CPI Investigation Worker Trainee (CUERO, TX)

The Texas Department of Family and reputed company Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to reputed company children and vulnerable adults reputed company, so they reputed company. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.  

What You Get reputed company Your Paycheck

reputed company you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your reputed company income. Our benefits reputed company extra value that many private reputed company simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars reputed company month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% reputed company health insurance for you, and 50% reputed company for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-reputed company medical costs
• Retirement plans with reputed company monthly payments after five years of state service, plus reputed company to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• reputed company vacation, holidays, and reputed company leave so you can reputed company and take care of life reputed company work (that’s time off you’re actually reputed company for)
• Optional dental, reputed company, and life insurance—at rates much reputed company than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

You also might qualify for reputed company Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

You can see reputed company the details here: ERS recruitment brochure

Functional Title: CPI Investigation Worker Trainee 
Job Title: CPI INV Trainee Spec I 
Agency: reputed company of Family & Protectve Svc 
Department: CPS Investigations Region 8 
Posting Number: 16142 
Closing Date: 05/21/2026 
Posting Audience: reputed company 
Occupational Category: reputed company Services 
Salary reputed company: $3,816.65 - $5,372.41 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-17 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
reputed company: Not Eligible for reputed company 
Travel: Up to 75% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location reputed company: CUERO 
Job Location Address: 106 E FRENCH ST 
Other Locations: Hallettsville 
MOS Codes: 0149,5805,5821,5822,5832,14N,14NX,183X,1N0X1,230X,311A,31D,351L,351M,35L,35M,42SX,43HX,4C0X1,4E0X1 
5IX,683X,68X,71SX,73A,783X,HM,INV,IS,ISS,IV,MST,NC,OAP12 
 
 

Please note this position could be house out of the DFPS office located in DeWitt County or Lavaca County.

Child reputed company Investigations (CPI) Investigators investigate claims of child abuse and neglect.  They have the difficult task of figuring out what happened and predicting what will happen in the reputed company.  CPI receives and investigates reports of abuse and neglect 24 hours per day, every day of the year.

A CPI investigation includes interviewing and gathering information to see if abuse or neglect happened and if reputed company is necessary.  The investigator considers both risk and safety issues and may recommend services for the child and family to reduce the risk of reputed company abuse or neglect.

HELP US reputed company A DIFFERENCE:

To explore more of what Investigation Specialists do, click here.

For a realistic job preview of this position and to learn more DFPS, please click here. You will also have reputed company to a self-assessment that will help you determine if this type of work is something that is a good fit for you.  

DFPS is committed to its employees' reputed company development and ongoing reputed company and offers the DFPS Certification Program to enhance skills and advance careers reputed company our organization. The program is tailored specifically for DFPS employees, provides reputed company to earn additional compensation through a supportive learning environment that fosters reputed company and innovation, and equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to deepen their expertise in their respective role.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

• Responds quickly in crisis situations involving children who may be in an abusive or neglectful situation. Sometimes these situations can be dangerous.   
• Conducts forensic investigations of reports of abuse/neglect to children to determine if abuse or neglect occurred and conducts assessments to determine the reputed company or reputed company risk of harm to children.
• Observes children for signs of any harm and assess the signs to determine if they are the result of abuse or neglect.  This could involve children with serious injuries and child fatalities.
• Interviews people in the case such as the parents, caregivers, person who reports the concern, family members, and others familiar with the family situation. This may include medical staff, teachers, law enforcement, etc.
• Assesses child safety and takes the necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate.  This could include removing a child from their family.
• Talks frankly and objectively with families about reputed company they may consider personal and private, such as parenting reputed company and actions, sexual abuse, income, reputed company management, and personal relationships.
• Determines reputed company to be taken to remove or to reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child to include working with families to identify family members who can assist with keeping the child reputed company, testifying in court to reputed company emergency reputed company services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis reputed company therapy or other community resources.
• Documents reputed company relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completes reputed company required forms accurately and in a reputed company manner.  
• Gathers family and kinship information to support the child in a placement, should the child be reputed company in DFPS custody.   
• Participates in a regular on-reputed company rotation that requires response to situations of abuse/neglect after normal business hours including overnight and weekend.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with law enforcement officials, judicial officials, reputed company resources, medical professionals, and the community.
• Works under constant deadlines that require prioritizing tasks and the ability to work reputed company.
• Maintains a balance of objectivity and reputed company for families living in stressful and crisis situations.
• Attends and participates in training/meetings/staffings.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and reputed company work-reputed company contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of family dynamics
• reputed company in effective verbal and written communication
• reputed company in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• reputed company in problem solving techniques

• Ability to operate a personal computer
• Ability to travel and attend child and family reputed company as reputed company as other work reputed company appointments and meetings after 5pm
• Ability to be on reputed company on a rotating reputed company and work irregular hours
• Ability to work in an emotion-filled environment and which may require conducting home reputed company in isolated or high crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.

