Adult Protective Services Program Specialist (Social Services Specialist III)

Job Title

Social Services Specialist

Job Description

This is a hybrid position; the selected candidate will be required to work in the office two days a week. This Social Services Specialist position is a program specialist for the APS program. As a program specialist, this position:

• Participates in coordination, development, and provision of training and written instructions materials to county APS staff, other professional agencies, and community groups; provides technical assistance and consultation to county staff; monitors program requirement compliance; recommends and writes, legislative, rule, policy, and other types of changes and provides analysis of same; and participates on external task forces, committees, or workgroups.

• Responds to questions and requests from county staff and community professionals related to program processes and implementation; provides technical assistance and consultation on complex issues related to adult protection. Position establishes standards for prompt reply to county personnel and develops tools to measure effectiveness. Position analyzes nature of questions and requests from county staff and others to assist with development of communications, development of training curricula, and identification of issues to refer to management, and documentation of trends and patterns. The position is assigned to counties and develops specific technical assistance and consultation strategies for each assigned county

• Monitors county program compliance with APS statutory and regulatory requirements as it relates to quality casework; provides assistance to county APS staff to ensure improved casework; conducts on-site or off-site program assessments and evaluations and recommends actions to address issues, up to and including corrective action

• Determines statewide needs for APS caseworker training, develops and delivers curriculum, including training for county APS staff and other professional groups and community stakeholders working with at-risk adults. Training is developed in various mediums, including but not limited to: classroom, meetings, webinar, computer-based, manual, self-directed, fact sheets, brochures, and position papers. The position participates in the evaluation of training through evaluation tools or surveys and revises curriculum as needed. The position may assist with coordination of contracts with training sites to which the Department will be fiscally and legally responsible; assists in selection of training speakers by researching experts' credentials to ensure they are aligned with training needs; implements processes related to holding training events; and provides input in training design and delivery. This position creates and updates training curriculum at the direction of the manager or designee and provides input into curriculum developed by others to assist with continuous quality improvement of training offerrings. Training may require intra-state travel

• Participates on external task forces, committees or work groups to exchange information about program directives, develop inter-program protocols, obtain input on policy and legislative issues, and promote public awareness and outreach to address concerns facing at-risk adults and vulnerable seniors. The position prepares written reports and does verbal presentations; works with professional groups that also work with at-risk adults to develop collaborative relationships to ensure the best protections for vulnerable adults; and provides training and technical assistance in development and maintenance of statutorily required APS multidisciplinary teams

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Special Qualifications: Requires at least two years' experience working with at-risk adults as a case manager, APS caseworker, or other closely related position. Also requires at least two years' experience working with a complex data system Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

OR

Education and Experience: A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the Colorado APS program, other Adult Protective Services Programs, and/or other similar government-regulated work.

• Experience in curriculum development and delivery utilizing multiple training modalities.

• Experience and proficiency with technology such as Google Workspace (including Google Forms, Sheets, and Docs), Microsoft Office Tools, Zoom, and Salesforce or other electronic case management systems.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent time management skills and attention to detail.

• Experience interpreting regulations, statute, and policies.

• Excellent customer service and stakeholder engagement skills.

Conditions of Employment:

• ALL CDHS employees (non-direct contact): CBI name check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), and drug screen (commercial Driver's license)

• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position

• Position must be able to travel in and out of state

1. Disclose that information on the application.

2. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

3. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to View email address on click.appcast.io.