DSHS HCLA Social Service Specialist
Listed on 2026-07-13
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Social Work
Human Services/ Social Work
DSHS HCLA - Social Service Specialist 5 (APS Supervisor)
DSHS's Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates reports of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation involving vulnerable adults across Washington state. We are hiring an APS Supervisor to supervise a team of APS investigators in Tacoma.
Responsibilities- Independently supervise a unit of Social Service Specialist professionals who investigate reports of abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation, exploitation, and self-neglect of vulnerable adults, and offer and provides protective services to vulnerable adults.
- Recruit, hire, and train new staff.
- Set expectations for job performance, monitor and evaluate staff performance and adherence to applicable laws, policies, and procedures governing their job assignments and take corrective action and complete disciplinary actions.
- Conduct regular staff unit and individual meetings.
- Facilitate, lead, and participate in unit meetings, case staffing sessions, and multi-disciplinary team meetings.
- Assign and monitor work for equitable and appropriate work distribution for each individual and within the unit.
- Evaluate training needs of staff and provide coaching, training, and support to each team member as appropriate.
- Provide direction in the areas of time management, organization, and case planning.
- Train and provide clarification to staff in current policy and procedures, long-term care manual, WAC, and Management Bulletins.
- Investigative knowledge:
Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the state laws and policies governing adult protective services. - Leadership:
Directs a team through complex casework and maintains consistent professional standards. - Coaching:
Develops staff capabilities through structured training and constructive feedback. - Communication:
Builds strong working relationships with staff, courts, law enforcement, and community partners to coordinate services. - Trusted professional judgment:
Makes sound, independent decisions and resolves staffing or case concerns as they arise. - Planning:
Organizes staff schedules and workload to maintain case progress. - Adaptability:
Works effectively across home visits, care facilities, and office settings. - Equity and cultural competence:
Recognizes and responds to the diverse backgrounds, needs, and circumstances of the vulnerable adults served, and promotes fair, respectful treatment across the unit.
Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Georgina Pringle ngle.gov and reference job number #05517.
Equal Employment OpportunityWashington 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.
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