Social Worker III - Aging & Disability Services - Adult Protective Services

The San Mateo County Health System is seeking an experienced and dedicated Social Worker III to join Aging & Disability Services’ Adult Protective Services (APS) team! This is an opportunity for a highly skilled social work professional to make a meaningful difference every single day by supporting the safety, dignity, and independence of older adults and adults with disabilities in our community.

About the Role

Social Worker IIIs are advanced journey-level practitioners who bring clinical insight, strong judgment, and exceptional problem-solving skills to complex case scenarios. They work with a high degree of independence while delivering intensive, client-centered casework, often involving individuals with acute safety concerns or multifaceted psychosocial needs.

In this role, you will:

• Apply your advanced assessment, diagnostic, and intervention skills to stabilize crises, reduce risk, and promote long-term well-being.
• Serve as a resource to colleagues by offering casework consultation within the department and to external partner agencies.

This classification is distinguished by its emphasis on independent clinical judgment, therapeutic engagement, and management of the most sensitive or high-risk cases, exceeding the expectations of the Social Worker II level.

About the Adult Protective Services (APS) Program

APS is a state-mandated program responsible for investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving older adults and dependent adults. Abuse may include physical, financial, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, isolation, or abandonment.

APS Social Worker IIIs conduct face-to-face home visits, complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments, develop service plans, and coordinate interventions across multiple systems. Investigations may be conducted in collaboration with law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, health care providers, and community partners.

The program is built on a foundation of client rights, empowerment, and person-centered practice, aiming to strengthen safety, reduce risk, and support clients’ ability to remain in the community whenever appropriate.

What Makes This Role Unique

This role offers a meaningful blend of deeply rewarding and intellectually challenging work. As a Social Worker III in APS, you will make a significant impact through face-to-face home visits, comprehensive psychosocial assessments, and the development of individualized service plans that promote safety and stability for vulnerable adults. At the same time, you will navigate complex situations, working independently in the field, collaborating closely with law enforcement and multidisciplinary partners, and applying strong critical-thinking skills to meet state mandates and respond effectively to evolving client needs. It is a role for professionals who thrive in dynamic environments, value autonomy, and are energized by making a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Key Responsibilities

This Social Worker III will:

• Respond to allegations of abuse throughout San Mateo County and complete thorough assessments of client strengths, risks, and needs.
• Conduct face-to-face home visits, psychosocial evaluations, and develop individualized service plans in alignment with state mandates.
• Collaborate closely with law enforcement, hospitals, behavioral health, community agencies, and informal support networks.
• Attend required APS state training and participate in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings to support coordinated care.
• Provide crisis intervention and implement a wide range of social work strategies aimed at mitigating risk.
• Assess need for services such as health care, in-home support, personal care, money management, substitute decision-making, or conservatorship.
• Prepare documentation and maintain accurate, timely case records across multiple information systems.
• Participate in quality improvement efforts and contribute to ongoing program development.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• A Master’s degree in Social Work.
• Experience responding to allegations of abuse or providing crisis intervention.
• Ability to work independently and confidently in the field.
• Experience conducting assessments to determine abuse, risk, and service needs.
• Skill in independently developing and implementing care plans.
• Experience with client-centered care coordination.
• Comfort working with diverse populations across socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Ability to engage with clients and families who may be distressed or resistant.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a large caseload.
• Proficiency in documentation, report writing, and the use of multiple database systems.
• Familiarity with program regulations and APS mandates.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies. 

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide intensive, highly skilled casework services to clients.

• Interview elders or dependent adults and evaluate problems presented.

• Prepare and implement comprehensive treatment or care plans.
• Consult and cooperate with other divisions of the department and with community agencies and groups in carrying out treatment plans.
• Complete psycho-social assessments for clients.
• Assist in development of community resources when necessary to carry out treatment plans.
• Interpret programs and consult with individuals and various community groups to provide a better understanding of social aspects of environmental, emotional and physical problems and appropriate methods of alleviating them.
• Assist in the development of training for other staff.
• Interpret the rules, regulations and policies of the department to clients and applicants.
• Prepare and maintain casework records, reports, and relevant correspondence.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Tenative Recruitment Schedule