Child Protection Worker

Full Job Description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Family Well-Being and Protection, Bureau of Child Protective Services is seeking a Child Protection Worker (Job Classification: Social Worker 3) to join our team!

This position is located in Des Moines.

Join Us in Making a Difference: Child Protection Worker

Are you passionate about creating safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive?

As a Child Protection Worker, you’ll play a vital role in supporting children and families during some of their most vulnerable moments.

This position offers a unique opportunity to be a steady, compassionate presence—someone who listens, advocates, and helps guide families toward healing and hope.

In this role, you’ll:

• Work closely with children and families to assess safety and well-being
• Be a voice for children who may not be able to speak for themselves
• Collaborate with caregivers and community partners to build safer, healthier homes
• Provide thoughtful interventions and support during times of crisis
• Help families navigate challenges and access resources that promote long-term stability

Every case you take on is a chance to make a meaningful, lasting impact—often at a pivotal moment in a family’s life. With empathy, integrity, and a deep commitment to child welfare, you’ll help foster resilience and inspire brighter futures.

If you’re someone who believes in the power of compassion and the importance of advocacy, we’d love to welcome you to our team.

Essential Skills

• Communicate with families through engagement and advocacy
• Crisis Management
• Oral and written communication skills
• Observational, critical thinking and analytical skills
• Prioritization and time management

Responsibilities

• Conduct risk and safety assessments for children in potentially unsafe environments.
• Perform home visits and interviews; document findings with clarity and accuracy
• Support families in crisis, helping to resolve issues and promote child well-being
• Gather and evaluate information, apply Iowa Code and agency policies to determine appropriate case outcomes
• Apply analytical reasoning to complex casework
• Gather and evaluate information to determine appropriate case outcomes
• Attend court hearings and testify as required
• Collaborate with community partners to coordinate services and resources
• Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards
• Adapt to changing situations, schedules, and priorities with professionalism and resilience

Terms of Employment

• Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Must be available to work or remain on-call during evenings, weekends and occasional holidays as part of a rotating schedule
• Telework may be an option upon successful completion of the six-month probationary period
• Mileage is paid at $0.50/mile travelled according to Iowa State Accounting Procedures
• Valid driver’s license is required
• Background Checks- Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

Benefits

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits click here.

Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.

Background Checks

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply.

Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to WorkThe State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States.

The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.

For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree and the equivalent of three years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in social work and the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;a Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university;an equivalent combination of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university and qualifying experience up to a maximum of thirty semester hours for one year of the required experience;employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Social Worker 2 shall be considered as qualified.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Additional Information

For designated positions in case management, the appointing authority may request those applicants possessing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major or at least 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the behavioral sciences, education, health care, human services administration, or social sciences and the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience in the delivery of human services in the combination of: chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, and intellectual disabilities as a Targeted (Medicaid) Case Manager;an Iowa license to practice as a registered nurse and the equivalent of three years of full-time nursing or human services experience with the above population groups.

Applicants wishing to be considered for such designated positions must list applicable course work, experience, certificate, license, or endorsement on the application.