Child Protective Services Specialist 4

As a Child Protective Services Specialist 4 , you would be responsible for all operational aspects of the Statewide Central Register 24/7 Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline. You would provide leadership and promote staff development and productivity, quality assurance, personnel management, and line management; build relationships with stakeholders, verbally and in writing, to ensure the timely delivery of services in protecting children and supporting the due process rights of citizens of New York State; coordinate and integrate computer and telephone technology; and allocate resources so that all service levels are achieved and legal mandates are met.

Open to employees of: Children&Family Svcs, Off of

On or before January 12, 2027, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and have had three months of permanent competitive, non-competitive NY HELPS**, or 55-b/55-c service as a Child Protective Services Specialist 3. If you have received a permanent appointment to a qualifying title listed and served provisionally*** in that title immediately preceding your permanent appointment, such provisional service may be counted towards meeting the time in title required for this examination.

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before October 12, 2026, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

**If you were permanently appointed via the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) program to a qualifying title in the non-competitive class on or before October 12, 2026, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you may apply for this examination.

***If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title and had provisional service in the same title immediately preceding the permanent appointment, such provisional service may be counted towards meeting the time in title required to apply for this examination. Your provisional appointment must have been on or before October 12, 2026, to qualify for this examination.

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List: After one year of service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program to a qualifying title in the non-competitive class will have their names restricted from appointment from the eligible list until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by action of the New York State Civil Service Commission or otherwise obtain permanent competitive status in the position.

If you have received a permanent appointment to a qualifying title listed and served provisionally in that title immediately preceding your permanent appointment, such provisional service may be counted towards meeting the time in title required for appointment from the eligible list.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:
Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees may : be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL), maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);

be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). You must report all convictions. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal law;

And will :
be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment.

You are responsible for payment of all required fees.

The Positions: These positions exist in the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and are located in the Capital District area (Menands, NY).

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test . The multiple-choice test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:

Administrative supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and their subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.

Understanding and applying administrative principles - These questions test for knowledge of how to effectively manage and direct an organization or an organizational segment. These questions cover such areas as developing objectives, formulating policies, making decisions, forecasting and planning, developing personnel, organizing and coordinating work, communicating information, providing leadership, and delegating authority and responsibility.

Preparing reports and official documents - These questions test for the ability to prepare reports and other official documents for use within and among governmental agencies, in legal or regulatory settings, or for dissemination to the public. Some questions test for a knowledge of grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence structure. Others test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, to use the proper tone, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly.

Working and interacting with others - These questions test for knowledge of how to effectively approach work and maintain professional relationships with others in the workplace. Each question presents a situation and a number of possible approaches for handling it. Question topics may include working with supervisors and coworkers, interacting with members of the public, handling conflict, and managing workplace demands and priorities. The questions are not specific to any job title or place of work.

Analyzing and evaluating information - These questions test for the ability to analyze, interpret, and draw reasonable conclusions from information presented in text, data, images or symbols. This may involve identifying a significant problem or issue; focusing on relevant data and text; identifying trends, relationships, and significant features; assessing relevant alternatives; suggesting or evaluating possible conclusions; and applying logical principles to information provided.

Test Guide & Sample Test Material: A General Guide to Multiple-Choice Tests is available at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm . If Sample Test Material is available for a subject area described above, it can be found at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/sampletestmat.cfm .

Time Allowance: The time allowance to answer all questions in this exam is 4 hours. This time allowance does not include travel time to and from the computer-based testing center, or check-in-time at the computer-based testing center.

Candidates scheduled to take multiple examinations on the same date will be limited to a maximum of eight (8) hours of total testing time.

Note: The time allowance is subject to change. If changed, approved applicants will receive an email notification before the exam date with the revised time allowance.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any Veterans' credits.

Credit For Seniority: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

Admission to Computer-Based Te

These positions exist in the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and are located in the Capital District area (Menands, NY).