CPS Legal Supervisor I/II

WHY WORK FOR DFPS?

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for protecting the unprotected — children, elderly, and people with disabilities — from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. DFPS accomplishes this responsibility by employing over 12,000 workers who live up to the agency's Mission, Vision, & Values in service to the citizens of Texas. DFPS is not only a qualifying organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, longevity pay, generous paid leave, access to the Wellness program, lifetime retirement annuity, Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Functional Title: CPS Legal Supervisor I/II 
Job Title: CPS Legal Supervisor II 
Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc 
Department: Region 3W CPS Dir Del -Other 
Posting Number: 8337 
Closing Date: 09/03/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Protective Services 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $8,304.83 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 25% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: FORT WORTH 
Job Location Address: 2701 KIMBO RD 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 31D, 35L, 35M, 68X, 73A, 311A, 351L, 351M, HM, IS, NC, 183X, 230X, 683X, 783X, IV, MST, INV, ISS 
OAP12, 0149, 5821, 5822, 5832, 1N0X1, 4C0X1, 4E0X1, 14NX, 42SX, 43HX, 71SX, 0868, 66C, 47L, 66R 
67D, L24A, 001387 
 

Brief Job Description:

The position supervises a unit of legal liaisons and clerical staff responsible for providing child protective services. The position oversees the unit in accordance with Child Protective Services Handbook, Title III of the Texas Family Code and Minimum Standards of child placing agencies. The position interacts routinely with clients, judges, attorneys, children, school personnel and all other aspects of the community.

The role of a Legal Unit supervisor is a fast-paced, high energy position requiring daily assessment and decision-making of child safety issues, legal issues and permanency. One must possess the initiative to independently organize and manage numerous tasks associated with the position. legal unit supervisor will interact routinely with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services staff, contract providers, civil and criminal court personnel, attorneys, CASA, the SSCC (OCOK) along with community representatives, and other partner agencies. The Legal Unit Supervisor manage and develop staff to ensure that legal filings are appropriate and are timely, assist ADA's in assessing cases and ensuring all court time frames are met.

Essential Job Functions:

• Plans and manages unit operations to achieve project goals and objectives for services delivery by monitoring caseloads, consulting with staff on case issues, approving leave, and holding unit meetings
• Selects, manages, and develops staff through field visits with staff, review of performance data, conferences, training, and performance appraisal.
• Evaluates unit performance through case readings, computer reports, and observation of unit operations to ensure unit compliance with policy, procedure, and service control requirements
• Consults with caseworkers and supervisors regarding removal decisions, develops, prepares, reviews and edits petitions, motions, orders, service, subpoenas, inquiries, discovery (interrogatories, production, admissions, and disclosures), affidavits with business records, and files documents with District Clerk’s office; handles and prepares correspondence, memoranda, open records requests involving legal inquiries.
• Coordinates, develops and updates responses to discovery requests; prepares cases for trial; locating, subpoenaing, interviewing, scheduling witnesses; researches prior legal cases, sources, statutes and judicial decisions upon request by the District Attorney. Develops, prepares, maintains and updates trial notebooks for District Attorney, compiles affidavits, exhibits and business records for trial, prepares attorneys by scheduling and meeting with fact and expert witnesses; monitors and assists with appeal of final hearing.
• Attends all court hearings, trials and exparte’s with Judges; verifies each parent has been served; arranges for out of county and state service and Indian tribes; assists caseworker in negotiating agreed court orders with attorneys, parties and parents
• Interviews clients, parents and walk-ins upon request by Judges, court personnel and District Attorney staff to assess risk, gathers information to make referrals to Centralized Telephone Intake, begin investigation process and make arrangements for protection of a child pending arrival of investigative caseworker
• Attends staffings, and mediation; informs Child Protective Services staff and District Attorney staff of case status, legal issues, decisions; provides problem resolution; and confers with caseworkers and supervisors to prepare each case for hearings; provides and interprets legal information that enables Child Protective Services staff in making responsible casework decisions.
• Ensures all cases are set for hearings and attorneys are designated for cases.
• Trains caseworkers by developing curriculum and training materials; conducts the training seminars; of change in the Texas Family Code and Department of Family and Protective Services policy, Texas Family Code, Rules of Court, Rules of Civil Procedure; may also assist with coordinating training seminars for attorney ad litems in conjunction with other community agencies

• Executes affidavits of relinquishment, affidavits of status, affidavits of relinquishment, affidavits of waivers of interest with Child Protective Services parents; and diligent searches for parents/screens publications for accuracy.
• Monitors Child Protective Services case recommendations to court for consistency with the Texas Family Code and Department of Family and Protective Services policy and procedures in order to ensure agency maintains credibility with the court system, signs off on agency plans at Permanency Planning Team staffings.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:   

None Required

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Knowledge of agency policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the Texas Family Code.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective communication.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and use various software packages
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate and analyze facts.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Child Protective Services Supervisor I: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus 3 years of full-time experience in Child Protective Services* or child placement services** in a public social services agency OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus four (4) years CPI/CPS casework work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus 3 and half  (3 1/2) years of CPI/CPS casework work experience OR Currently employed as a Child Protective Services Supervisor I in Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Supervisor II: Completion of Phase I Child Protective Services Specialist Certification and completion of the Child Protective Services Supervisor Certification OR Currently employed as a Child Protective Services Supervisor II in Family and Protective Services OR Currently employed in a Family and Protective Services management position in the Child Protective Services program at a level above Child Protective Services Supervisor AND prior experience as Child Protective Services Supervisor in Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Supervisor II.

*Child Protective Services is professional social work where primary duties are providing social casework services to abused, neglected, or exploited children and their families; or in recruiting, studying, and certifying foster and adoptive homes.

**A Child placement service is the decision-making process around placing and monitoring children in licensed 24-hour childcare facilities and in adoptive placement in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Additional Information:     

This position may be filled as a CPS Supervisor I or II. Factors such as education and experience may be considered when establishing the starting salary.

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.