Social Worker III - Adult Protective Services

General Statement of Duties

A. Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
This social worker position is assigned to the Adult Service Unit, which is part of the Service
Division of a local department of social services which provides crisis assistance and on-going
supportive services to eligible individuals and their families.

B. Primary Purpose
The social worker in this position has the responsibility of evaluating and investigating reports of
abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled adults, and providing protection and services to
adults who have been confirmed to have been maltreated and who are in need of protection.
Responding to crisis situations and ensuring any emergencies are appropriately addressed

C. Work Schedule
The normal work hours are from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. The worker may have to work overtime
on some occasions for which compensatory time will be earned.

Essential Duties and Tasks

This position now has the responsibility to investigate Adult Protective Service reports, assess
competency of and make recommendations regarding the need for a guardian.

Protective Services for Adults is a multi-factored service based on an awareness of the vulnerability of
some adults to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The protective service component consists of provisions
in the state law for intervention in crisis situations in which adults are reported to be in need of
protection. It is the role of the social worker to ensure that the agency’s actions are consistent with
statutory and state requirements. Adults who need this protection are persons 18 years of age or older
with disabilities or handicaps such as age, physical, mental or socioeconomic, which have incapacitated
them to such a degree that they are unable to take care of themselves and who have no one able or willing
to assist them with care of their needs.

Guardianship involves the provision of services to individuals who are alleged to be incompetent and
their families. It includes legal proceedings in which an adult is declared incompetent by the court and
another party is given the responsibility for duties relative to the adults’ personal affairs and/or property.
The nature and scope of a guardian's responsibility are determined by the court, based on applicable
provisions of the law and the circumstances of the individual case. Guardianship ends with the death of
the incompetent adult or with a judicial restoration of the adults’ competency.

The legal determination that an adult is incompetent means that the adult is considered incapable of
making important decisions concerning their personal welfare and/or financial resources. The authority
in this position is given to a guardian to make decisions such as where the adult will live, including the
geographical area and type of living arrangement; how the adults income will be spent; and whether the
adult will have recommended medical treatment or surgery. To the extent that the guardian is given
authority over these and other areas of the adult's life, the adult no longer has the right to make decisions
in those areas. Because of the effect of declaring an adult legally incompetent and giving authority to
make decisions to guardian, guardianship should be considered only when other less drastic methods of
assisting adults are not sufficient.

This worker will have the case management responsibility to provide supportive services to individuals
and families residing in the county. The social worker receives case assignments through intake as
assigned by supervisor and from applications taken in the field, or as referrals from current service
recipients. The clients served by this worker represents a cross-section of the adult population from age
18 until death and are from variant socio-economic backgrounds. A common characteristic of the clients
served as their inability and inadequacy to maintain an independent lifestyle in the community due to
physical health problems, limited economic resources, and an immediate change in household
composition, an agency, community and/or a breakdown of the family’s support system. The social
worker networks the services that are needed to assist the clients in maintaining or improving their
quality of life and to continue an independent lifestyle. The work is performed by completing the
following duties in order to enhance the individual and/or family functioning.

A. Assessment and Reassessment (To include APS responsibilities)
The Adult Service Social Worker will make the initial interview and assist the client in
identifying problems and translating these problems in existing programs. The social
worker is called upon to use extensive interviewing skills to enable the client to be able to
verbalize feelings. The social worker completes a thorough social work assessment of all
clients evaluating their social, environment, mental, emotional, physical health ADL
(Activities of Daily Living) IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), and economic
status. The above process is accomplished through observations made by the worker in the
home as to the interaction of individuals in the family as well as availability of resources to
meet that person's basic needs in life. As the social worker gathers this necessary
information, knowledge is applied based on human behavior, developmental stages, family
dysfunction, psycho-social and emotional conditions ag well as other socio-economic
problems and available services and solutions, which enable the social worker to accurately
assess the individual family's need for services and willingness to accept assistance. These
services include At-Risk Case Management, In-Home Aid, Special Assistance In-Home
services, Individual and Family Adjustment, Health Support, Housing and Home
Improvement, Representative payee, and all programs related to medical transportation.
The social worker, on an on-going basis, assesses and reassesses services, the need to
continue services as well as the need to increase or decrease services. The social worker
must also be aware of neglect, abuse, and exploitation definitions in order to make
appropriate referrals to protective service if deemed necessary.

B. Responsibilities also include assessing the competency of adults making recommendations
regarding the need for guardianship and testifying in court to achieve safety outcomes for
the adult.

C. Implementation
The Adult Service social worker on initial visit begins assisting the client in formulating
and implementing the service plan by assessing appropriate and available services,
presenting options to the client and encourage client decision making with the focus on
problem solving and independent actions. The involvement of other services and/or other
professionals is initiated at the discretion of the social worker in consultation with
supervisor.

D. Monitoring/Maintenance
The Adult Service social worker monitors that the services plan on an on-going basis for
progress, appropriateness and changes if needed. Changes may occur if there are changes
in client family composition, health (i.e. physical or mental), economic, social
environment, or etc.

E. Consultation
Most consultation is centered on client related problems and is provided for family and
other informal support systems and for other professionals, agencies and community
resources. The purpose of such consultation is to advocate for the client, to promote the
goals of the service plan and to provide the needs of the client.

F. Community Liaison
The social worker, by advocating for the client, establishes linkage to community resources.
These resources are sometimes the lifeline needed to assist the client in remain in the home and
having a sense of independence. It is often necessary begin this process by acting as liaison for
the client with agency and community programs such as Medicaid, Food and Nutrition, Crisis
Programs, churches, medical providers, civic organizations, mental health, law enforcement
personnel, public housing, and any other resources available to help clients meet their needs.

