There’s a knock at your door and on the other side is a CPS Investigator. The investigator says they have received a report that you have abused or neglected a child and would like to talk to you about it. Do you know what questions you shouldn’t answer during your CPS interview and how to answer their questions?
Even though it is strongly suggested that you have a lawyer present at all CPS interviews, we understand that not everyone can afford to hire a lawyer right away. 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.
If you have an upcoming interview with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), proper preparation will help ensure you make a great impression. The DCS is dedicated to protecting children from abuse and neglect. They hire passionate, compassionate individuals ready to make a difference.
This guide covers everything you need to ace your DCS interview, from likely interview formats and common questions to expert tips on how to prepare.
Typical Indiana DCS Interview Formats
The DCS utilizes the following interview styles to thoroughly assess candidates:
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One-on-one interview Traditional interview with the hiring manager or DCS team member. Allows in-depth conversation
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Panel interview: Interviewed simultaneously by 3-5 DCS staff. Gives multiple perspectives.
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Group interview: Interviewed alongside other candidates. Evaluates teamwork skills.
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Multi-round interviews: Initial phone screen followed by 1-2 in-person interviews on separate days. Vets top candidates.
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Case study: Presented with a hypothetical scenario and asked how you would handle it. Tests critical thinking.
Knowing the format in advance allows you to strategically prepare. Panel and one-on-one interviews require broad prep, while case studies call for focused preparation on a specific scenario.
Most Common Indiana DCS Interview Questions
While every interview is unique these are some of the most frequent questions asked by DCS
Experience and Skills Questions
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What experience do you have in social work or child welfare?
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Why do you want to work for the DCS specifically?
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What strengths would you bring to this Family Case Manager role?
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What interests you about child protection and welfare?
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Describe your experience collaborating with families in crisis or conflict.
Child Welfare Philosophy Questions
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When is it appropriate to remove a child from their home? What factors would you consider?
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How would you handle a parent resistant to services or intervention?
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How do you balance child safety with keeping families intact when possible?
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How would you approach supervising family visitations? What potential issues or risks arise?
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In your experience, what circumstances put children most at risk for neglect or abuse?
Behavioral and Situational Questions
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Tell me about a time you disagreed with a supervisor’s decision. How did you handle it?
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Describe a time you had to manage a crisis situation. What was your approach?
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Have you ever had to deliver difficult or upsetting news to a family? How did you handle it?
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Walk me through your decision-making process during a high-stress situation.
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When have you had to persevere through challenges at work? What motivated you?
Tips to Ace Your Indiana DCS Interview
Here is some expert advice on excelling in your DCS interview:
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Highlight compassion – Emphasize your patient, compassionate nature. This is crucial in child welfare work.
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Demonstrate emotional maturity – Your ability to remain calm under pressure and think clearly is key. Provide examples.
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Stress strong ethics – Ensure interviewers see your commitment to integrity, honesty, and protecting vulnerable children.
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Ask thoughtful questions – Inquire about training, team collaboration, leadership philosophy, and the agency’s vision to show engagement.
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Review your application – Refresh yourself on the experiences and qualifications you highlighted in your application.
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Watch your non-verbals – Maintain open body language and steady eye contact to project confidence.
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Practice interviewing aloud – Rehearse your answers and sample stories out loud to polish your delivery.
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Get a good night’s rest – Arrive well-rested and ready to present your best self. Sleep is essential.
With dedication to prepare, you can show the Indiana DCS that you have the empathy, problem-solving abilities, and resilience needed to serve vulnerable families and children in trying circumstances. Highlight your readiness to take on meaningful, challenging work that makes a real difference.
Protection of Rights, Not Criminals
Our goal in sharing this information is not to protect criminals and child abusers. Our goal is to protect the constitutional rights of parents. If you’re a child abuser, then you should be caught and you should be prosecuted.
Children deserve our protection, and my goal is to educate parents because sometimes CPS attacks innocent parents. But it is terrible when a CPS Interview goes wrong and innocent children get swept into the system.
It’s not something I’m going to do now. I have never fought to get kids back into a home I thought was unsafe for them.
The First 30 Seconds of Your CPS Interview
The first 30 seconds of your CPS Interview are the most important. Investigators from Child Protective Services (CPS) have lied to parents many times to get evidence that could be used against them. They then used that evidence to put children in foster care and start criminal charges.
To protect yourself, you need to record everything. No matter if the CPS Investigator says no to the recording, you can legally record them on video, audio, or both.
Texas is a one-party consent state when it comes to recordings. As long as one party to the conversation consents to the recording, then the recording is legal. People can agree to talk to each other, including you. Don’t let the CPS investigator tell you otherwise.
A Day in the Life of … a DCS family case manager
FAQ
How to prepare for an interview with CPS?
What questions does CPS ask parents?
