Adult Protective Service Specialist

State of Oregon•Medford, OR

5d•$58,380 - $85,404•Hybrid

About The Position

In a role dedicated to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society, you will play a crucial part in assessing and addressing the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities, ensuring their protection against abuse and neglect. The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, racial/ethnic groups, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Requirements

A Bachelor's Degree in the human, social, behavioral or criminal sciences and two years human service, law enforcement or investigative experience; OR, an Associate's Degree in the human, social, behavioral or criminal sciences and four years human service, law enforcement or investigative experience
Three years professional level experience related to the position may substitute for the Bachelor's degree; 18 months for an Associates.

Nice To Haves

Experience building collaborative relationships with community partners, agency staff and members of the public.
Experience demonstrating the ability to assess situations, analyze information, and make informed decisions to protect the population we serve.
Experience conducting interviews as part of an investigation.
Experience documenting investigative activities, managing case information, and writing reports.
Experience adopting trauma-informed practices that consider individual needs, safety, trust-building, and cultural sensitivity.
Experienced in effective communication with individuals via telephone and face-to-face interactions.
Proficient in navigating technology, inputting and retrieving data, and using various computer systems or databases.

Responsibilities

Conduct screening interviews by phone or in-person with victims and community members reporting abuse or self-neglect of an older adult or adult with physical disabilities. During screening and triage, conduct a preliminary assessment of the alleged victim’s safety, possible risks to the investigator or other factors; determine need for emergency intervention.
Coordinate actions with law enforcement, District Attorneys, or other community partners to arrange for victim’s safety and security.
Investigate complaints of abuse, neglect, or self-neglect. Plan the scope and direction of the investigation. Conduct in person and phone interviews with the alleged victims, alleged perpetrators, and witnesses. Review documents and records such as medical or financial records. Evaluate and organize evidence. Collect and analyze physical and documentary evidence. Address issues that arise during the investigation through problem solving, protective services or referrals. Determine relevance, reliability, and credibility of gathered information and evidence.
Conduct home visits in both community and facility settings to assess and monitor living and safety conditions. Intervene in situations where adults are at high risk of abuse or neglect within their living situations.
Decide when appropriate to refer to law enforcement personnel.
Evaluate the victim’s support systems, capacity to remain healthy and safe and ability to protect his or her own interests. Develop and manage intervention plans that arrange for needed services, alternative living arrangements in the community-based care systems, or personal care. Monitor the risk of individuals who are alleged victims of abuse, neglect or self-neglect.
Provide investigative information on criminal cases when needed. Testify in court before grand jury, trials and hearings. Give sworn depositions.