Protective Service Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 880313
Agency: Children and Families
Working Title: ADULT PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - 60019675
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 60019675
Salary: $37,000.08 annually / $1,423.08 bi-weekly
Posting Closing Date: 09/15/2026
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Adult Protective Investigator
Department of Children and Families
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Open Competitive
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.
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

Examples of professional work experience could be, although not limited to:
Guardian Ad Litem or similar child advocate role
Family Support Worker
Group Home Worker
Teacher's Assistant/Aide
Daycare Provider/Worker
Therapeutic Assistant
Behavioral Health Technician
Family Intervention Specialist
Home Health Aide
Nurse (LPN or RN) or similar profession
Nursing Facility Assistant
EMT
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.
Proof of conferred degree such as official transcripts or copy of diploma/degree must be provided within 30 days of hire as a condition of employment.

• 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.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: 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.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S. Employment may be terminated based on the background investigation results if the candidate begins employment before the background results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Department.
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. Employees will be retained in state and national rap back program, providing real-time arrest hit notifications.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: 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: http://www.sss.gov.
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.
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.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume" in place of entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
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.
To learn more please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/.

• 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.
• We hire only U.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.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment
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 (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allo