Adult Protective Service Worker; Continuous - Statewide

Protecting Vulnerable Adults, Empowering Communities – Make a Difference as an Adult Protective Service Worker!

Adult Protective Service Workers protect adults experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation, or at risk of immediate danger. They provide service access, coordinate with families and social services, and conduct complex social casework after completing an in-house training program. Workers evaluate risk, coordinate with law enforcement, travel, and may be on-call during non-traditional hours. Ongoing training and support are provided. Positions are eligible for overtime pay.

• Attend ongoing training to develop comprehensive knowledge of State and Federal social welfare laws, rules, regulations, and evolving protocols regarding adult abuse and neglect.
• Conduct investigations concerning allegations of abuse or neglect by talking with and visually observing affected individuals; interview family, relatives, neighbors, teachers, nurses, doctors, and others; review pertinent records.
• Make an initial assessment of the validity of allegations and the degree of danger that adults are in; document the results of investigations.
• Complete family assessments to determine dynamics and problems that may precipitate abuse or neglect situations.
• Develop effective interventions to strengthen families that address safety, well‑being, and permanency of adults.
• Prepare safety, service, and treatment plans to remedy contributing problems and halt behaviors of abuse/neglect/exploitation; solicit family cooperation.
• Engage families in counseling to resolve problems, refer them to other resources, and monitor safety and risk of further abuse or neglect to prevent recurrence.
• File petitions with the court as needed to ensure the safety of adults; testify before the court; make appropriate placements of adults, including with relatives, residential treatment facilities, or emergency shelters.
• Evaluate the progress of families or living environments toward meeting objectives of safety/service/treatment plans; modify plans and determine eventual disposition of cases.
• Maintain a caseload for programs and service with the adult population, evaluate and approve customer applications for services and eligibility criteria, and maintain active cases for Health Care Surrogate, Guardianship, Homeless, Adult Family Care, and Assisted Living.

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain detailed case records and extensive documentation.
• Successful completion of a background check.
• Ability to work frequent travel and overtime hours; willingness to be on‑call during non-traditional hours.

• Berkeley/Jefferson Counties
• Boone and Lincoln Counties
• Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, and Webster Counties
• Brooke, Hancock, and Ohio Counties
• Cabell County
• Calhoun, Jackson, and Roane Counties
• Fayette and Nicholas Counties
• Grant, Mineral, Tucker, Morgan, Hampshire, Hardy, and Pendleton Counties
• Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Monroe, and Summers Counties
• Harrison County
• Kanawha County
• Lewis, Upshur, Doddridge, Pleasants, and Ritchie Counties
• Logan and Mingo Counties
• Marion County
• Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel Counties
• Mason and Putnam Counties
• McDowell and Wyoming Counties
• Mercer County
• Monongalia County
• Raleigh County
• Randolph County
• Preston, Barbour, and Taylor Counties
• Wayne County
• Wirt and Wood Counties

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience:
  
  None required.
• Special requirement:
  Valid driver’s license and access to a phone.

Applicants hired into this classification must obtain licensure as a Social Worker from the West Virginia Board of Social Work within a timeframe established by the appointing agency. Until licensure is obtained, they may not perform duties that require a licensed social worker under state law or Board regulation.