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CPI Investigator- Recovery Unit

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

 

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

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

 

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



  • 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs


  • Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans


  • Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)


  • Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower 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 Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure

 

Functional Title: CPI Investigator- Recovery Unit 
Job Title: CPI Investigator IV 
Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc 
Department: CPS Investigations Region 3E 
Posting Number: 12589 
Closing Date: 02/06/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Protective Services 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-20 
Salary Range: $4,263.16 - $6,779.25 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 75% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: SHERMAN 
Job Location Address: 2607 N LOY LAKE RD 
Other Locations: Bonham; Corsicana; Dallas; Ennis; Garland; Grand Prairie; Greenville; Irving; Kaufman; Lewisville; Mckinney; Plano; Rockwall; Rowlett; Sherman; Waxahachie 
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 
 
 



Brief Job Description:

The position will conduct investigations primarily in Region 3 East counties experiencing a high number of delinquent investigations. Work will include investigations of new and/or delinquent investigations, courtesy requests, and after-hours routing and case assignments.

The position will also provide consultation and assistance to staff, law enforcement, and stakeholders regarding complex protective services cases and issues. The position could serve as a mentor and provide training to investigation staff.

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 current or future 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 matters they may consider personal and private, such as parenting decisions and actions, sexual abuse, income, money management, and personal relationships.

• Determines action 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 safe, testifying in court to

seek emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis intervention therapy or other community resources.

• Documents all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completes all required forms accurately and in a timely manner.

• Gathers family and kinship information to support the child in a placement, should the child be placed in DFPS custody.

• Participates in a regular on-call 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, legal resources, medical professionals, and the community.

• Works under constant deadlines that require prioritizing tasks and the ability to work flexible hours.

• Maintains a balance of objectivity and empathy 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 all work-related contacts.

• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

 

Knowledge Skills Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of child development

• Knowledge of family dynamics

• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.

• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

• Skill in problem solving techniques

• Ability to operate a personal computer.

• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other work related appointments and meetings after 5pm.

• Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours.

• Ability to work in an emotion-filled environment and which may require conducting home visits 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 current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance and license.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Child Protective Services 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 social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

Child Protective Services Specialist II: Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist I for 9 months AND have received Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Specialist III: Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II for 9 months AND have received Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and

Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Specialist IV: Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III for 24 months AND have received Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Preferred Qualifications: Current INV II or IV

Additional Information:

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

Applicants selected for this position are also eligible to receive a $416.66 monthly increase in addition to the base salary. Applicants hired 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.

This position will be in a mobile unit which means the majority 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 responsive to supervision and your assigned unit.

Newly hired 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 Practice Guides & Core Competencies

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

These requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job related physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies on an as needed basis. 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 climb.

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 amount of force constantly to move objects.

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

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

 

 

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified 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 Liaison at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe 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 provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified 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.