Job Description

Posting number: 2026-07005

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: HCLA

Job classification: SOCIAL SERVICE SPECIALIST 4

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Social Services, Customer Service

DSHS HCLA Adult Protective Services Lead - Social Service Specialist 4

DSHS's Home and Community Living Administration is hiring for an Adult Protective Services Lead to join our Central Intake team in Lacey, WA. Adult Protective Services processes and investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation involving vulnerable adults across Washington. This role leads some of the most difficult cases in Thurston County: cases where someone's safety is at risk, where the public is watching closely, or where several parties are involved with competing interests.

The work takes place in homes, care facilities, and hospitals throughout the community. You will interview vulnerable adults and the people connected to their care, gather evidence, and reach findings that can have important outcomes. A substantiated finding can keep someone from working with vulnerable adults or children in the future, so the process has to be careful and fair every time.

This role also strengthens the team around it. Other intake specialists will bring their questions to you, from case strategy to policy interpretation, and your guidance helps them build the skills and confidence to handle their own caseloads well. This position also will complete intakes and perform advanced level specialized case management in conducting complex investigations of abandonment, abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, personal exploitation, or self neglect of vulnerable adults who are eighteen and over.

Some of what you will do:

• Provide on the job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching and consultation to veteran level staff and lower who complete intakes and conduct investigations in the community and in licensed and/or certified settings
• Conducts classroom and on the job training and assistance with staff in formal training plans who are transitioning to intake and fieldwork
• Provides social services professional staff with guidance and direction on:

  • Case actions

  • Appropriate assessment and intervention techniques

  • Applicable and appropriate community and departmental resources

  • Caseload and time management
    
    

• In conjunction with the supervisor, assigns and audits work, triages intake reports, detects error trends, identifies training needs, and reviews case actions for accuracy and provides feedback for annual performance evaluation
• Provides coverage of assigned caseloads in the absence of a social service specialist
• Coordinate with AAG office attorneys
• Perform other duties as assigned

Who should apply? Those who meet one of the following qualifications:
One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3
OR
Three years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2
OR
A bachelor’s degree or higher in social services, criminal law/justice, or a related field AND four years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2**.
OR
A master’s degree* in social services, criminal law/justice, or a related field AND two years of paid social service experience equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2**.
OR
Eight years of equivalent combination of education and/or work experience closely related to adult protective services investigations in social services, human services, criminal law/justice or an allied field will substitute in lieu of degree requirement.

*A two-year Master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may substitute for one year of paid social service experience.
**Paid Social Service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Employees must successfully complete the formal training course sponsored by their division within one year of their appointment.

What we're looking for:

• Investigative judgment: Assesses complex or unclear situations and makes sound decisions, even when accounts conflict or information is limited.
• Communication: Conducts interviews on difficult subjects and adapts the approach to ensure understanding. Utilizes communication aids and interpreters when needed.
• Crisis response: Recognizes risk early and de-escalates tense situations while keeping everyone safe.
• Time management: Organizes a full caseload of urgent, sensitive cases and consistently meets deadlines.
• Writing: Produces clear, accurate documentation that holds up in legal and administrative settings.
• Mentoring: Guides newer investigators through case decisions and policy questions, building their confidence over time.
• Policy knowledge: Applies appropriate laws, and Adult Protective Services policy accurately in daily casework.
• Equity and cultural competence: Understands how culture, disability, trauma and life circumstances shape a person's choices, and treats every client with fairness and respect.

Additional Information:

• This role will utilize a hybrid structure of telework and in-person as business needs require

AND

• Opportunities in this job classification that perform unannounced visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect of vulnerable adult individuals, may be eligible for an additional 10% assignment pay in addition to the advertised salary

Interested? Apply today!

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that People find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring an equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Questions?
Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter sharon.sterling@dshs.wa.gov or call Talent Acquisition main line (360) 725-5810 and reference job number 07005.

Supplemental information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. 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

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. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security