Child Protection Specialist

Hiring Department: UICOMP-Pediatrics

Location: Peoria, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1022039

Posting Close Date: 1/31/2024

The Department of Pediatrics of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP) is currently accepting applications for a full-time position as Child Protection Specialist for the Pediatric Resource Center (Child Abuse Pediatrics).
The Pediatric Resource Center has a 30-year history of providing evidence-informed, specialized medical and social services to child victims of abuse/neglect. The Child Protection Specialist position is an integral part of PRC’s child-focused medical social services for children who may have experienced child physical abuse, child sexual abuse and/or neglect and their families.

Position Summary

The Child Protection Specialist position is an integral part of PRC's child-focused medical social services for children who may have experienced child physical abuse, child sexual abuse and/or neglect and their families.
Duties & Responsibilities

• Responds to phone referrals by obtaining intake information and evaluating it for acceptance for services. For cases not accepted, provides referrals to more appropriate community resources/agencies.
• Provides emotional support to children and their families during medical evaluation and/or inpatient hospital stay.
• Performs highly specialized work surrounding assignments in the field of child protection, including risk assessment and safety planning.
• Identifies and evaluates child abuse resources and obtains information relevant to families who are caring for a child abuse victim.
• Serves as an authority and provides expertise in the area of child abuse to physicians and other professionals.
• Provides specialized medical casework services to a caseload of 30 to 60 children per month, including intake screening, compiling all pertinent information and social history, and assessment of data needed for medical evaluation and safety planning.
• Represents the unit on at least one community child welfare committee and serves as a liaison to select DCFS offices in the central region.
• Foster professional and positive relationships with all agencies involved with the Pediatric Resource Center.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with a major in Social or Behavioral Science or related Health specialty from an accredited college or university with 5 years of relevant experience and significant specialized training in child protective services
Or Master’s degree in social or behavioral science or related health specialty area from an accredited college or university with two years of progressively more responsible full-time experience in the practice of social services or medical/clinical setting maintaining acceptable standards of social work practices.

About University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria (UICOMP) Department of Pediatrics and OSF Healthcare Children’s Hospital of Illinois:

UICOMP is one of the three regional campuses of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, one of the largest public medical schools in the country. UICOMP’s educational programs include 244 medical students and 300 residents/fellows in 21 different post graduate programs. The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments at UICOMP. In collaboration with the OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, the Department has 19 divisions and over 145 faculty members providing general pediatrics and subspecialty services to the pediatric population in Central Illinois.
About Children’s Hospital of Illinois

The current research infrastructure within the Department includes office of research, a dedicated biostatistician and internal research funding mechanism to support our faculty. The primary teaching hospital of UICOMP is Children’s Hospital of Illinois, a tertiary care facility serving a 37-county region with a population base of over two million. Children’s Hospital of Illinois provides comprehensive services to children, including Level IV NICU and a state-designated Pediatric Critical Care Center. Children’s Hospital of Illinois is a major medical facility with 136 beds and a 32-bed critical care unit and the only Level 1 trauma center in Illinois outside of Chicago. There are existing resources through UICOMP and Children’s Hospital of Illinois for seeding research funding, quality and outcomes focused academic work and innovation in health education.
About Peoria, IL

One of the oldest communities in Illinois with a population of 112,936, Peoria is equal distance from Chicago and St. Louis. Here we have an enviable standard of living, exciting venues within a 15-20 minute drive from our homes, safe streets, quality and quantity shopping, our own symphony, our own ballet, Broadway Theater League, museums, art guilds, first-class medical facilities, the nation's oldest community theater and oldest Santa Claus parade.

Our vibrant riverfront showcases a multitude of festivals and celebrations that light up the summer nights much like our extraordinary Fourth of July Sky Concert... a fireworks show that draws well over 100,000 annually. Citizens are flocking to live in the refurbished warehouses and lofts on Water Street that produce the perfect lifestyle for a 24/7 city.

For fullest consideration, please submit your application by 12/21/2023 at:

https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/7523?c=uic

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters at https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/one.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=5705 to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The University of Illinois conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

As an EOE/AA employer, the University of Illinois encourages applications from individuals regardless of an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, and Veteran or disability status.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation at https://jobs.uic.edu/request-and-accomodation/.