APS I Specialist

FALL CREEK FARM & NURSERY; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation/holidays

Flexible spending accounts

Employee discounts

Job summary

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is hiring an APS Investigator Specialist I in Dallas to safeguard elderly and disabled adults. The role requires completing investigations, coordinating services, and supporting families while maintaining strict documentation and reporting standards.

Applicants with a Bachelor's degree in social work or related field, or equivalent combinations as outlined, are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in social work or related field.
• Equivalent combinations accepted (e.g., Associate's + experience).
• Experience in social, human, or protective services is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Investigates reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of elderly or disabled adults.
• Provides after-hours and weekend services to maintain 24-hour coverage.
• Determines actions to remove or lessen immediate threat to clients.
• Develops individualized service plans and maintains documentation.
• Gives presentations and participates in community awareness activities.
• Prepares routine, statistical, and special reports for management.
• Acts as lead in absence of supervisor.
• Performs other duties to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and contacts.
• Attends work regularly as required by policy.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Effective communication

Empathy for elderly/disabled

Case coordination

PC/software literacy

Driving/vehicle use

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree + 2 years experience

60 credit hours + 2 years

90 credit hours + 1 year

Job description

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance —at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

Job Details

• Functional Title: APS I Specialist
• Job Title: APS INV Specialist I
• Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc
• Department: Region 3 APS In-Home Dir Del
• Posting Number: 21645
• Closing Date: 10/02/2026
• Posting Audience: Internal and External
• Occupational Category: Protective Services
• Salary Range: $3,816.65-$5,372.41
• Pay Frequency: Monthly
• Salary Group: TEXAS-B-17
• Shift: Day
• Additional Shift: None
• Telework: Not Eligible for Telework
• Travel: Up to 75%
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Full Time/Part Time: Full time
• FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt
• Facility Location:
• Job Location City: DALLAS
• Job Location Address: 8700 N STEMMONS FWY
• Other Locations: None

Brief Job Description:

An APS Investigator Specialist protects the elderly and adults with disabilities who are unable to protect themselves. An APS Investigator Specialist has a very challenging job that can be stressful at times –but there are few occupations that offer more opportunities to learn new things about families, your community and yourself.

Newly hired employees holding a Master's Degree in Social Work qualify for an automatic starting salary increase of 6.8%.

Help Us Make a Difference:

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

• 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 other to gather social, functional, physical and mental- emotional information for evaluation.
• Provides services after normal working hours and on weekends to maintain 24 hour coverage, including receiving reports of alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation.
• Determines temporary or long-term action to be taken to remove or lessen an immediate threat to the life or health of an adult protective services client to include counseling clients and caregivers, providing information and referral services, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, finding alternate housing when necessary, and providing on-going services.
• Develops individualized service plans to meet the needs of the adult protective services client and maintains detailed documentation on each case.
• Makes presentations and participates in community awareness and related activities to inform the public about the program.
• Prepares routine, statistical, and special reports for management.
• Serves in lead capacity in absence of supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, and standards.
• Knowledge of Texas laws relating to adult protective services.
• Knowledge of gerontology and the dynamics of the aging process.
• Knowledge of special problems of the aged and disabled.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and skills.
• Knowledge of differing cultures/ethnic groups and values.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Ability to work effectively with difficult abuse/neglect complaints.
• Ability to empathize and provide encouragement to disabled adults and the elderly and to help them meet particular needs and alleviate problems.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and various software packages.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment including fax and copy machines.
• Ability to make home visits in isolated or high crime areas that may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions.
• Ability to be on call in order to receive reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Ability to work with violent and dangerous individuals.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.

Applicants for positions 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. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance, and license.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Adult Protective Services Investigator Specialist I: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experienceOR90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

Adult Protective Services Investigator SpecialistII:An accredited Bachelor