Adult Protective Worker

State-of-Iow; Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plans

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

State of Iowa is seeking an Adult Protective Worker to assess allegations of abuse or neglect of dependent adults in Polk County and surrounding counties. The role requires frequent travel, home visits, and collaboration with law enforcement and medical partners.

Duties include safety planning, documentation, and crisis response. The position is full-time, typically Monday–Friday, with potential overtime and standby shifts, and may be performed from home or an office location within the assigned

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor's degree in social work or equivalent experience.
• Master's degree in social work is preferred or required by some positions.
• Strong observational and analytical abilities; ability to gather evidence and analyze information.
• Ability to develop safety plans and work with families and partners.

Responsibilities

• Assess ongoing risk to dependent adults and develop safety plans.
• Interact with law enforcement, medical/mental health partners, and schools.
• Conduct home visits, interviews, and thorough documentation for each case.
• Apply Iowa Code and agency policy with professional judgment in crisis situations.
• Provide information, respond to inquiries, and support timely communications.

Skills

Observational skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Judgement under pressure

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work

Master's degree in Social Work

Job description

This Adult Protective Worker will conduct assessments of allegations of abuse or neglect of dependent adults in Polk County. Daily travel to these counties will be expected in this role. This may change due to caseloads or staffing assignments. This vital frontline position requires multi-tasking and the ability to gather physical and documentary evidence and analyze information with accuracy and efficiency to assist in protecting the most vulnerable Iowans.

This is a full-time opportunity, Monday – Friday with typical hours being from 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM with overtime as needed. This position may work from their home or the assigned work location. The work location will be the nearest HHS full-time office in the assigned primary county cluster where work is performed and will travel on a regular basis to assessments of allegations within the counties mentioned below. The need for supporting other counties in the service region may arise.

Mileage is paid at $0.50/mile travelled according to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) State Accounting Enterprise Procedures. Compensation is commensurate with experience and education.

Core Essential Functions:

• Assess the ongoing risk to the Dependent Adult, develop safety plans, assess the strengths, and needs of the Dependent Adult and family, and make recommendations to various county attorneys and courts.
• Frequent interaction with law enforcement, medical/mental health community partners, schools, etc.
• This position requires the ability to apply Iowa Code, agency policy, and sound professional judgment to highly complex situations involving crises and or chronic abuse or neglect.
• All cases assigned to persons in this position require home visits, detailed interviews, and thorough narrative documentation.
• Troubleshoots problematic situations to find innovative solutions to present to administration and the supervisor. Confronts crisis situations and high stress situations in a calm and orderly manner maintaining confidential information as required by the agency and assuring safety is a top priority for all in the office.
• Obtain information from a wide variety of sources, including written materials, telephone conversations and through computer databases and to be able to read and interpret the data.
• Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain reasonable facts, data, or other information that analyzes information and correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
• Interacts in a team environment to manage group processes, facilitates, and encourages cooperation pride, trust, and group identity, fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• Within an office environment, provides Division support to large segment of agency through managing internal and external requests for information and legislative reviews requiring comprehension of request, independent judgment to assign and adherence to agency formatting of timely response or communication. Interact with employees and customers in a positive customer service manner to resolve problems and answer customer inquiries. Customer contacts may include correspondence, telephone, or walk-ins to the local office.
• This position will be required to work or be on standby during nights and weekends on a rotational basis.
• Valid driver’s license is required

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong observational and analytical skills, as well the ability to respectfully engage families as partners in planning for safety and establish a working relationship with families.
• Excellent judgment and communication skills and the ability to provide good written documentation in a timely manner.
• The ability to develop case plans, use critical thinking skills, prioritize work and work under pressure.
• The ability to use independent judgement to make sound decisions, demonstrate integrity and confidentiality and a strong work ethic.

Benefits

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

Background Checks

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

All work performed on behalf of Iowa Health and Human Services must occur in the State of Iowa.

For additional information.

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree and the equivalent of three years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;
• graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in social work and the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;
• a Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university;
• an equivalent combination of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university and qualifying experience up to a maximum of thirty semester hours for one year of the required experience;
• employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Social Worker 2 shall be considered as qualified.

Applicants wishing to be considered for such designated positions must list applicable course work, experience, certificate, license, or endorsement on the application.