Social Worker III - Adult Services (Guardianship)

 

1. 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.

1. Primary Purpose

The social worker in this position has the responsibility of assisting aged, disabled, and other adults experiencing medical, social, and community problems to identify their problems. The worker strives to enhance the client's problem-solving and coping capacities with the purpose of providing services to enable the individual to live independently in his or her community.

1. Work Schedule

The normal work hours are from 8:00am until 5:00pm. The worker may have to work overtime on some occasions for which he/she will receive compensatory time.

1. Change in Responsibilities or Organizational Relationship

This position now has the added responsibility to investigate Adult Protective Service reports, assess competency of adults 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. Abuse means willful infliction of physical pain, injury, or mental anguish or unreasonable confinement, or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of services which are necessary to maintain mental and physical health. Neglect refers to a disabled adult who is either living alone or not able to provide for himself or herself the services which are necessary to maintain mental or physical health or is not receiving services from his caretaker. Exploitation means the illegal or improper use of a disabled adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage. 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 are in need of 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 the 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 adult's 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 adult's competency.

The legal determination that an adult is incompetent means that the adult is considered incapable of making important decisions concerning his/her 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 adult's 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 his/her authority to make decisions to guardian, guardianship should be considered only when other less drastic methods of assisting adults are not sufficient.

Description of Responsibilities and Duties (written in order of importance)

*denotes essential function.

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 his or her 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.

*30%    la.        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 his/her extensive interviewing skills to enable the client to be able to verbalize his/her 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 make 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, she applies his/her knowledge base of human behavior, developmental stages, family dysfunction, psycho-social and emotional conditions as 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.

lb.  This worker will assist as a back-up to Adult Protective Services Worker. He/She will be assigned to screen in/screen out Adult Protective Services referral for him/her to evaluate the need for this semce. He/She will gather information for this service as for any other adult service case; assessing their social, environment, mental, emotional, physical health, ADL (Activities of Daily Living), IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) as well as the need for protection and their capacity to consent to services. Responsibilities also include assessing the competency of adults, making recommendations regarding the need for a guardian and testifying in court to achieve safety outcomes for the adult.

 20%: Development/Treatment/Goal/Service Plan

The Adult Services social worker, after gathering the information needed to complete the assessment, helps the client come to terms with the reality of his/her situation and pointing out the individual strengths and weaknesses which the client possesses to deal with the situation. This enables the social worker and client to develop realistic goals and service plans. These goals and plan are usually time structures and task specific. Individualized goals are directed toward allowing the client to remain in their own home at his/her highest level of functioning and the prevention of problems. This may include providing the client with a mechanism to establish links with needed community resources. The goals and plans are monitored and reviewed at least quarterly and more often if needed. A complete reassessment is done yearly.

20%:  Counseling/Therapy

Examples of techniques utilized by the Adult service worker places emphasis on the family systems approach. These include problems identification, client advocacy, reality therapy, crisis intervention, problem solving, ego enhancement, environmental manipulation, positive reinforcement, and psycho-social assessment. The worker, at times, seeks community resources to assist the client in attaining and maintaining goals. Because some of the situations the client faces are very sensitive, the social worker offers supportive counseling.

10%: 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 encouraging 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.

5%: 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.

*5%  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.

*3%  Community Liaison 

The social worker, by advocating for the client, allows him/her to establish linkage to community resources. These resources are sometimes the lifeline needed to assist the client in remaining in his/her own 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.

 

*5%: Administrative Duties

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

 

 

*2%: Teaching and Training

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

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.

1. 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. 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.

 

1. 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 sate through manuals and adID;inistrative letters. The worker attends appropriate• workshops and training regarding policy and procedures and social work trends.

1. Guides, Regulations, Policies, and References Used by Employee

Volume V, VI, VII Family and Children's Service Manual
Service Information System Manual
Division of Aging Policy Manual
A Model for Excellence in Adult Services
A Guide to Record Keeping for Adult Services Social Worker
Medicaid Manual for Transportation
North Carolina Personnel Regulations
Agency Personnel Handbook 
Instruction from Director, Assistant Director, Program Administrator, and Regional Consultant
Medicaid At-Risk Manual

1. 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 b supervisor. Random monitoring is also performed by State DSS consultant and Medicaid Consultant.

1. 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. Contacts 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.

1. 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 described in #9 below on a frequent basis.

1. 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 is aware of precautions to take when such events occur.

1. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment, and Materials Used.

Employee uses copier, calculator, computer, automobile, telephone, cell phone, manuals, camera, and paper shredder in order to perform duties.

1. 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 s 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. Employee must have physical dexterity required to successfully and efficiently operate machinery and tools outlined in #9 above.

1. Safety for Others

See #8 above for issues confronting this employee.

1. Dynamics of Work

Programs are periodically affected by changes in m thodology, guidelines, legislation, laws, and shifting program emphasis. Worker will receive guidance and appropriate supervision as these changes occur.

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 set goals for clients, help them obtain autonomous functions and effective 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.

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

1. 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.
2. Ability to recognize, accept, and cope with hostility, anger, loss, and pain encountered in working with dysfunctional individuals and families.
3.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with supervisor, administrative staff, as well as clients in her 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.

1. The ability to operate a motor vehicle. A valid NC driver's license is required.
2. The ability for worker to perform duties outlined in this description and other related duties as required.

Required Minimum Training

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.

Salary : $54,975