Adult Protective Services Specialist-26523709

Salary: $83,761.60 - $102,960.00 Annually
Location : County of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Regular - Full time
Job Number:
Department: Health & Human Serv Agcy
Division: Aging & Independence Svcs
Opening Date: 10/08/2026
Closing Date: 10/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Summary
Aging & Independence Services is accepting applications for
Adult Protective Services Specialist
PER COUNTY RULES: THIS POSITION IS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AT STEP 1, $83,761.60 ANNUALLY.
County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.
Future Salary Increases:

** June 2027 - 4.50% increase to base pay (3.00% Across-the- Board + 1.50% Market Adjustment)
Interviews will take place the week of November 9 and 16, 2026.

Job offers for selected candidates will be the week of November 23, 2026.
The Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services (AIS) is seeking qualified professional applicants for the position of Adult Protective Services Specialist. As an Adult Protective Services Specialist, you are responsible for performing the full range of investigation and casework services for older adults and adults with disabilities, who may be victims of abuse or neglect, living in the San Diego community. This includes investigating and evaluating allegations of abuse or neglect, performing protective interventions, and recommending resources to assist with preventing future abuse.
The current openings are located throughout San Diego County. The list may also be used to fill future vacancies. Adult Protective Services Specialists may be required to travel to locations within and outside of San Diego County and work non-routine hours such as evenings, weekends and holidays.

Please review the complete job description for , including essential functions, qualifying education/experience, working conditions, etc.
Interviews and Hiring Process:
The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins: Week of November 23, 2026.

• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.

• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies
Qualifying Education/Experience:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, with at least 24 semester units in the behavioral sciences, AND, two (2) years of social work experience working with vulnerable populations; OR,
2. A master's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, in social work, gerontology, counseling, psychology, or a related field, which included supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum.

Note: Possession of a current license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of California is highly desirable.
The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate's personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Condition of Employment:As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will be able to work in a fast-paced environment and manage conflicting priorities. Prior experience performing social work duties such as investigating and remediating abuse; referring clients to care agencies or other available community resources; and collaborating with health care professionals and financial institutions is highly desirable. Candidates with bilingual language skills are encouraged to apply.

Evaluation:
Qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month eligible list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment and supplemental applications. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.
Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.
01

Please be sure to answer the following questions in a thorough and complete manner, as your responses may be used to determine your overall score. Please note that if you are invited to a selection interview(s) by a department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

Please do not respond to supplemental questions with "Refer to Resume." The experience indicated in your responses to the supplemental questions must also be described, in detail, on the Work History/Experience section of your Employment Application.

Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency, with at least 24 semester units in the behavioral sciences, AND, at least two (2) years of social work experience working with vulnerable populations?
You must submit a copy of your final transcripts for verification.

• Yes
• No

03

If you possess a master's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, in social work, gerontology, counseling, psychology, or a related field which included supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum, please check the appropriate box below.

You must submit a copy of your transcripts for verification for this experience to be considered.

I possess a master's degree in:

• Social Work
• Gerontology
• Counseling
• Psychology
• Related Field
• I do not possess a master's degree which included supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum in one of the fields listed above

04

Please indicate the agency where you completed a BSW, MSW or another internship program. Select all that apply.

• Adult Protective Services
• Child Protective Services
• Law Enforcement Agency
• Other Public Protective Services Agency
• Other
• None of the above

05

If you selected "other" in the question related to your internship, please indicate the agency or organization. If this does not apply, indicate n/a.
06

Please describe your social work experience with vulnerable populations that include, but are not limited to, older adults, persons with disabilities, persons with mental or physical health challenges, persons with intellectual disabilities, and/or persons with chronic conditions by providing the following information:

A) Employer nameB) Job titleC) Social work duties performed

If you do not have this experience, please indicate "n/a".Note: Incomplete answers may delay the processing of your application.
07

I understand that Adult Protective Services Specialists are required as part of their job duties to work on-call shifts including; occasional after hours, evening, and holiday shifts, and may need to roll out to respond to immediate situations involving older adults or adults with disabilities.

• Yes - I am willing to work occasional on call shifts, after hours, evening, and holiday shifts.
• No - I am unwilling to work occasional on call shifts, after hours, evening, and holiday shifts.

08

I understand that Adult Protective Services Specialists are required to travel to various locations including low income and high crime areas within San Diego County.

• Yes
• No

09

I understand that as an Adult Protective Services Specialist, I may be required to travel to locations throughout and outside of San Diego County.

• Yes
• No

10

Do you possess a current license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of California?

Note: To receive credit, you must submit a copy of your current license at the time of application.

• Yes
• No

11

Please check the boxes below that indicate where you are willing to work.

• North County
• East County (rural, back country areas)
• South County
• Central San Diego
• None of the above

12

INVESTIGATIVE/CASEWORK SERVICES
Do you have direct social work experience as a case manager and investigator with vulnerable populations that include, but are not limited to, older adults, persons with disabilities, persons with mental or physical health challenges, persons with intellectual disabilities, and/or persons with chronic conditions?

Note: If you selected yes, please describe your social work experience(s) as a case manager and investigator with the vulnerable population under work history of the application.

• Yes
• No

13

Do you have direct experience documenting case notes and/or care plans?

Note: If you selected yes, please describe your direct experience(s) documenting case notes and/or care plans under work history of the application.

• Yes
• No

14

CRISIS INTERVENTION FUNCTIONS
Please indicate the areas below in which you have experience in performing crisis intervention functions. Check all that apply.

• Staffing a 24-hour crisis hotline
• Responding to a 24-hour phone line
• Receiving reports of incidents pertaining to the abuse of older adults and adults with disabilities
• Assessing incidents to determine if immediate responses are warranted
• Acting as a first responder to emergency situations
• I do not have experience in any of the areas listed above

15

REFERRALS AND COORDINATING SERVICES
Do you have direct work experience making referrals and coordinating services for vulnerable populations that include, but are not limited to, older adults, persons with disabilities, persons with mental or physical health challenges, persons with intellectual disabilities, and/or persons with chronic conditions?

Note: If you selected yes, please describe your direct work experience(s) making referrals and coordinating services for one or more of the vulnerable populations under work history of the application.

• Yes
• No

16