Adult Protective Services Specialist

County of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Diego's Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services (AIS), seeks an Adult Protective Services Specialist to conduct investigations and provide services to at‑risk older adults and adults with disabilities who may be victims of abuse or neglect.

The role involves evaluating allegations, arranging protective interventions, and coordinating with community resources; bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 24 semester units in the behavioral sciences and two years of social work experience working with vulnerable populations.
• Master's degree in social work/gerontology/counseling/psychology with supervised field placement as part of the curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Perform full range of investigation and casework services for older adults and adults with disabilities who may be victims of abuse or neglect.
• Evaluate allegations of abuse or neglect and arrange protective interventions as needed.
• Refer clients to care agencies or other community resources and collaborate with health care professionals and financial institutions.
• Potentially travel within and outside San Diego County and work non‑routine hours.”

Skills

Investigation

Case management

Interpersonal communication

Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Education

Bachelor's degree with 24 behavioral science credits + 2 years social work

Master's degree in social work/gerontology/counseling/psychology with supervised field placement

Job description

Aging& Independence Services is accepting applications for Adult Protective Services Specialist

PER COUNTY RULES: THIS POSITION IS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AT STEP 1, $83,761.60 ANNUALLY.

County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

Future Salary Increases:

** June 2027 – 4.50% increase to base pay (3.00% Across-the- Board + 1.50% Market Adjustment)

Interviews will take place the week of November 9 and 16, 2026.

Job offers for selected candidates will be the week of November 23, 2026.

The Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services (AIS) is seeking qualified professional applicants for the position of Adult Protective Services Specialist. As an Adult Protective Services Specialist, you are responsible for performing the full range of investigation and casework services forolder adultsand adults with disabilities, who may be victims of abuse or neglect, living in the San Diego community. This includes investigating and evaluating allegations of abuse or neglect, performing protective interventions, and recommending resources to assist with preventing future abuse.

The current openings are located throughout San Diego County. The list may also be used to fill future vacancies. Adult Protective Services Specialists may be required to travel to locations within and outside of San Diego County and work non-routine hours such as evenings, weekends and holidays. Please review the complete job description for Adult Protective Services Specialist, including essential functions, qualifying education/experience, working conditions, etc.

Interviews and Hiring Process

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins: Week of November 23, 2026.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies

Qualifying Education/Experience:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, with at least 24 semester units in the behavioral sciences, AND, two (2) years of social work experience working with vulnerable populations; OR,
2. A master's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, in social work, gerontology, counseling, psychology, or a related field, which included supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum.

Note:

Possession of a current license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of California is highly desirable.

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a more fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will be able to work in a fast-paced environment and manage conflicting priorities. Prior experience performing social work duties such as investigating and remediating abuse; referring clients to care agencies or other available community resources; and collaborating with health care professionals and financial institutions is highly desirable. Candidates with bilingual language skills are encouraged to apply.

Evaluation:

Qualified applicants will be placed on asix(6) montheligible list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment and supplemental applications. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.

Note:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego.

Military Skills Translator

Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help!

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of these values is infused throughout our operations. The County also embraces a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Read more about the Strategic Plan for more information.

Disaster Service Workers:

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated disaster service workers. The term \"public employees\" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.