DSHS HCLA Adult Protective Services Supervisor - Social Service Specialist 5

DSHS HCLA

Adult Protective Services Supervisor

• Social Service Specialist 5  Salary $6,576.00
• $8,842.00 Monthly Location Thurston County
• Tumwater, WA Job Type Full Time
• Non-Permanent Job Number 2026-03200 Department Dept. of Social and Health Services Division HCLA Opening Date 04/16/2026 Closing Date 4/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific Salary Information The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step Description Adult Protective Services Supervisor
• Social Service Specialist 5 Join DSHS's Home and Community Living Administration as a Adult Protective Services Supervisor, to ensure high quality investigations and protective services within Adult Protective Services, located at our Tumwater office.

In this role, your work helps protect vulnerable adults when safety, dignity and care matter most. As a front-line supervisor, you will guide and support a team of Social Service Specialists who investigate reports of abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation and self-neglect. Your oversight helps ensure investigations are thoughtful, timely and grounded in law and policy, including RCW 74.34, Washington Administrative Code and the Long Term Care Manual. Your steady leadership helps ensure the right response matches the level of risk in each situation. You will provide leadership to your team by assigning and reviewing work, providing case guidance, strengthening skills through coaching and training, and making hiring and performance decisions. Your work plays a direct role in strengthening Adult Protective Services' mission to partner with people to access the support, care and protection they need, while helping Washington's long-term services and supports system remain strong, fair and responsive.

Assignment Pay:

Opportunities in this job classification that perform unannounced visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect of vulnerable adult individuals, may be eligible for an additional 10% assignment pay in addition to the advertised salary. Some of what you'll do: 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 staffing 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. 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 staffing, provide testimony in administrative or judicial proceedings, and contribute to outreach efforts, committees and special projects. Who should apply? 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 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. Additional knowledge, skills and abilities we are looking for:

Leadership:

Guides a unit of Social Service Specialists by setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and holding staff accountable through coaching, evaluation, and corrective action. Policy knowledge: Applies state laws, Washington Administrative Code, and program procedures to real case situations, and helps staff understand and follow current requirements. Emotional intelligence: Navigates conflict, de-escalates tense or crisis situations, and holds difficult conversations with staff and community partners in a way that is fair and respectful.

Communication:

Writes clear, professional correspondence and explains expectations, policy updates, and case guidance to staff and external partners in plain language.

Decision-making:

Assesses complex and high-risk situations, weighs competing factors, and makes sound independent judgments that protect vulnerable adults and reduce agency liability.

Collaboration:

Builds effective working relationships with law enforcement, tribal governments, the Attorney General's Office, and other internal and external partners to coordinate services and share information appropriately. Organizational skills: Manages competing priorities across a full unit, distributes workload equitably, monitors case timelines, and prepares reports that track trends and support accurate, timely work.

Technology:

Uses Microsoft Office programs and DSHS systems such as CARE, Barcode, and service authorization tools to manage documentation and support daily operations.