Instructor II, III or IV-Senior Fitness

Minimum Qualifications

LOCATION OF POSITION TO BE FILLED: Department of Children's Services, Shelby county

SUMMARY: Under general supervision, performs professional investigative work of considerable difficulty and lead work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: This is the lead level class in the DCS Special Investigator class series. An employee in this class performs investigations at Children's Services field offices, group homes, secure institutions and contracted agencies for an assigned region of the state, and leads/trains lower level investigators. This class differs from DCS Special Investigator 1 in that an incumbent of the latter performs entry/working level investigative work primarily associated with a secure institution. This class differs from DCS Special Investigator 3 in that an incumbent of the latter performs supervisory investigative work.

Other Requirements

• Serves as a lead worker for a regional field office: verifies subordinates' work hours; coordinates leave in assigned field office; reviews subordinates' case reports for accuracy prior to submission to supervisor; orders supplies for field office; completes procurement and expense reports for field office; reviews policy drafts for compliance with agency standards; prepares weekly, monthly, and other office composite reports; provides on the job training for new investigators.
• Serves as a liaison for the Department of Children's Services at the regional level: represents the department in a variety of formal and informal contacts with courts and governmental organizations; speaks to non-profit agencies regarding services provided by the department.
• Investigates all criminal and fraudulent activities related to Children's Services programs and contract agencies including employee misconduct, aggravated child abuse incidents, death of a custody child, criminal conspiracies, escape of a custody child at secure institutions, and organized gang activity inside facilities at the regional level; may also work with outside agencies, group homes, and TBI on select cases.
• Conducts interviews related to an allegation of malfeasance: identifies areas that need to be addressed in an interview based on the type of allegation; drafts an outline of interview questions pertaining to each relevant area to serve as a guide for questioning; asks informants and witnesses appropriate questions to gather data that may be used in determining the creditability of individuals or evidence; records responses to questions asked during the interview to accurately document facts and statements that may be used in court; may serve as a witness to observe and document non-verbal responses in order to determine the creditability of statements; compares interview notes and observations against official witness notes in order to detail the relevant findings; prepares an affidavit that is signed by the interviewee and notarized.
• Conducts interrogations in order to obtain an admission of wrongdoing from an individual suspected of malfeasance: selects an interrogation technique based on statements made by the perpetrator; presents a monologue to the perpetrator offering alternative incriminating scenarios that will help the perpetrator justify the wrongdoing; asks questions to develop details about how the malfeasance was committed; provides comments on perpetrators' non-verbal behavior in order to ensure active participation; prepares a formal written statement of admission of guilt for the perpetrator to sign; may serve as a witness for the lead interrogator to ensure that the interrogation is performed according to established standards and procedures.
• Maintains the integrity of evidence gathered for an investigation: secures rooms, buildings, vehicles, or other locations to prevent the removal, alteration, or destruction of evidence according to the state and federal standards; records evidence using sketch kits and video and audio surveillance equipment; records evidence using sketch kits and video and audio surveillance equipments; records where evidence was received, who was in possession of the evidence, and how it was protected and stored in order to establish the chain of custody; labels each item of evidence with an identification number and description to be used for classification and retrieval; documents date and time of removal, quantity, item number, type, and custodian of evidence so that activity logs are accurately maintained; compiles all documents collected, analyses performed, and relevant information obtained during an investigation into a standard format to be used as a reference guide in court proceedings.
• Maintains fingerprint database according to departmental policies and procedures: rolls fingerprints of potential agency staff and volunteers; submits fingerprints to a Federal agency to determine any prior convictions or arrests; may send fingerprints to field agents for use in investigations; researches details of any previous arrests or convictions reported by any Federal agency; maintains records of all persons fingerprinted and the results.
• Prepares narrative and technical reports: identifies critical issues of investigations based on the procedures conducted, evidence collected, and conclusions drawn; writes a narrative document that includes details of the investigation, procedures followed, results, and conclusions in order to support the decisions of the investigation; creates graphs, charts, and tables as necessary to clarify data and conclusions drawn; prepares administrative reports such as mileage, travel expenses, or weekly reports on open cases.
• Participates in legal and due process proceedings of persons involved in the violations of laws, rules, and regulations regarding children's protection: testifies under oath to judges, district attorneys, grand juries, or commissioners in depositions, court, and/or preliminary or departmental hearings to explain details of investigations; responds to questions or inquiries from officers of the court about the handling of evidence and findings of an investigation; utilizes lab analysis reports to substantiate evidence and support case development; reviews how evidence was received and maintained; verifies that documents used in court are true and accurate; arranges and presents files and court exhibits for legal proceedings.
  