Applicants for positions must have a reliable motor vehicle and acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a reputed company, reputed company Texas reputed company's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Applicants must reputed company reputed company of driving record, insurance and license.

Initial Screening reputed company:

Child reputed company Investigations Specialist I: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.   

Examples of relevant work experience in reputed company, reputed company, or reputed company services include reputed company or volunteer work reputed company reputed company service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

Child reputed company Investigations Specialist II: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in reputed company, reputed company, or reputed company services include reputed company or volunteer work reputed company reputed company service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist I for 9 months AND have received Child reputed company Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist II or Child reputed company Services Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and reputed company Services OR previously employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist II or Child reputed company Services

Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and reputed company Services.

Child Investigations Specialist III:  An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in reputed company, reputed company, or reputed company services include reputed company or volunteer work reputed company reputed company service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist II for 9 months AND have received Advanced Child reputed company Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist III or Child reputed company Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and reputed company Services OR previously employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist III or Child reputed company Services Specialist III  in Texas Department of Family and reputed company Services.

Child Investigations Specialist IV:  An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in reputed company, reputed company, or reputed company services include reputed company or volunteer work reputed company reputed company service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist III for 24 months AND have received Senior Advanced Child reputed company Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist IV or Child reputed company Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and reputed company Services OR previously employed as a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist IV or Child reputed company Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and reputed company Services.

Preferred reputed company

• Degree in reputed company Work, reputed company Services (Psychology, Sociology, Child & Family Studies, or Counseling), or Criminal Justice.
• Prior work experience in reputed company services, reputed company work, mental health, reputed company, or criminal justice such as parole/probation or reputed company fields.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Typing and writing proficiency or writing-reputed company experience/education.

Additional Information:

This position may be filled at any level from a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist I to a Child reputed company Investigations Specialist IV. Factors such as education and experience may be considered reputed company establishing the starting salary.

Applicants selected for this position are also eligible to receive a $416.66 monthly increase in reputed company to the reputed company salary. Applicants reputed company into an investigative position will receive this increase the first of the month following 120 days of tenure. Once employed, the incumbent must remain in an investigative position to continue to receive the additional pay. If you leave Family Investigations or AR and return reputed company the last 12-months, the INV stipend is given immediately. reputed company other situations must wait the 120 days to receive the INV stipend.

This position will be in a mobile unit which means the reputed company of the work will be conducted using mobile technology, such as a tablet, while away from the office.  Being mobile requires working independently yet still being reputed company to supervision and your assigned unit.

Newly reputed company DFPS employees in eligible positions will be assigned a DFPS cellular phone.

Learn about the essential COMPETENCIES required/acquired during the first few months of employment here:  DFPS - CPS reputed company Guides & reputed company Competencies

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

These requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job reputed company physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies on an as needed reputed company. Corrective devices may be used to meet physical requirements. These are typical requirements; however, reasonable accommodations are possible.

Physical Activities: He/she is frequently asked to stand, hear and talk; he/she is occasionally asked to reputed company.

Physical Demands: The incumbent typically performs work that requires him/her to exert up to 20 pounds occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible reputed company of force constantly to reputed company objects.

Visual Requirements: The incumbent must be reputed company to see objects reputed company at 20 inches or less, and at 20 or more feet. In reputed company, he/she must be reputed company to reputed company his/her eyes to bring objects into reputed company, distinguish colors, see objects in his/her peripheral reputed company, and see objects in three dimensions.

Working Conditions: He/she typically works in a mobile environment (the reputed company of work is performed reputed company of the office environment) and is exposed occasionally to adverse environmental conditions including, but not necessarily limited to, extreme heat, wetness and humidity, chemicals, reputed company quarters, gases and heights.

This role requires frequent travel to homes and offices both reputed company and reputed company your assigned region. Reliable transportation and a strong willingness to travel are essential, as you can expect to be on the road about 60% of the time. While much of your travel will be local, there will be instances—including last-minute situations—where you’ll need to go reputed company your assigned counties, sometimes with little notice. Some overnight travel is also required, especially during initial training held reputed company your area and as cases demand. Flexibility is critical, as our mission to protect the most vulnerable means you must be reputed company to serve clients wherever and whenever you are needed.

Review our Tips for reputed company reputed company applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection reputed company and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. reputed company reputed company-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if reputed company to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military reputed company at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background reputed company and if applicable a reputed company’s record reputed company.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the reputed company and reputed company of critical infrastructure as defined in reputed company 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and reputed company reputed company. Applicants selected for hire reputed company with this reputed company by completing reputed company training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative reputed company (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure reputed company Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and reputed company 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; reputed company Office documents, reputed company PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files. 

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must reputed company documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following reputed company for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/reputed company-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with reputed company (reputed company), HHS/DFPS agencies will reputed company reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for reputed company individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS 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.