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Questions about Physical Abuse
- How did you get that injury?
- Do your parents ever hurt you on purpose?
- Are you scared of making your parents angry? Why?
- What happens when your parents get upset?
There’s a knock at your door and on the other side is a CPS Investigator. The investigator says that they’ve received an allegation that you’ve committed child abuse or neglect, and they want to ask you some questions. Do you know how to answer their questions? Do you know what questions you should refuse to answer during your CPS Interview?
Even though we highly recommend that you have an attorney present during any CPS Interview, we understand that not everyone can afford to hire an attorney at a moment’s notice. If you decide to go it alone, then there are a few things that you need to know. Also, you need to know how to defend yourself during the first 30 seconds of your CPS Interview.
Child Protective Investigators: Interviews
Can you tell me about a time a client resisted your treatment plan?
A treatment plan is a process you design to support clients as they recover from their situations. The hiring manager may ask you this question to evaluate your flexibility and critical thinking. This question also allows them to determine how well your values align with their branchs. To answer, focus on your creativity, adaptability and collaboration with clients.
Example: “In the mental health unit for children, I worked with a client who refused to eat during meals unless they received a few select foods. They were incredibly picky, and nothing we did could change their mind about eating during meals. Consuming regular and nutritious meals was an important part of their treatment plan, but they refused to.
“We tried incentives to eat, as well as punishments for not eating, but neither of those solutions worked. After talking with the client, I realized their picky eating was a side effect of not having control. I offered to let them choose when to complete their cleaning for that week in exchange for them eating the provided food, and a few weeks later the client had finished almost every meal.”
Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.
Describe your strategies for crisis intervention.
Crisis intervention is a planned response to a clients distress or unexpected situation. The hiring manager may ask this question to assess your conflict resolution abilities and determine if you can apply them to CPS functions. To answer, focus on strategies that prioritize the client, like listening and communication.
Example: “I worked in the mental health care unit for children at the local hospital, and the kids all had a favorite nurse who had worked there for a long time. When she retired, many of the children had negative responses. I expected this may happen and planned a going-away party for her in the unit so the kids could say goodbye. We introduced them to the new caretaker at the same party for an easier transition. I communicated with each child and actively listened as they expressed their feelings about the change in staff.”
Questions about experience and background
Questions about experience and background focus on your previous positions and experiences. These are some experience and background questions you may answer during a CPS interview:
What happens with CPS interviews your child?
Unless your child is too young to communicate or otherwise unable to express him or herself, CPS will conduct an interview. If a report comes in to CPS that details an allegation of abuse or neglect against your child then expect to have your child interviewed.
Interviews can take place at your home, a CPS office, or your child’s daycare or school. The main subject areas that are focused on during a child-interview are:
In order for the interview to take place in your home the CPS investigator must first get your permission.
Without your permission the interview will need to be conducted at another location. Regardless of where the interview takes place, the CPS investigator will want to speak to your child in a private place where your child feels comfortable to talk to him or her.
This means that even you, their parent, will most likely not be allowed to even listen to the interview.
On the other hand, if CPS wants to interview your child at school they must first get your permission to do so if you are at the school during the time of the interview. If you are not at the school then they can interview your child without your permission.
The big thing to note here is that if you’ve already denied the permission to interview your child at your home then CPS cannot side-step this denial by heading to the elementary school for the interview to be conducted.
Coaching your child prior to a CPS interview
Outside of providing advice to your child to tell CPS the truth, it is never appropriate to “coach” your child prior to a CPS interview. Never ask your child to lie to CPS, to phrase something a certain way or to emphasize/de-emphasize certain points.
CPS investigators are trained to look for telltale signs of coaching. What’s more- children are not good at masking the truth. Your effort to protect yourself will shine through your child’s answers and this will be a mark against you in the eyes of the investigation team.
Why do you want to work for CPS (as a conservatorship worker)?
Meaningful purpose is the obvious and a good answer. You should elaborate on it though. One thing is wanting to help neglected children (and families in crisis), another one having what it takes to do so. Ensure the interviewers that your education has prepared you for the role. What’s more, you are an excellent listener, and you can spot whether someone is telling the truth. Children generally trust you, and open up in front of you. And you have some mental resilience which will help you to handle what you will see in the job daily–the pictures that tend to stay in our mind.
To sum it up, you know why you want to have the job, and you also feel ready to do it well, after an initial training.
FAQ
What questions are asked during a CPS interview?
- Tell me about yourself.
- What made you want to work in CPS?
- What motivates you?
- What are you passionate about?
- Where do you see your career in five years?
- What are your current career goals?
- What is your working style?
- What is your communication style?
How do you answer CPS investigation questions?
How do you introduce yourself as a CPS worker?
What makes a good CPS worker?
