Child Abuse Prevention Specialist 1

Duties Description

The position of Child Abuse Prevention Specialist is essential to the Regional Office’s ability to monitor the safety and well-being of children in foster care residential settings, runaway and homeless youth programs and family-type homes for adults. The Regional Office is responsible for making sure that vulnerable persons that fall under the jurisdiction of the NYS Justice Center are cared for in a safe manner, within the residential settings where they are placed/live. When assigned by the NYS Justice Center, regional office staff conduct abuse/neglect investigations and review significant incidents regarding the safety of vulnerable persons and in compliance to state mandates.

• Review significant incidents as assigned to assess whether programmatic policies and protocols were met and provide feedback to the agency as needed.
• Conduct abuse/neglect investigations as assigned following state protocols and mandates to make a recommended determination to the Justice Center.
• Collaborate with Regional Office Voluntary Agency Leads regarding findings identified in abuse/neglect investigations to assist in necessary practice improvements.
• Participate in program reviews for local departments of social services and voluntary child-care agencies when assigned, including Child Protective, Foster Care, Voluntary Agency and Child and Family Services Reviews.
• Work with Local Districts and Voluntary Agencies when assigned to assist in oversight/monitoring activities.
• Collaborate with other regional office staff on assignments when needed.
• Other tasks as assigned by the Regional Director
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

Six years of professional children and family services experience, including or supplemented by two years in the planning, development, or delivery of child abuse or neglect prevention programs. Experience also must include or be supplemented by one year of investigative experience.

Substitutions

An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

• Children and family services experience may include, but is not limited to, adoption services, foster care services for children and/or adults, preventive services, and protective services for children and/or adults.
  
  

Additional Comments

Note: All candidates appointed to this title must be able to fulfill the transportation-related duties of the title at the time of appointment, and throughout their tenure in the title.

A valid NYS Driver’s license is required.

Background Investigation Requirements

• All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees.
• All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
• For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.
  
  

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.