DSHS HCLA Adult Protective Services Supervisor - Social Service Specialist

Overview

DSHS HCLA - Adult Protective Services Supervisor (Social Service Specialist
5). Join the Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) as a Social Service Specialist 5 and help ensure high-quality investigations and protective services within Adult Protective Services (APS). Your work supports the safety, dignity, and well-being of vulnerable adults when it matters most.

We are hiring for positions in our Lynnwood and Kent offices. The Kent positions will be temporarily based at that duty station until the Kirkland DSHS office opens. Applicants may indicate their location preference when submitting their application.

As a front-line supervisor, you will lead and support a team of Social Service Specialists who investigate reports of abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, and self-neglect. Your oversight ensures investigations are thorough, timely, and aligned with applicable laws and policies, including RCW 74.34, the Washington Administrative Code, and the Long-Term Care Manual. Your leadership helps ensure responses are appropriate and proportionate to the level of risk in each situation.

In this role, you will assign and review work, provide case consultation, coach and develop staff, and make hiring and performance decisions. Your leadership strengthens Adult Protective Services’ mission to partner with individuals to access the support, care, and protection they need, while helping Washington’s long-term services and supports system remain strong, equitable, and responsive.

• Supervise a unit of Social Service Specialist staff, providing direction, setting performance expectations, and managing hiring, training, evaluation, and corrective or disciplinary action.
• Lead unit operations by conducting regular team and one-on-one meetings, facilitating case staffings and multidisciplinary team meetings, and ensuring equitable workload distribution.
• Provide policy guidance, training, and clarification on laws, WACs, procedures, and program requirements, offering ongoing feedback and support for staff development.
• Review investigations and case documentation for completeness, accuracy, quality, and compliance, and review and approve cases submitted to the Investigation Review Team (IRT).
• Prepare and analyze reports to monitor trends, distribute workload, correct errors, and support timely, accurate work across the unit.
• Communicate policy and procedure updates, management bulletins, and program changes, ensuring staff remain informed and aligned with current requirements.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners, including other government departments, the Attorney General’s Office, law enforcement, and tribal governments, and address concerns, escalating major incidents as appropriate.
• Serve as a mandatory reporter, participate in and lead case staffings, provide testimony in administrative or judicial proceedings, and contribute to outreach efforts, committees and special projects.

We are searching for professionals with:

• One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4.
• OR two years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.
• OR four years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.
• OR a master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field AND one year of paid social service experience equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 3.
• OR a bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field AND five years of paid social service experience performing functions equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2.
• OR a combination of higher education (in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field) and paid social service experience totaling at least nine years.

NOTE:

Paid social service experience must include assessing risk and safety to adults/children and providing direct family-centered practice services.


NOTE:

A two year master’s degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.