DSHS HCLA Adult Protective Services Investigator

About the role

Adult Protective Service Investigators (APS Investigators) play a vital role in safeguarding adults who require protective services, including those with developmental disabilities. Your work is essential in ensuring their well-being and connecting them with supportive resources.

Responsibilities

• Make observations and conduct face-to-face interviews with alleged victims, alleged perpetrators, and other collateral contacts.
• Travel within communities to conduct investigations.
• Collect and evaluate relevant information to make decisions related to the investigation, services, and outcomes.
• Document all pertinent activity for each investigation and record this electronically using computer application systems.
• Collaborate with law enforcement, judicial entities, families, facilities, local office staff, other regional offices, and community agencies/partners regarding client needs.
• Identify and refer at-risk and vulnerable adults to appropriate service groups.
• Provide client advocacy, consultation, networking, family support, and crisis intervention.
• Prepare and provide testimony at administrative hearings, court proceedings, and at criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, education, healthcare, or another allied field.
• Two years of paid relevant work experience in social services, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or allied fields.
• Equivalent combination of education and/or work experience in social service allied fields totaling six years will substitute in lieu of degree requirement.
• A master’s practicum work will be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Experience assessing risk and safety to vulnerable adults or children.
• Investigative work experience that includes research, observation, asking clarifying questions, and comparing stories.
• Capable of autonomous decision-making in critical or immediate safety situations, developing effective solutions.
• Experience using Microsoft Office, data-entry, and documentation skills.
• Exceptional critical thinking, time management, and focus.
• Apply empathy and adaptability to resolve tense situations effectively while maintaining focus and reducing risks.
• Proficient in Medicaid terminology, regulations, and policies.
• Highly adaptable to evolving policies and directions.

Benefits

A hybrid and/or flex work schedule may be considered after your training is completed, based on business needs. Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.

Pay

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, with a 10% increase for those performing unannounced visits in unregulated environments.

Schedule

Daily travel is required. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Qualifications

To apply, professionals with a bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, education, healthcare, or another allied field, and two years of paid relevant work experience in social services, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or allied fields are encouraged to apply. Equivalent combination of education and/or work experience in social service allied fields totaling six years will substitute in lieu of degree requirement. A master’s practicum work will be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.

Skills

Proficiency in Medicaid terminology, regulations, and policies, exceptional critical thinking, time management, and focus, applying empathy and adaptability to resolve tense situations effectively while maintaining focus and reducing risks.

Benefits

Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information.