OOA Child Safety Specialist

The Office of Child Risk and Safety Child Safety Specialist (Program Specialist VI) is responsible for coordinating the agency's efforts on a regional level throughout the state relating to risk and safety for children.
The Child Safety Specialist provides leadership to develop and implement strategies to enhance the safety of children across all stages of service within the Child Protective Investigations (CPI) and Child Protective Services (CPS) program.
The Child Safety Specialist coordinates with all levels of regional staff to promote consistency and skill building in safety knowledge, decision-making, and methods to focus on child safety issues.
The Child Safety Specialist is accountable for making decisions that are critical to the agency.
The Child Safety Specialist interacts routinely with the state Child Safety Specialist Leads, all levels of regional staff, and the general public.
Essential Job Functions: Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Provides consultative services, analysis and technical assistance to design, implement and monitor solutions and improvements resulting from assessments of high-risk CPI and CPS cases.
Analyzes high-risk, complex, sensitive, and high-profile CPI and CPS cases to assess child safety issues.
Evaluates CPI and CPS cases at specific decision points during active case management to provide subject matter expertise and technical guidance to CPI and CPS caseworkers and management.
Conducts safety and risk assessments, identifies necessary changes, and approaches, and provides targeted guidance regarding required actions to ensure child safety.
Conducts next-level approval of high-risk cases subsequent to supervisory review to ensure child safety factors are addressed.
Oversees the compilation and analysis of data and information from various sources and stakeholders to contribute critical data for shaping program goals, objectives, and priorities.
Conducts in-depth analyses to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of CPI and CPS program strategies, policies, procedures, and initiatives, and makes recommendations for improvement.
Serves as a subject matter expert, and offers guidance, consultation and technical assistance to agency staff and internal and external stakeholders to foster effective program service delivery.
(25%) Plans, develops, implements, and monitors special projects, legislative requirements, and other initiatives.
Manages and coordinates the completion of specialized research projects, reports, and issues papers regarding the implementation of legislative mandates.
Facilitates the development and completion of studies, analyses, research, assessments, and evaluations program strategies, policies and procedures, and other investigations program initiatives and activities, and develops written findings and recommendations.
Plans and assigns staff projects and assignments, monitors project deadlines and ensures deliverables are available at expected project completion dates.
Develops special project monitoring tools, communication plans and performance measures to ensure project deadlines are met.
(10%) Consults with regional and state office management, regional caseworkers and field staff, OCRS,CPI, and CPS state office program and policy staff, external public and private stakeholders, consumers of child protective cases, volunteers, advocates, judges, other social service providers, educational, juvenile justice, workforce development boards and organizations to provide guidance, technical assistance and program subject matter expertise designed to improve CPI and CPS active case management, decision-making processes and outcomes.
Develops and implements plans and strategies to improve CPI and CPS casework functions and processes and promote program efficiencies and service delivery.
Identifies program, policy, knowledge and procedural gaps and inconsistencies, assesses the need for new training development for program and agency staff, and provides guidance to agency and program leadership in the development, coordination and deployment of agency training materials and activities.
Develops and delivers targeted program training modules designed to assist CPI and CPS caseworkers, staff and management achieve efficient service delivery and tailored services to client populations.
Represents the program at meetings, conferences, workgroups, hearings, and other events.
(20%) Provides guidance and consultation regarding the implementation, interpretation and application of state and federal legislation and judicial mandates.
Provides technical assistance regarding the review and assessment of state and federal laws, regulations, policies, and trends affecting the program and advises program management, staff, and caseworkers as appropriate.
Advises management regarding caseworker development, risk, and child safety issues to address trends and patterns noted via case analysis.
Provides consultative and advisory services to stakeholders by analyzing program strategies, identifying areas for improvement and gaps in services, and recommending improvements.
Provides technical assistance and guidance to other agencies, state and national level service providers, and other stakeholders to ensure coordination, quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of CPI and CPS programs, legislative mandates, and program initiatives.
Develops programmatic monitoring tools and performance measures to ensure timely, appropriate implementation of legislative and program requirements.
(15%) Provides subject matter expertise and policy interpretations and prepares communications and responses to stakeholder and legislative inquiries and data requests, and related initiatives.
Facilitates program communications with internal and external stakeholders including CPI and CPS state office and field staff, other state and federal agencies, client service providers, stakeholders, and legislative offices.
Provides guidance and consultation regarding program strategy initiatives and activities, evaluates program inquiries and coordinates written responses with program or agency leadership.
Provides program subject matter expertise and provides consultation and technical assistance services regarding CPI and CPS program activities, policies and procedures to stakeholders and employees to respond to written and verbal inquiries, provide educational information and resolve problems.
Ensures communications, responses and reports are completed and issued within required timeframes.
(10%) Manages the completion of required administrative, informational and performance reports and analyses.
Manages the development and preparation of presentations, reports, information, communications, correspondence, and responses to requests for information, ensuring quality, consistency, technical and program accuracy, and timeliness.
Produces technical and business written communications and materials involving the analysis and implementation of recommendations and solutions, agency and program impact and program reporting processes.
Provides guidance to ensure reports are completed within established timelines and all related tasks and milestones are achieved while ensuring legislative mandates, administrative rules and procedures, policies, and standards are in compliance.
Performs other duties as assigned.
(20%) Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge Skills Abilities: •Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations related to the Child Protective Investigations (CPI) and Child Protective Services (CPS) program.
•Knowledge of CPI and CPS programs and child welfare practices.
•Knowledge of contracted and community providers and services provided to children and families involved with CPI and CPS.
•Knowledge of CPI and CPS programs, policies and procedures.
•Knowledge of federal and state law regarding CPI and CPS.
•Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
•Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
•Skill in negotiation and problem resolution.
•Skill in leading others and facilitating group meetings.
•Skill in leading projects, managing work processes, producing deliverables and determining outcomes.
•Skill at establishing and maintaining productive working relationships both internally and externally.
•Skill in program planning, development and implementation.
•Ability to represent OCRS and the agency effectively with key stakeholders.
•Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
•Ability to gather, assemble, correlate and analyze data and facts.
•Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, develop staff and oversee the work of others.
•Ability to approach problems critically and analytically.
•Ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities.
•Ability to understand new information effectively and quickly.
•Ability to plan, direct and assign responsibilities and supervise the work of others.
•Ability to present information at training sessions, conferences, or legislative hearings.
Registration or Licensure Requirements: Initial Selection Criteria: Must have Child Protective Investigation Supervisor or Program Director experience within the past three years or must have Risk Manager or Child Safety Specialist experience within the past three years.
Additional Information: The position will be housed in Lubbock.
MOS Code: Note: There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position.
All active duty, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
For more information, see the Texas State Auditor's Military Crosswalk here.
As a state agency, DFPS is required Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards.
The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.
1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.
HHS agencies use E-Verify.
You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability.
If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747.
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.