Career Opportunity

Protective Services Worker –Adult Protective Services - Human Services Agency (HSA) (2940) (EXEMPT)

Recruitment: REF58353N

Published: November 17, 2025

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Exam Type: Temporary Exempt (TEX) – Category (CAT) 17

Fill Type: Temporary Substitute/Backfill Exemption under Charter Section 10.104-17.

This is a Temporary Exempt (TEX) Category 17 Appointment from Civil Service rules pursuant to San Francisco Charter Section 10.104-17. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. Duration of this Temporary Exempt Category 17 appointment is limited to two (2) years in four (4) six (6) month increments per CSC Rule 114, Article VI, Sec. 114.26.7.

Application Opening: November 17 , 2025

Application Deadline: December 2, 2025

Compensation: $111,436- $142,194 Annually

Classification Specification: https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=2940&setId=COMMN

List ID: TEX-2940-EXEMPT

Human Services Agency (HSA)

At the San Francisco Human Services Agency, we believe in a San Francisco where everyone has the opportunity and support to achieve their full potential.  We are comprised of the Department of Benefits and Family Support, and the Department of Disability and Aging Services, and are united by our commitment to deliver essential services that support and protect people, families, and communities.

From financial, nutritional, and employment support to child and adult protective services, health care coverage, affordable childcare, and in-home services for older adults and persons with disabilities, our team lends support for all in need.

Our Commitment to Racial Equity

As we work towards our vision of an inclusive San Francisco, we embrace our responsibility to root out systemic racism by creating services and a workforce which reflect the lived experiences and strengths of the people we serve. We are committed to fostering a work environment where our differences are celebrated and everyone has what they need to thrive--no matter their race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or country of origin. Click here to learn more about what this commitment looks like in action.

Role description

This is the entry-level class in the Protective Services Worker (PSW) series. Adult Protective Services (APS) is a state-mandated program administered by the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF), Human Services Agency (HSA), and Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS). Under general supervision by the APS program, the Protective Services Worker receives and responds to reports of suspected "elder" and "dependent adult" abuse including neglect, self-neglect, and financial abuse. The Protective Services Worker performs professional investigations and case management services to victims of abuse.

This includes activities related to evaluating the level of harm or risk of harm, to the person and the estate of an "elder" or "dependent adult"; assessing biopsychosocial functioning, including the medical condition, cognitive/psychological status, and adequacy of care and support system; orchestrating ongoing services to maximize the use of community resources; and to help protect victims from further harm once the case is closed.

Essential Duties and Functions

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job class and are not intended to be an inclusive list and may include additional duties as assigned.

1. Conducts unannounced visits to see elders and dependent adults in their living environment.
2. Investigates the allegations and conducts a risk assessment through interviewing the victim, family, relatives, neighbors, and others to assess for immediacy.
3. Arranges for immediate protective interventions and emergency services as necessary, including medical assessments, emergency shelter, or in-home protection, e.g., acts as a liaison on the medical aspects of the case with providers of services and other agencies that provide medical care, until the immediate dangers are resolved.
4. Gathers, documents, and reviews important detailed financial, personal, and confidential information, and writes investigative reports, findings, and service plan notes.
5. Conducts a needs assessment for clients in need of protective services.
6. Develops a Service Plan and organizes the initial care plan as appropriate, including supported decision-making activities.
7. Provides counseling for clients and other concerned individuals to alleviate the identified problems and implements the service plan to restore optimum social functioning and health adjustment within the client’s capacity
8. Assists clients and other concerned individuals to address personal and environmental difficulties that perpetuate poor health and dysfunction and interfere with self-care and self-protection.
9. Monitors the Service Plan and follows up through field visits and telephone contacts with clients, relatives, and other concerned individuals until the service goals have been achieved.
10. Assists with multidisciplinary team meetings with healthcare providers, hospitals, the Public Health/Mental Health Department, and other City agencies to understand the social and emotional factors underlying the client’s health, social, or environmental problems.
11. Designs interventions, in collaboration with medical professionals, social service providers, law enforcement, or other relevant systems, to help determine the level of care and services pertinent to the client’s welfare.
12. Provides education to individuals and agencies on the role and authority of APS.
13. Conducts public presentations about casework in a confidential, multi-disciplinary setting and collaborates and cooperates with the community and the CCSF partner agencies.
14. Uses a personal computer to prepare, review, and maintain records, correspondence, and reports
15. Manages case documentation in the APS database.

When Assigned to Adult Protective Services:

1. Investigates adult abuse allegations and provides services to adults in danger of abuse or exploitation and arranges adult placements when necessary.

2. Places elders and dependent adults in appropriate level of supervised care.

How to qualify

Education

Possession of a Master’s Degree in Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): OR, a Master’s Degree from a two-year (2) counseling program from an accredited college or university. (Qualifying Master’s Degrees in counseling include Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Addiction Counseling and Counseling Psychology that included a supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum).

Experience

Satisfactory completion of two semesters of graduate field placement which involved the provision of direct services to elders and/or dependent adults and/or adults with physical, cognitive or mental health disabilities in one of the following or closely related areas: Adult Protective Services, intensive case management such as MSSP/Linkages, medical social work in a hospital or clinic, mental health program/agency, home health agency or alcohol and drug counseling and treatment program OR six (6) months post baccalaureate professional work experience which involved the provision of direct services to elders, dependents, or adults in one of the areas previously described.

OR

Six (6) months post-baccalaureate professional work experience which involved the provision of direct services to elders, dependent adults, or adults in one of the areas previously described.

Special Requirements

The essential duties of this position require incumbents to: work nights, weekends and holidays on a limited basis; drive, normally within the City of San Francisco and occasionally outside City/County limits as necessitated by case work; to get in and out of vehicles, climb flights of stairs to complete home visits; lift food boxes weighing up to 30 pounds; and complete visual assessments of elders/dependent adults and their home environments.

Note: All Positions Require possession of a valid California class C driver’s license and clear Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Verification of Experience and/or Education

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications. 

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included in your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

The selection process will include an evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements and assessment of candidates’ job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities in an oral interview, which may include a written or performance exercise.

Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to continue in the selection process.

Note: Applicants meeting the minimum requirements are not guaranteed advancement in the selection process. 

What else should I know?

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2023-24.pdf

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

How to Apply

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.  

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. 

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Carmen K. Lewis, by telephone at (415) 557-5241 or by email at carmen.lewis@sfgov.org.

 All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.