Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
Recruitment began on January 24, 2025 and the job listing expires on July 24, 2025.
An APS Investigator Specialist protects the elderly and adults with disabilities who are unable to protect themselves. This role can be challenging and stressful, but it offers opportunities to learn about families, the community, and oneself.
HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
To explore more of what Adult Protective Services Investigators do, click here.
For a realistic job preview of this position and to learn more about DFPS, please click here. You will also have access to a self-assessment to determine if this type of work is a good fit for you.
DFPS is committed to employees’ professional development and success, offering the DFPS Certification Program to enhance skills and advance careers within the organization.
Essential Job Functions (EJFs):
1. Investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or disabled adults to assess the urgency of the problem by interviewing clients, family members, and others to gather social, functional, physical, and mental-emotional information for evaluation.
2. Provides services after normal working hours and on weekends to maintain 24-hour coverage, including receiving reports of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
3. Determines temporary or long-term action to remove or lessen an immediate threat to the life or health of an adult protective services client, including counseling clients and caregivers, providing information and referral services, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, finding alternate housing when necessary, and providing ongoing services.
4. Develops individualized service plans to meet the needs of the adult protective services client and maintains detailed documentation on each case.
5. Makes presentations and participates in community awareness and related activities to inform the public about the program.
6. Prepares routine, statistical, and special reports for management.
7. Serves in a lead capacity in the absence of a supervisor.
8. Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
9. Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
10. Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
1. Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, and standards.
2. Knowledge of Texas laws relating to adult protective services.
3. Knowledge of gerontology and the dynamics of the aging process.
4. Knowledge of special problems of the aged and disabled.
5. Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and skills.
6. Knowledge of differing cultures/ethnic groups and values.
7. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
8. Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
9. Ability to work effectively with difficult abuse/neglect complaints.
10. Ability to empathize and provide encouragement to disabled adults and the elderly to help them meet particular needs and alleviate problems.
11. Ability to operate a personal computer and various software packages.
12. Ability to operate standard office equipment including fax and copy machines.
13. Ability to make home visits in isolated or high crime areas that may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions.
14. Ability to be on call to receive reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
15. Ability to work with violent and dangerous individuals.
Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:
This position requires the use of the applicant’s personal motor vehicle to complete job functions. Applicants must have a reliable motor vehicle and acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a current, valid Texas driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Proof of driving record, insurance, and license must be provided.
Initial Screening Criteria:
Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist I: An accredited Bachelor’s degree OR accredited Associate’s degree OR more than 60 accredited college credit hours.
Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist II: Employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist I for 9 months AND have received Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist Certification OR currently employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist III: Employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist II for 9 months AND have received Advanced Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist Certification OR currently employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Adult Protective Services Investigator IV: Employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator III for 24 months AND have received Senior Advanced Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist Certification OR currently employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as an Adult Protective Services Investigator IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Additional Information:
This position may be filled at any level from an APS Specialist I to APS Specialist IV. Factors such as education and experience may be considered when establishing the starting salary; however, the starting salary for this position may not exceed the maximum of the pay group.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
These requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job-related physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies as needed. Corrective devices may be used to meet physical requirements. These are typical requirements; however, reasonable accommodations are possible.
Physical Activities: Frequently asked to stand, hear, and talk; occasionally asked to climb.
Physical Demands: Typically performs work that requires exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
Visual Requirements: Must be able to see objects clearly at 20 inches or less, and at 20 or more feet. Must be able to adjust eyes to bring objects into focus, distinguish colors, see objects in peripheral vision, and see objects in three dimensions.
Working Conditions: Typically works in a mobile environment (the majority of work is performed outside of the office environment) and is exposed occasionally to adverse environmental conditions including, but not limited to, extreme heat, wetness and humidity, chemicals, close quarters, gases, and heights.
The APS Professional Education Program reimburses eligible staff for the cost of tuition and fees up to $10,500 per fiscal year. An applicant must be an APS employee and must have one year of full-time continuous APS employment before the date of the application is due. To be eligible, must be enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program relevant to APS work.
Business-related travel is reimbursed at the state-approved mileage rate and according to DFPS policy.
APS Investigator Specialists are mobile caseworkers. Mobile casework is not the same as working from home. APS Investigator Specialists spend the majority of their workday “in the field” conducting home visits to interview clients and alleged perpetrators.
#J-18808-Ljbffr