Person County Government is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Social Worker III to join our Guardianship Services team within the Department of Social Services (DSS). This role plays a vital part in protecting the well-being of vulnerable adults in our community.
As a Guardianship Social Worker, you will act as the legal guardian or designee for adults adjudicated incompetent, serving on behalf of the DSS Director. This Social Worker will also work within Adult Protective Services (APS) to assess reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving adults aged 18 and older with disabilities, and take appropriate action to ensure their safety and well-being.
Adult Protective Services and Guardianship law and policy as outlined in the Family Services Manual serve as a framework for carrying out responsibilities. Court orders and medical and psychological assessments are also used as guides in decision-making.
For the detailed job description, click HERE.
To learn more about the Department of Social Services, clickHERE.
The starting salary will be determined with consideration given to both the candidate's educational background and relevant work experience.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record per County policy.
This is a non-exempt position working 37.5 hours weekly/1950 hours annually.
Cover letter, resume and transcripts required to apply. Acopyof the official college transcript added as an attachment is acceptable for the application process, but if an applicant is selected for an interview, he/she will be required to bring an official college transcript to the interview.70%
Guardianship Services:This position serves as the Director’s designee for court-appointed General Guardian or Guardian of the Person for incompetent and dependent adults who have no available family or other appropriate person willing to serve in this capacity. The major responsibilities are to maintain the client in the least restrictive environment that is most appropriate to his or her needs, make informed decisions regarding the health, safety and welfare of the client, and make status reports as requested to the court and other institutions such as the Social Security and Veterans Administration.
Minimal instruction is needed on a day-to-day basis as the social worker is expected to make sound decisions regarding the person under guardianship’s basic daily needs. Major decisions regarding such matters as life-threatening medical needs or disposing of their assets are made after consultation with the client's physician, the supervisor, the attorney, the services director, or director as appropriate.
The social worker has frequent contact with the disabled adult or person under guardianship’s physician, caretaker, and mental health personnel to ensure that his/her needs are being met. The legal system, including the agency attorney, Clerk of Court and other appropriate court officials, are frequently consulted.
15% Adult Protective Services:
It is critical that the social worker in this position be skilled at assessing dependent adults and making sound decisions in order to maintain the client safely in the least restrictive environment possible and enhance the client's ability to reach his or her full potential.
Assessments and evaluations are completed by the social worker in this position. The social worker continues to assess the client and make changes in the treatment plan as needed to ensure that it remains appropriate to the client's level of functioning and until protective service is no longer needed.
The social worker and client set goals and develop a treatment plan with the client's input based on his or her level of competence. Examples of goals might be to improve socialization and coping skills of mentally ill or dually diagnosed individuals or see that a dependent elderly client who lacks capacity to consent and has no family/social support receives appropriate custodial or nursing care.
The social worker in this position works with other members of the unit, the agency, and other organizations in implementing the treatment plan. For example, in implementing a plan for small group home placement for a developmentally delayed person under guardianship from a dysfunctional family, the social worker might involve physicians, psychologists, the agency attorney, local mental health center staff, and the client's informal support network. In implementing a plan to pursue guardianship of an elderly person whose mental status has deteriorated, the worker would involve the agency attorney, the client's physician and/or psychologist, and mental health and home health agencies as appropriate.
The social worker is responsible for monitoring the treatment plan.
Input is provided via staffings with multi-disciplinary interagency councils for adult mental health and developmental disabilities and the DSS Adult Services unit. The social worker consults with the agency attorney on an as-needed basis.
The social worker in this position must be knowledgeable of community resources such as mental health treatment facilities, specialized small group homes throughout the state for difficult-to-place clients, rehabilitation and educational programs that benefit disabled individuals, nursing facilities, and low-income housing.
There may be situations in which the employee must become involved with the courts for the protection of the client. The worker must be able to accurately describe the situation through petitions and testimony. If the courts decide that the worker should provide services even though the client is not able to consent to these services, the worker must make a thorough assessment and recommend what services are needed.
The social worker may serve as a liaison between the agency and community groups to promote the needs of abused, neglected and/or exploited adults. The social worker also serves in promoting, understanding, and interpretation of Adult Protective Services laws and procedures to the community and other service organizations
15% Other Duties
Other duties include but are not limited to Individual and Family Adjustment Services, Representative Payee Services, and Placement Services, as well as assisting the Adult Home Specialist on occasion. This worker will also occasionally be expected to serve as back-up to see clients that are coming into the agency for service-related assistance. The worker will assess the person(s)’ situation and identify any possible resources to alleviate the problem and complete any appropriate authorizations when services are available at the agency.
The worker is expected to accurately complete all paperwork associated with the job responsibilities.
Should a disaster occur in the county, the worker may also be expected to work at a designated shelter to assist shelter residents as needed.
- Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work;
- Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only);
- Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience;
- Master's degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience;
- Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience;
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience
