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Child Protective Services Worker Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Duties As a Child Protective Services Case Aide, you will play a vital role in the support and ... Prior experience working directly with children and families in a social services setting.

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Child Protective Services Worker information

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How much do child protective services worker jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for child protective services worker in the United States is $15.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.78 and $17.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a child protective services worker?

Child Protective Services (CPS) Workers are professionals who investigate reports of child abuse, neglect, or endangerment to ensure the safety and well-being of children. They assess family situations, determine if children are at risk, and work with families to provide services or interventions that promote a safe environment. CPS Workers may also coordinate with law enforcement, healthcare providers, and the courts when necessary. Their primary goal is to protect children while supporting families to address underlying issues.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a child protective services worker?

To thrive as a Child Protective Services Worker, you need a solid background in social work or a related field, typically supported by a relevant bachelor's degree and sometimes state certification. Familiarity with case management software, legal documentation systems, and mandatory reporting protocols is essential. Strong interpersonal communication, empathy, resilience, and sound judgment are crucial soft skills for engaging with children and families facing crisis. These skills and qualities are vital for ensuring child safety, making informed decisions, and providing effective support under challenging circumstances.

What are some common challenges child protective services workers face when working with families, and how can they effectively address them?

Child Protective Services Workers often encounter challenges such as resistance from families, emotionally charged situations, and complex cases involving multiple agencies. Building trust while maintaining professional boundaries is key, as is using trauma-informed communication to support children and families. Effective collaboration with law enforcement, medical professionals, and educators helps ensure the child's safety and well-being. Ongoing training and support from supervisors and colleagues are also crucial for managing stress and making informed decisions.

Can I work for Child Protective Services Worker without a degree?

Child Protective Services (CPS) workers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field. Some positions may accept relevant experience or certifications, but a degree is generally required for most CPS roles to ensure proper training and qualifications. Licensing or additional training may also be necessary depending on the jurisdiction.

How hard is it to become a child protective services worker?

Becoming a child protective services worker typically requires a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field, along with relevant experience or training. Candidates often need to pass background checks, complete agency-specific training, and obtain state licensure or certification, which can vary by location. The process can be competitive and demanding due to the sensitive nature of the work and the need for strong interpersonal skills.

How much do child protective services workers make?

Child Protective Services (CPS) workers typically earn a median annual salary of around $45,000 to $55,000, depending on experience, location, and education level. Salaries can vary based on state or agency budgets, and additional certifications or specialized training may influence pay.

How to be a child protective services worker?

To become a child protective services worker, you typically need a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field, along with relevant experience or internships. Certification or licensing may be required depending on the state or agency, and strong communication, assessment, and crisis management skills are essential for the role. Background checks are also standard due to the sensitive nature of the work.
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Infographic showing various Child Protective Services Worker job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,231 per year, or $16 per hour.

Child Protective Services Casework Supervisor

Houlton, ME

$77K - $103K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State's career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Department ofHealth and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date:September 1, 2026

Closing Date:September 15, 2026

Job Class Code:5078

Grade:27 (Supervisory Svcs)

Salary:$77,542.40 - $103,064.00 per year*

*This is inclusive of a $7.50/hr. stipend. This position is eligible for an additional $1.00/hr. stipend for employees possessing a related Master's Degree.

Position Number:02022-1841

Location: We have an anticipated vacancy in our Houlton office.

Core Responsibilities:

As a Child Protective Services Casework Supervisor, you will plan, coordinate, direct, and monitor the activities of caseworkers and support staff in the areas of child protection, adoption, and substitute care assigned to your unit. You will assess and assign casework loads; and review, monitor and provide guidance to your staff concerning cases and service delivery. You will research and work with staff and peers to resolve critical and crisis situations.

Your typical duties will include:

1.Ensuring established quality service standards are maintained.

2.Conferring with and counseling workers regarding casework in order to assist with difficult cases and caseload problems.

3.Reviewing and comparing work performance and/or products of staff with established standards to assess employee productivity levels and training needs.

4.Connecting with other agencies and community resources to coordinate services, promote necessary community resources, and monitor cooperative agreements.

5.Evaluating and recommending program-wide changes and establishing unit procedures and goals in order to upgrade the quality and continuity of services.

6.Coordinating activities between unit and service providers to effectively deliver social services to agency clients.

7.Authorizing service provision and client/caseworker expenditures.

8.Negotiating various contracts and agreements with service providers and others to ensure appropriate services are provided.

9.Analyzing and reviewing cases to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, standards, and requirements, and initiate and participate in court hearings.

10.Directing, coordinating, and/or participating in after-hours coverage to ensure appropriate staffing.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, your background must include eight (8) years of education and/or professional experience in social work which includes at least two (2) years experience as a fully licensed social worker* (LSW). A Master's degree is preferred.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATIONREQUIREMENTS: Licensed Social Worker (LSW).

Preference will be extended to candidates possessing the following skills/experience:

1.Recent experience in professional child welfare casework.

2.A thorough knowledge of and recent experience working with MACWIS/Katahdin.

3.Four years of experience as a fully-licensed social worker.

*Special Note: An LMSW or LCSW automatically meets the two (2) years fully licensed social worker experience requirement.

Please submit a cover letter addressing your skills and/or prior experience in each of the three areas above.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Child & Family Services (OCFS), within DHHS is responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families through community networks, local resources, and life-long family connections throughout Maine.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Vickie Brayall, Program Administrator at 207-532-5102.

To apply, please upload a recent resume (if available) and cover letter addressing each of the three preferred skills/experience areas above.

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.Hernandez@Maine.gov

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

  • Work-Life Fit- Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
  • Health Insurance Coverage- The State of Maine pays85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find thepremium costsfor you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
  • Health Insurance Premium Credit- Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information aboutprogram requirements.
  • Dental Insurance- The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
  • Retirement Plan- The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
  • Gym Membership Reimbursement - Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
  • Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts - Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
  • Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness - The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
  • Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
  • Parental leaveis one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including non-birthing and adoptive parents-receivesix weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under theFamily and Medical Leave Act.
  • Voluntary Deferred Compensation - Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for anextensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated foranything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.