Discover the essential requirements, duties, responsibilities, and skills needed for a Child Protective Investigator job description.
What does a Child Protective Investigator do?
A child protective investigator, also known as a child protective service investigator, is responsible for looking into reports of child neglect and abuse. Their job is to keep children safe by investigating the situation and working with law enforcement to ensure their well-being.
Job Description
We are looking for a skilled child protective investigator to review reports of child neglect and abuse. In this role, you will visit the homes of children, talk to family members and neighbors, and gather evidence that can be used in court.
To be successful as a child protective investigator, you should be caring and understanding, and able to handle difficult situations. A great child protective investigator can recognize signs of abuse and has strong interviewing and investigative skills.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Answering calls and reports about child abuse and neglect and keeping track of details about each case.
- Investigating reports of neglect and abuse by talking to people, visiting homes, and keeping an eye on suspects.
- Writing down all the information you find and creating reports about each case.
- Telling law enforcement or the appropriate child protective service if you find evidence of neglect, abuse, or abandonment.
- Helping move victims to safe places to live.
- Working with social workers, psychologists, lawyers, and law enforcement to come up with ways to support and help the children.
- Following up on cases and doing assessments to see how likely it is that a child will be abused again.
- Keeping track of and updating databases about the victims and abusers.
- Going to court and sharing all the evidence and information you found during your investigation.
Requirements and Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social work, forensic science, or a related field.
- Certification in child welfare from the state.
- At least two years of experience as a child protective investigator or a similar job.
- A valid driver's license and your own transportation.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, protective service databases, and case management software.
- Knowledge of how to investigate and ask questions.
- The ability to make good decisions and handle stressful situations.
- Excellent communication and people skills.
- Willingness to respond to emergencies at any time, including weekends and holidays.