ADULT PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60020850

How you will make an impact:

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.

What you will do:

• 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. After one year of successful employment, you will be eligible to participate and upon completion, receive a salary increase.

With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all. Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government. They are also among the most rewarding. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Qualifications:

• 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); or
• 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); or
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Driver License; and
• 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.

Special Notes:

• Language proficiency may be considered in the selection process as determined by Agency needs at the time of selection.
• May require successful completion of pre-interview assessment or work sample to be eligible for interview.

Additional Information/Requirements:

• This position will require night, weekend, and holiday work. It has also been designated as an essential position.
• Incumbents are expected to work during emergency situations or natural disasters and may be required to work before, during and beyond normal work hours/days.
• Incumbents may be exposed to possible hazardous conditions in the field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience in emergency, tactical or customer/public complaint interactions utilizing communication technology, including basic computer and typing skills; Knowledge of interviewing and observation techniques; Knowledge of family dynamics and functioning; Skill in researching and utilization of internet sites to gather information; Ability to assess service needs and facilitate appropriate service delivery; Ability to write professional, accurate investigative reports; Ability to conduct fact-finding interviews; Ability to understand and apply relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; Ability to collect and synthesize evidentiary materials; Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments; Ability to actively listen, communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; 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. Must be physically able and have the ability to perform the following physical agility tasks: a) ambulate in varied terrains to enter residences/locations as well as up and down stairs/stairwells; 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); d) do repetitive movements with arms, hands, neck, and head; e) drive a vehicle to transport clients including assisting clients in and out of properties and vehicles; f) sit and/or stand for periods of time (up to 2 hours) without a break; g) remain alert while on duty (awake, ready to perform job tasks, and responsive to clients and Department personnel, etc.); and h) drive a vehicle to perform job duties.

Where you will work:

Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. In other words, no matter where you land in Florida, you're never more than 60 miles from a body of saltwater. And if the beach isn't your scene, there are 175 state parks to explore! 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. The Sunshine State is a great place to live and work – Come join our team!

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.

Vision: We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. 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.

Values: 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.