Adult Services Investigator

Children and Families

ADULT PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60021061

Adult Protective Investigator
Department of Children and Families
This posting will be used to fill position vacancies in OPS or Career Service.
Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.
This professional position investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, self-neglect and financial exploitation against vulnerable adults and the mitigation of the risk factors involved. Clients served include those residing in the community and alternative care facilities. Vulnerable adults in crisis need quick action from strong, compassionate individuals dedicated to ensuring their safety. This demanding and challenging career could be your opportunity to speak for those adults who cannot protect themselves and fight to help ensure their safety and independence.
Be part of a team dedicated to protecting Florida's vulnerable adults by meeting Florida's nationally leading standards for Adult Protective Services' investigations and protections for vulnerable adults.
Your first priority will be the vulnerable adult's safety.
To assess safety concerns and mental capacity, you will meet with the vulnerable adult in person within 24 hours of receiving a report.
When necessary, you will coordinate emergency services including medical evaluations, temporary placement, and court intervention when the person cannot make decisions for themselves.
Investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation and work to prevent it from reoccurring.
Gather critical information about vulnerable adults and others involved in the case through interviews, observations, and analysis of criminal history, prior APS involvement, and records uncovered during the investigations.
Coordinate with state agencies, law enforcement, and prosecutors to provide justice for vulnerable adults.
Connect vulnerable adults with agency and community resources to wrap around services needed to improve their quality of life and often saving them from the worst outcomes.
Build relationships with organizations involved with adult protective investigations such as community services, advocacy groups, law enforcement, medical personnel, and other community resources.
Growth Opportunities:
At the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), we believe in investing in our highly skilled workforce. Through our Career Ladder program, you will have the opportunity to increase your salary by completing a series of targeted courses designed to enhance your knowledge and expertise in Adult Protective Services and professional development. With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all. A high school diploma or GED equivalent and four years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); An associate degree or 60+ credit hours from an accredited college or university and two years of professional work experience (see examples below) or two years of law enforcement experience or active military service (honorably discharged or status that current service reflects serving honorably); Examples of professional work experience could be, although not limited to:

Guardian Ad Litem or similar child advocate role

Group Home Worker

Nursing Facility Assistant

Other welfare, education or medical professional jobs that occur in high-paced, high-stress environments that require critical decision-making to occur.
~ A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

An official letter from the college/university registrar or unofficial transcriptions with anticipated graduation dates and credits earned must be provided for all diploma/degree requirements.

Must possess operational private vehicle for use in the performance of daily work activities. Selected candidates are required to provide proof of vehicle registration and documentation of the appropriate insurance coverage within 30 days of employment as a condition of employment. The Department provides a Vehicle Insurance Allowance to assist with the cost of insurance coverage due to the use of private vehicle for work purposes.
Ability to attend a 6-8-week mandatory training course.
Language proficiency may be considered in the selection process as determined by Agency needs at the time of selection.
This position will require night, weekend, and holiday work. Incumbents may be exposed to possible hazardous conditions in the field.
It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any candidate being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.Background investigations shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and national criminal records check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies. Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the SSS website:
Experience in emergency, tactical or customer/public complaint interactions utilizing communication technology, including basic computer and typing skills; Skill in researching and utilization of internet sites to gather information; Ability to understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; Ability to collect and synthesize evidentiary materials; Ability to utilize computer systems and work in a paperless environment This work requires a high degree of tact, patience, and courtesy dealing with vulnerable adults. Incumbents in this class must be able to maintain a calm, professional demeanor while handling a variety of emergency and non-emergency calls. The work requires independent judgment and initiative to complete field assignments. Typing and good time management skills are necessary for this job. b) assist with evacuation of persons served during an emergency situaiton: c) hear and see accurately and clearly (with the assistance of corrective devices, if needed); Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.
Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
Meanwhile, Floridians hail from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life, making it an incredibly diverse melting pot that many residents and visitors to Florida love. About Department of Children and Families:
Mission: The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.
In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.
A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve.
If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.
S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center View phone number on click.appcast.io). All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.VETERANS' PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.