Aps Investigative Specialist

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree and one year of full-time professional experience in one or a combination of social services and/or human services case management, gerontology, behavioral counseling, investigations regarding vulnerable persons, psychology, or sociology.

Substitution of Education for

Experience:

One year of qualifying graduate coursework in a related field may be substituted for the required experience.

• Complete a criminal background history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority.
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority.
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check.
• Submit to a review of and not be listed on the Indicated Persons Registry of the Department of Children's Services, Department of Health's vulnerable persons' registry, or the state's sex offender registry.
• Not have an excludable offense as defined by Tenn. Code Ann. 71-2-403 and Tenn. Rules & Regs. Ch.
  
  -.09.
• After appointment, successfully complete a prescribed course of training offered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
• Have reliable transportation and possess a valid driver's license.
• Be available to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This position requires a criminal background check. Applicants may be required to provide information about their criminal history to be considered for this position.

This classification performs APS investigative work and/or service coordination work of average difficulty. An employee in this class conducts interviews and performs investigations regarding allegations of self-neglect, abuse, exploitation and/or neglect of vulnerable adults, evaluates risk, identifies potential services, and provides counseling for APS clients. This classification performs responsibilities at the working level under general supervision of an APS Team Coordinator.

This class differs from the APS Investigative Support Coordinator in that incumbents of the latter are responsible for specialized cases of greater scope and complexity and/or are assigned duties of the Rapid Response Team.

• Investigate reported allegations to determine if there is a need for protective services while ensuring client confidentiality is maintained.
• Interview clients, family members, alleged perpetrators, or collateral contacts to gather information, then conduct visits to complete program specific assessments to determine needs, strengths, and/or level of risk for clients; request, evaluate, and upload documentation such as educational, medical, psychological, criminal, and/or financial records to assess needs and risks of clients.
• Analyze and review all information gathered during the assessments to address the client's risk; create and implement a service plan with the client to refer and coordinate external services, addressing the immediate needs of the client, reducing risk of harm, and increasing self-sufficiency.
• Monitor progress of the client's status and modify the service plan as needed, documenting all case activities, changes, observations, and other information; maintain contact with service providers to ensure client needs are met.
• Discuss difficult situations with the client, family members, caregivers, collateral contacts, and/or service providers to determine resources or actions needed to reduce client's risk of harm as identified in the service plan.
• Participate in legal team meetings in preparation of legal interventions that are guided by the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and may be required to testify during legal proceedings and/or in court.
• Conduct awareness presentations to provide an overview of the APS program to educate internal and community partners on the capabilities and limitations of the program and how to make a report to APS.

• Customer Focus
• Drives Results
• Communicates Effectively
• Demonstrates Self-awareness
• Situational Adaptability

• Customer and Personal Service
• Psychology

• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Time Management
• Writing

• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Written Comprehension

• General Office Equipment
• Computer/Laptop/Tablet
• Cell Phone
• Motor Vehicle