Child Protection Services (CPS) In-Service: Investigations

Identify worker safety techniques, including risk assessment strategies, situational awareness, and de-escalation techniques for high-risk situations.

Identify best practices for conducting initial investigative contact with children, caregivers, and collateral sources while maintaining professionalism and trauma-informed approaches.

Describe the principles and techniques of investigative interviews including developmental considerations, open-ended questioning, and avoiding leading or suggestive language.

Differentiate between spontaneous and delayed disclosures, understanding how trauma impacts memory and disclosure patterns.

Outline best practices for conducting subject interviews, including interviewing alleged perpetrators with neutrality, gathering corroborating information, and handling deception.

Define investigations and identify factors that contribute to case complexity, such as multiple victims, high-profile cases, inter-agency involvement, or conflicting accounts.

Explain the roles and responsibilities of CPS workers in multi-disciplinary investigations, including coordination with law enforcement, medical professionals, and legal partners.

Practice worker safety measures, including identifying potential threats, developing exit strategies, and using de-escalation techniques in volatile situations.

Demonstrate effective communication with coworkers, supervisors, and Law Enforcement to increase worker safety.

Create a personal plan to manage exposure to trauma and increase overall job satisfaction and well-being.

Conduct trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate interviews with children, ensuring information is gathered ethically and effectively.

Recognize and respond appropriately to spontaneous and delayed disclosures, using strategies that encourage accurate and complete information sharing.

Interview alleged perpetrators and subjects using neutral, fact-finding techniques, ensuring professionalism, objectivity, and adherence to legal standards.

Gather and analyze evidence in investigations, ensuring comprehensive documentation and collaboration with investigative partners.

Communicate effectively with law enforcement, medical professionals, and legal entities to ensure a coordinated response to child abuse allegations.