Job Description

Job Requisition ID: 58575
Opening Date: 09/21/2026
Closing Date: 10/05/2026
Agency: Department of Children and Family Services
Class Title: CHILD WELFARE SENIOR SPECIALIST - 07217
Skill Option: None
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $7,602 monthly; Full Range $7,602-$11,110 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
Number of Vacancies: 2
Bargaining Unit Code: RC063 Professional Employees, Educators,Juvenile Justice School Counselors and Special Education Resources Coordinators,and Physicians AFSCME
Work Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30 am-7:00 pm
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 4 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs
Headquarter Location: 1911 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60616
Work County: Cook
Agency Contact: [email removed]

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you're helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you're part of something bigger-something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you're looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule-flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as a Child Welfare Senior Specialist. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong leadership and communication capabilities. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Residential Monitor Floater
• Monitors and assesses Therapeutic Residential programs, including ILO/TLP programs to ensure compliance with the DCFS contract and program plan, as well as compliance with residential performance standards to include appropriate clinical capacity, admission requirements, and overall performance
• Reviews management reports regarding therapeutic residential treatment programs and ILO and TLP providers
• Synthesizes Therapeutic Residential data collected from all sources into a regular comprehensive assessment of each agency's outcomes
• Prepares and maintains necessary documentation for evaluating therapeutic residential treatment providers to include ILO, and TLP providers
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, education, special education, or a related human service area.
• Requires five years of progressively responsible professional experience in a human services area, which includes two years of demonstrated experience independently interacting and negotiating with other systems of services (mental health, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, specialized medical, special education) in a clinical setting to ensure that children with special needs gain access to such services.

OR

• Equivalent Alternative Method of Qualification: Requires a master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, education, special education, or a related human service area, plus two years of verifiable supervisory** experience providing services to special needs children in a state or private human service agency.

** For clarification: Examples of qualifying supervisory experience for this class include, but are not limited to, a hospital director or an administrator with subordinate staff that provides services to special needs children.

Specialized Skills

Of the noted years of experience, requires that the experience involve working with children/youth in a licensed residential facility.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of professional experience working with children/youth in a licensed residential facility.
• Licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• 6 years of experience in a public or private organization applying extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of public child welfare administration and organization.
• 6 years of experience in a public or private organization applying extensive knowledge of the application of social work principles, methods, procedures, and techniques, with a special emphasis on serving children with special needs.
• 6 years of experience in a public or private organization applying extensive knowledge of the purpose and structure of public agencies, private child welfare agencies, and other community-based agencies serving special needs children.
• 6 years of experience in a public or private organization applying extensive knowledge of federal and state laws affecting the health and welfare of children, with a special emphasis on such laws which directly affect children with special needs.
• 6 years of experience in a public or private organization applying extensive knowledge of the range of child welfare and other services needed by children with special needs.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires travel, a valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance
• Requires ability to pass a background check
• Requires physical, visual and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties
• Requires ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends as assigned
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A Pension Program
• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
• Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)

For more information about our benefits please follow this link:

Revolving Door:

Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor ("OEIG") or may be subject to a fine

Statement of Economic Interest:

This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

This position DOES contain "Specialized Skills" (as that term is used in CBAs).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the "Apply" button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees - a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.

Non-State employees should log in on the using the "View Profile" link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com - click "Application Procedures" in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your "junk mail", "spam", or "other" folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [email removed]
• [email removed]

Employment Type: Full Time

Job Tags

Full time, Contract work, Part time, Apprenticeship, Work at office, Immediate start, Monday to Friday, Flexible hours, Night shift, Afternoon shift

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