APS Team Lead – Social Service Specialist

State of Washington; Arlington (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington's DSHS Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) Adult Protective Services seeks a Social Service Specialist 5 in Arlington to supervise a unit of investigators, ensure thorough and timely protection services, and guide staff in applying laws and policies.

You will oversee case assignments, coach staff, participate in hiring decisions, and coordinate with partners to monitor trends and ensure program compliance.

Qualifications

• Master's or higher in social services or a related field with relevant paid experience.
• Bachelor's degree in related fields plus five years of paid social service experience.
• Nine years total of higher education and paid social service experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a unit of staff, set expectations, hire, train, evaluate, and take disciplinary actions as needed.
• Lead regular team meetings and ensure equitable workload distribution.
• Provide policy guidance on laws, procedures, and program requirements with staff development feedback.
• Review investigations and case documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Prepare reports to monitor trends and workload distribution for timely work.
• Communicate policy updates and program changes to staff.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners and escalate major incidents as appropriate.
• Participate in case staffings, provide testimony, and contribute to outreach and special projects.

Skills

Leadership

Policy knowledge

Critical thinking

Emotional intelligence

Communication

Decision-making

Collaboration

Technology

Education

Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field

Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field

Combination of higher education and paid social service experience totaling at least nine years

Tools

CARE

ACES Online

Barcode

Payment systems

Job description

State of Washington's DSHS Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) Adult Protective Services seeks a Social Service Specialist 5 in Arlington to supervise a unit of investigators, ensure thorough and timely protection services, and guide staff in applying laws and policies.

You will oversee case assignments, coach staff, participate in hiring decisions, and coordinate with partners to monitor trends and ensure program compliance.