G. Administrative Duties
Administrative duties are necessary to insure appropriate service delivery. This involves maintaining
required statistical reports, accurate documentation current within seven days, and
record keeping in accordance with agency, county, state, and federal mandates,
regular consultation with direct supervisor, and periodic in-service training sessions.

H. Teaching and Training
This social worker may be involved in presenting educational presentations regarding supportive
services the agency offers.

I. Other duties as assigned by Director, Deputy Director, Program Manager or Supervisor. Disaster
duty, including overnight shelter duty, is required.

Other Position Characteristics

1. Accuracy Required in Worker
Accuracy must prevail in the position because of determining and documenting clients'
eligibility for required service programs. The worker must be accurate in giving correct
information and being current on information that is shared with client and community. Worker
must be accurate when managing client's finances when serving in the capacity of representative
payee. It’s extremely important to accurately assess issues related to APS and guardianship.
Worker must be able to determine if maltreatment has occurred and if so, if the disabled adult is
in need of protective services.

2. Consequences of Error
If eligibility determination is not completed correctly, eligible clients may not receive needed
services or in the reverse, non-eligible clients could receive services. Vulnerable adults in need
of protection may be left without protection. In either case, the agency may be sanctioned
negatively by the state at additional monetary cost to the county. Errors in APS or guardianship
could cause irreparable harm to disabled adults, including death.

3. Instruction Provided to Employee
Instructions are provided in written and oral form. Bi-monthly meetings are held to develop and
receive instructions on policies and procedures. Worker also has scheduled conferences with
supervisor. Instructions are provided by the state through manuals and administrative letters.
The worker attends appropriate workshops and training regarding policy and procedures and
social work trends.

4. Guides, Regulations, Policies, and References Used by Employee
a. Volume V, VI, VII Family and Children's Service Manual
b. Service Information System Manual
c. Division of Aging Policy Manual
d. A Model for Excellence in Adult Services
e. A Guide to Record Keeping for Adult Services Social Worker
f. Medicaid Manual for Transportation
g. North Carolina Personnel Regulations
h. Agency Personnel Handbook
i. Instruction from Director, Deputy Director, Program Administrator, Supervisor and
Regional Consultant
j. Medicaid At-Risk Manual

5. Supervision Received by Employee
This employee receives supervision by scheduled conferences, meetings, informal interaction,
reports, and an annual performance appraisal. Review for quality is also received through process
of random case review and reading of assessments and reassessments completed on all active
cases by supervisor. Random monitoring is also performed by State DSS consultant and
Medicaid Consultant.

6. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts
The employee has contact with unit, staff, and other staff within the agency. Majority of
worker’s time is field work. Contact will be made with clients in the private home as well as in
the office. Worker also makes contacts with local health care providers, out of county health care
providers, mental health, crisis organization, churches, civic organizations, State Office
Personnel, Division of Aging Personnel, Region L Council of Governments Staff, law
enforcement, doctor, nurses, hospital social workers, environmental health personnel and the
general public. These contacts may be needed to gather information for assessment, and service
planning. Worker may be asked to serve on various committees and will act as liaison between
the numerous persons and agencies involved in the delivery of services to client and as client
advocate. Employee will also interpret programs, policies, and procedures on an individual basis.

7. Physical Effort
The physical effort required on this job is to have the stamina to continue at maximum
performance at all times. At times, effort is needed in assisting clients with mobility. Physical
effort is needed for employee to move within the agency, climb stairs, and use office equipment.

8. Work Environment and Conditions
Work is performed in the field and worker has a private office in the agency. Employee is placed
in unpleasant or dangerous situations when dealing with hostile clients. Employee is occasionally
exposed to infectious diseases such as scabies, head lice, flu, AIDS, TB, and etc. All staff are
aware of precautions to take when such events occur.

9. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment, and Materials Used.
Employee uses copier, calculator, computer, automobile, telephone, cell phone, manuals, camera

10. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration, and Manipulative Skills
All areas of this job require close visual attention because accuracy is very important. The
activities performed in this job require most intense mental concentration in areas such as
engaging clients trust, determining the reality of the situation problem solving, goal planning,
and interpreting policy and mandates as it applies to each case situation.

11. Dynamics of Work
Programs are periodically affected by changes in methodology, guidelines, legislation,
laws, and shifting program emphasis. Worker will receive guidance and appropriate
supervision as these changes occur. This position is subject to reallocation contingent upon
funding, agency needs and client population and are subject to perform work during
emergency or disaster situations as required and may be required to staff shelter overnight.

Knowledges, Skills and Abilities

1. The worker should have considerable knowledge of basic social work techniques and
practices and their application to specific case work, group work, and community
problems and of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.

2. Knowledge of human behavior and socio-economic problems and their treatment in order
to access plan and get goals for clients, help them obtain autonomous functions and
effectively utilize their own problem solving and coping capacities to affect change.

3. Knowledge of client advocacy to establish initial linkage between clients and resources
systems.

4. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies which govern the programs and ability to
express ideas clearly, concisely, implement, and execute effectively.

5. Knowledge of the developmental stages and developmental tasks of individual and
medical and psychological diagnosis particularly as it relates to the elderly and disabled
populations.

6. Ability to recognize, accept, and cope with hostility, anger, loss, and pain encountered in
working with dysfunctional individuals and families.

7. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with
supervisor, administrative staff, as well as clients in the caseload, their families,
community resources civic, medical, religious, State DSS Consultants, Division of Aging
staff, and social organizations to maintain present resources and develop new resources.

8. The ability to operate a motor vehicle.

9. The ability for worker to perform duties outlined in this description and other related
duties as required.

Desirable Education and Experience

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 one year directly related experience;
Master’s degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience;
Bachelor's degree in 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.
BSW or Bachelor's Degree in Human Service field or Gerontology preferred.