candidates are required to provide proof of vehicle registration and documentation of the appropriate insurance coverage within 30 days of hire as a condition of employment.  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.
• Ability to attend a 12–15-week mandatory training course.  This training could be scheduled during day, weekend, and evening hours.

Special Notes:

• Language proficiency may be considered in the selection process as determined by Agency needs at the time of selection.
• May require successful completion of pre-interview assessment or work sample to be eligible for interview.

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.

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.

Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment in the position in accordance with Section 112.0455 F.S.

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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Following policy and procedures, Managing Time, Assessing, Planning, Intervening, Evaluating, Documenting, Engaging, Teaming, taking appropriate actions related to Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and/or Substance Abuse, Establishing Effective Relationships with Colleagues, Professional Competencies.

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.