Adult Protective Services Specialist

Title: Adult Protective Services Specialist

Location: Hayward, WI

This is an hourly position; work occurs in the office or the field.

Hours: 40 hours/week: M-F Days – Core office hours are 8-4 with flexible scheduling to meet client needs.

Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable adults!

Sawyer County Health and Human Services' mission is to respond to the health and safety of Sawyer County residents and promote the self-sufficiency and general welfare of the individual and community. Join our dedicated and mission-driven team as an Adult Protective Services Specialist and enjoy the rewarding opportunity to see your essential work positively impact those around you every day.

We are seeking a person who has the ability to ask tough questions with sensitivity, the insight to assess complex situations, and the creativity to develop effective solutions. Your responsibilities will range from investigating allegations of abuse and neglect to conducting assessments, developing service plans, and coordinating vital support services. You’ll be the voice for those who often can’t speak for themselves,

Qualified candidates will possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited social work program, human services program, or related field, is preferred. Training and experience in trauma informed care, dementia crisis intervention, and forensic interviewing preferred. A valid Wisconsin Driver’s License is required. In evaluating candidates for this position, Sawyer County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.

A career in Health and Human Services allows you to apply your talents where they’re needed most, and the range of benefits we offer means you’ll be recognized for your efforts. These include:

• Comprehensive benefits package including: vacation time, sick time, paid holidays; medical, dental, and vision coverage; disability insurance; life insurance; ambulance insurance and more.

• Training, development, and promotional opportunities

• Comp time

• Flexible scheduling

• Options of Health Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account, and/or Flexible Spending Account

• Pension plan via the Wisconsin Retirement System

Please note: This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list. It presents highlights of the position’s scope and function and the candidates’ requirements and rewards.

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Sawyer County Position Description

Title: Adult Protective Services Specialist

Department: Health and Human Services

Reports to: Adult Long Term Care Unit Supervisor

Purpose of Position:

Under the direct supervision of the Adult Long Term Care Unit Supervisor, the Lead Adult Protective Services Specialist will provide intake, investigation, and referral for legal intervention and community services to adults-at-risk and abused elders.

Essential Functions:

The duties and responsibilities described below are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide adult protective services to elders (age 60 ) and adults-at-risk (ages 18-59) who are alleged to be neglected, abused or self-abused as outlined in Wisconsin § CH 46.90, CH 51, CH 54 and CH 55.

• Receive and screen reports and determine imminent danger with use of Sawyer County screening tool

• Accept APS referrals as assigned for investigation

• Coordinate with community agencies, LCO Tribal services, law enforcement, medical professionals, family and acquaintances to obtain thorough information for investigative purposes

• Complete investigation to determine risks and needs

• If substantiated, develop safety plan using community and agency resources to assist the victim to be safe and retain their independence as much as possible

• Coordinate with law enforcement and the District Attorney's office if criminal charges are warranted

• Maintain case records to the highest degree of confidentiality

• Complete Wisconsin Reporting for Adult Protective Services (WRAPS) report on each case referred

Coordinate alternative decision-making action and alternate residential and support services.

• Work collaboratively with Sawyer County Corporation Counsel if the victim is deemed in need of guardianship, protective placement, conservatorship, or protective services

• Along with corporation counsel, represent the Health and Human Services Agency at court hearings for guardianship, successor guardianship, protective placement, review of guardian conduct, annual reviews, and conservatorships

• Complete Comprehensive Court Assessments for individuals under petition for protective placement

• Complete annual (WATTS) reviews for protective placements as ordered by Sawyer County Circuit Court

Provide Adult Protective Services outreach and prevention.

• Plan and implement quarterly meetings of the Sawyer County Adult Protective Services Interdisciplinary Team; Present annual data, new information, and case load information to the APS I-Team members

• Provide information and counseling to new, potential guardians

• Develop forms and procedures based on best practice in the Adult Protective Services field

• Provide preventative information to banking institutions, law enforcement, service groups, and the community by way of presentations, mailings, brochures, and radio programs

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited social work program, human services program, or related field is preferred. Training and experience in trauma informed care, dementia crisis intervention, and forensic interviewing preferred. A valid Wisconsin Driver’s License is required. In evaluating candidates for this position, Sawyer County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Personal and professional integrity

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to create environments that promote vulnerable adult protection

• Self-directive, innovative, and able to exercise sound judgment

• Advanced knowledge of federal and state Adult Protective Services programs

• Advanced knowledge of Wisconsin Statutes Chapters 46, 90, 51, 54, and 55

• Advanced knowledge of prevention, detection, reporting, and treatment of vulnerable adult abuse and neglect policies and practices

• Advanced knowledge of interventions and best practices for Adult Protective Services

• Advanced knowledge of cultural, environmental, sociological, and psychological factors influencing the health and welfare status of adults-at-risk and frail elderly

• Advanced knowledge of agency and community agencies, programs, and resources in the human services field and vulnerable adult protection

• Ability to coordinate with department and community agencies in program planning and development

• Comprehensive knowledge, principles, practices, and skills in care management

• Advanced knowledge of human behavior and the basic principles and practices of care management

• Ability to communicate effectively through oral and written communication, including persuasive communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with contracted service providers

• Communicate and speak effectively in written and oral form before groups

• Coach, counsel, teach, and inform clients and the community concerning Adult Protective Services issues

• Deal with sensitivity to the needs of people with different cultural, environmental, and social backgrounds

• Analyze data, problem solve, and make logical decisions

• Write and prepare a variety of statistical reports, records, and charts

• Work independently on projects and programs

• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with others

• Input, access, and analyze data using a computer terminal

• Accept agency philosophy, purpose, and objectives

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Ability to analyze data and information using established criteria to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, copy, record, and transcribe data and information. Ability to classify, compute, tabulate, and categorize data.

Ability to counsel and mediate. Ability to persuade, convince, and train others. Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding applying policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations.

Mathematical Ability

Ability to perform essential mathematical functions including calculating percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, and present values. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports. Ability to prepare and analyze complex reports, financial statements, governmental accounting, cost analysis, and other relevant data.

Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability

Ability to use functional reasoning in performing influence functions such as supervising, managing, leading, teaching, directing, and controlling.

Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control, and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.

Physical Requirements

Ability to operate a variety of office equipment including computer terminal, typewriter, telephone, fax machine, calculator/adding machine, and photocopier. Familiarity of first aid equipment, electronic testing equipment, general medical equipment – needles, blood tubes, bandages, blood pressure, etc.

Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing movements requiring moderate skill, such as typing. Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration. Ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.

Ability to tolerate and safely navigate homes with hoarding, feces, urine, filth, foul odors, cigarette smoke, and rodents.

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work under safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as repetitive computer keyboard use poses a very limited risk of injury. Ability to enter environments with sanitation, hoarding, and cleanliness issues.

CLOSING STATEMENT:

This description has been prepared to assist in evaluating responsibilities, duties, and skills of the position. The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the County and employee and is subject to change by the County as the needs of the County and the requirements of the position change.

Selection Guidelines

Formal application, rating or education and experience; oral interview and reference check. A state background check is required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Sawyer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with representatives of Sawyer County.