Vulnerable Persons Protection Specialist 1 / Trainee (NY HELPS)

About the role

The New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs is charged with protecting over one million New Yorkers under the care or jurisdiction across six State Oversight Agencies.

Responsibilities

• Receive information pertaining to allegations of abuse and/or neglect and/or significant incidents involving vulnerable persons from mandated reporters and others and make decisions to ensure the health and safety of the individuals who are the focus of the alleged abuse/neglect.
• Interview callers to elicit essential information from the reporter, including the problem, allegation and complaint, names and addresses of the parties involved, and any other details and/or information relevant to the alleged incident.
• Determine the immediacy and type of response needed based on the information received and on an initial risk assessment; ensure that appropriate and immediate protections have been implemented, and confirm all appropriate notifications are completed in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Evaluate reported allegation to determine if information is sufficient to constitute a reportable incident; redirect caller(s) to other appropriate agencies or entities when necessary.
• Document all aspects of the information received, the action(s) taken and the assessment conducted.

Qualifications

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

• Current NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs employee with permanent, contingent-permanent or 55 b/c status as a Vulnerable Persons Protection Specialist 1 and interested in reassignment; OR
• Current New York State employee with one year or more of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55b/c service in a position allocated to a Grade 16 and eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.

Vulnerable Persons Protection Specialist Trainee, NS=Grade 13

• Bachelor’s degree; or
• Associate degree in a human services field and one year of experience in one of the following:
  • the direct provision of services that includes the care, review, investigation, assessment, treatment, or case planning for persons in facilities or programs covered by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act of 2012; or
  • the development, implementation, or administration of a program that provides quality assurance, conducts incidents reviews, investigates, or provides treatment in facilities or programs covered by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act of 2012; or
  • where your primary responsibility (at least 50% of your official duties) was in the direct provision of adult or child protective services, defined as the investigation, assessment, treatment, and/or case planning of reported cases of adult or child abuse and maltreatment; or
• Three years of the above experience.

Vulnerable Persons Protection Specialist 1, Grade 16

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a human services field; or
• Bachelor’s degree and completion of a one-year traineeship; or
• Associate degree in a human services field and two years of experience in one of the following:
  • the direct provision of services that includes the care, review, investigation, assessment, treatment, or case planning for persons in facilities or programs covered by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act of 2012; or
  • the development, implementation, or administration of a program that provides quality assurance, conducts incidents reviews, investigates, or provides treatment in facilities or programs covered by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act of 2012; or
  • where your primary responsibility (at least 50% of your official duties) was in the direct provision of adult or child protective services, defined as the investigation, assessment, treatment, and/or case planning of reported cases of adult or child abuse and maltreatment; or
• Four years of the above experience.

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to complete an examination. Employees will then be afforded all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 College Savings Program

Please note that specific benefits and programs may vary based on negotiating unit, current contract, and length of State service.

Additional Information

• Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the Justice Center’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
• Should you accept a job offer with this agency, you may be required to be fingerprinted and pay for the cost of the fingerprinting fee.
• This position is eligible for annual shift pay differential of $4,000 overnight differential and $575 inconvenience pay.