APS Investigator Specialist

Department-of-Family-and-Protective-Services; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 43,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Dental/vision/life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Employee discounts

Job summary

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is seeking an APS Investigator Specialist I in Waco, TX. The role involves investigating reports of abuse and exploitation of elderly and disabled adults and developing service plans for clients.

The position requires on-call availability, potential travel up to 75%, and regular full-time hours. Benefits include comprehensive health, retirement plans, and paid leave.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Associate degree plus two years of relevant work experience.
• 60 credit hours plus two years of relevant work experience.
• 90 credit hours plus one year of relevant work experience.

Responsibilities

• Investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or disabled adults.
• Provides services outside normal hours including weekends to maintain 24-hour coverage.
• Determines actions to remove or lessen immediate threats to clients.

Skills

Communication skills

Crisis intervention

Empathy

Diversity awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree + 2 years experience

60 credit hours + 2 years experience

90 credit hours + 1 year experience

Tools

PC proficiency

Job description

Posting ID21899-Posted09/28/2026-Dept of Family & Protectve Svc-Region 7 APS In-Home Dir Del-Protective Services-Not Eligible for Telework-b. $3000 - $4999 per month

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

Functional Title:

APS Investigator Specialist

Job Title:

APS INV Specialist I

Agency:

Dept of Family & Protectve Svc

Department:

Region 7 APS In-Home Dir Del

Posting Number:

21899

Closing Date:

10/12/2026

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

Job Location City:

WACO

Job Location Address:

1711 HERRING AVE

Other Locations:

None

MOS Codes:

0149,5805,5821,5822,5832,14N,14NX,183X,1N0X1,230X,311A,31D,351L,351M,35L,35M,42SX,43HX,4C0X1,4E0X1,5IX,683X,68X,71SX,73A,783X,HM,INV,IS,ISS,IV,MST,NC,OAP12

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%.

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.

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 experience OR 90 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 Specialist II: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 experience OR 90 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. 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