DSHS HCLA APS Social Service Specialist

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

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

• 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 any 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.

• One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4.
• Two years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.
• Four years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 adult/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.

• Leadership:
  The ability to guide, support and coach staff while setting clear expectations and accountability.
• Policy knowledge:
  The ability to understand and apply laws, rules and procedures to real-life situations.
• Critical thinking:
  The ability to review investigations, spot issues and help staff determine next steps.
• Emotional intelligence:
  The ability to navigate…