Family Safety Practitioner III - Adult Protective Services

Fairfax County•Fairfax (Ej27), VA

About The Position

Under supervision, this position works as part of a comprehensive adult services program. The practitioner investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation involving older adults and incapacitated adults in home, community, and facility settings. The role assesses protective-service needs and works with clients, their support systems, and public and private service providers to arrange services and stabilize emergency situations. The position serves as a policy expert, contributes to policies and procedures, and may coordinate contracts for Adult Protective Services work, including Home Base Care services, and manage a county credit card for emergency expenditures. It supports team coordination and staff supervision, provides limited oversight of program quality assurance and evaluation, and makes recommendations for improvements. The practitioner also serves as a consultant and trainer, participates in interdisciplinary teams and work groups, makes community presentations, attends court hearings and provides professional testimony, and assists the unit supervisor, including covering during the supervisor’s absence. The position may be assigned to an on-call rotation for mandated protective, preservation, critical well-being, and/or permanency services. This may include evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours and immediate field response. The position is considered essential personnel and requires reporting during county-designated unscheduled leave. The schedule requires evenings and weekends as needed.

Requirements

Minimum bachelor's degree in a human services field, or bachelor's degree in any field plus at least two years of appropriate and related experience in a human services area.
Applicants who do not meet the degree requirement at application must be in the last semester of a qualifying degree program to be evaluated for positions in the Family Services Occupational Group.
Valid driver's license.
Complete state-mandated training in the functional area within the specified time period.
Satisfactorily complete criminal background, driving record, and Child Protective Services checks.
Schedule requires evenings and weekends as needed; on-call assignments may include evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours.
Ability to lift 20 pounds.
Ability to navigate and make decisions in stressful and crisis situations.
Ability to use automated technology and operate a motor vehicle.
Ability to walk, stand, sit for long periods, kneel, reach, bend, and climb stairs; use hands to grasp, handle, or feel.
Sufficient mobility to travel outside the office for client contact, court appearances, community events, assessments, and investigations.
Visual acuity to read computer-monitor data and ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment and a computer.
Ability to perform tasks that carry risks of secondary traumatic stress.
All duties must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in social work (MSW).
Four years of experience in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, or related experience.
Two years of experience in Adult Protective Services or two years of direct experience in aging, long-term care, and/or working with people with disabilities.
Experience conducting home or field visits.
Experience providing case management.
Bilingual in English and another language is encouraged.

Responsibilities

Investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation involving older adults and incapacitated adults in home, community, and facility settings.
Serve as a policy expert and contribute to the development of policies, protocols, and procedures.
May coordinate contracts related to APS services, including Home Base Care work, with assistance from the Supervisor and Program Manager.
Manage a county credit card for emergency expenditures, as applicable.
Assess the need and extent of protective services and arrange services with clients, their support systems, and public and private service providers.
Respond to emergency cases to stabilize situations.
Attend court hearings and provide professional testimony.
Coordinate daily team activities, including staff supervision support.
Provide limited oversight of program quality assurance and evaluation and recommend changes or improvements.
Serve as a consultant, trainer, and policy expert for division social workers and staff from other agencies.
Serve as a resource and member of interdisciplinary teams and work groups.
Make public presentations to promote community awareness of services to prevent and address abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.
Assist the unit supervisor and cover in the supervisor’s absence.
Participate in an on-call rotation for mandated services as assigned, including possible evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours and immediate field response.
Report to work during county-designated unscheduled leave as essential personnel.