  

Job Overview

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and experience equivalent to two years of full-time professional experience investigating fraudulent and criminal activities.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Additional experience investigating fraudulent and criminal activities may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of four years (e.g. experience equivalent to one year of full-time work in fraudulent or criminal investigation may substitute for one year of the required education).

OR

One year of full-time experience as a DCS Special Investigator 1 with the State of Tennessee.

Competencies (KSA's)

Necessary Special Qualifications

• a valid vehicle operator’s license;
• applicants for this class must have no conviction of a felony;
• applicants must be willing to be fingerprinted and must have their fingerprints on file with the Department of Children’s Services (TCA
• 71-3-533);
• applicants must authorize release of any investigative and criminal records obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to the Department of Children’s Services (TCA
• 38-6-144; TCA
• 71-3-533);
• successful completion of basic interviewing techniques and other required pre-service training offered by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services is required within six months of an employee’s appointment to this position.
  
  

EXAMINATION METHOD: Education and experience rating, 100%.

State Employee Benefits

Insurance There are a variety of insurance options available to state employees including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Annual Leave Full-time employees earn annual leave each month at a rated based on years of service as follows:
  
  

Years of Service

• 0 up to 5
• 5 up to 10
• 10 up to 20
• 20 or more
  
  

Annual Leave Earned per Month

• 1 day
• 1 and ½ days
• 1 and ¾ days
• 2 days
  
  

Maximum Allowable days

• 30 days
• 36 days
• 39 days
• 42 days
• Leave earned in excess of the maximum allowable days will be transferred to the employee's sick leave account annually on the employee's anniversary hire date.

• Sick Leave All full-time employees accrue 1 day (7.5 hours) of sick leave per month, provided they work the major portion of that month.
• Bereavement Leave Leave with pay is granted for three days in the event of the death of an employee's spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parents, grandparents, siblings, stepparents, foster parents, or parents-in-law without charge to the employee's leave time. Two additional days of sick leave may be granted to provide a total of five days absence for this purpose.
• Family Medical Leave Allows up to twelve work weeks of leave* each year to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. Continued health insurance coverage is provided during the leave period, and the employee is reinstated to the same or an equivalent position once the leave period has ended.
• Leave may or may not be paid leave, depending on individual employee's leave balances for earned leave.

• Parental Leave Parental leave is an absence from work granted any employee who has been employed in state service for at least 12 consecutive months as a full-time employee. Parental leave is a combination of sick, annual, or special leave without pay for a period not to exceed four months following the birth of a child.
• Military Leave Granted in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
• Holidays Each year, full-time state employees receive 11 holidays off with pay.
• Retirement State employees are automatically members of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System . (TCRS) Employees must accrue 5 years of creditable state service to be vested (guaranteed retirement benefits when age requirements are met). Vested members of TCRS become eligible for service retirement upon completion of 30 years of creditable service or upon attainment of age 60.
• Deferred Compensation Employees may choose to make pre-tax contributions to a variety of investment options through the 401(k) plan or the 457 plan. A minimum $20 monthly contribution is required to participate in the plans. For the 401(k) plan, the state will match the $50 per month minimum contribution. The $50 match policy is evaluated on an annual basis.
• Flexible Benefits Plan Under this program certain specific expenses (e.g.,medical and dental insurance premiums, medical expenses, dependent day care expenses) can be deducted from an employee's paycheck prior to taxes, resulting in a lower taxable income level.
• Higher Education Fee Discounts and Waivers A 25% discount on undergraduate tuition at any state operated institution of higher learning in Tennessee is available to children 23 years of age or under of full time state employees. In addition, full-time state employees with six months of continuous service are eligible to have tuition fees waived for one course per semester at a state institution. For further information on higher education discounts, click on Chapter 1540 on the Secretary of State Rules and Regulations web page.
• Baccalaureate Education System Trust (BEST) Program (BEST) The Baccalaureate Education System Trust (BEST) was created by the Tennessee General Assembly for the purpose of providing Tennessee families with a means to save for their children's future college education costs.
• Wellness Program The State Employee Wellness Program works to increase employees´ knowledge of options for healthier lifestyles through information and events that focus on improving behaviors affecting your health. Some specific benefits offered through the program include health risk assessments, fitness events, smoking cessation programs, and various other benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) EAP is a confidential counseling and referral service for all employees and their dependents. All services are strictly confidential and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.