Careers

Job Description: Protective Services Caseworker

Definition

Protective Services Caseworker provides crisis intervention to consumers who are the victim or potential victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation, or who are a danger to themselves or others.  This is social casework providing a full range of social services in the field of aging services.  The work involves the employment of casework skills in obtaining essential information, counseling clients and members of their families, and aiding them to utilize all available resources.  The work is performed in accordance with established regulations, policies, and procedures, but employees are expected to exercise initiative and independent judgment in discharging their duties, seeking advice and help with the more unusual and difficult cases.  The primary responsibilities are to investigate reports of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment; to take appropriate action and/or to provide protective services; and to maintain a caseload of vulnerable consumers.

Supervision Received

Work is reviewed through on-going conferences with the Protective Services Supervisor.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with a social welfare major with coursework in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, or other related social sciences, and two years of experience in public or private social work including one-year direct aging program experience. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and advanced computer skills are required. Must have a valid PA driver’s license and current auto insurance.

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position and are not to be considered as exclusive or inclusive

• Receives and writes reports of suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment.
• Conducts through investigation of the circumstances of consumer who needs protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or abandonment.
• Develop care plans, which coordinate necessary services for vulnerable consumers to reduce, eliminate and prevent further abuse.
• Provides care management services to consumers and members of their families to aid them in achieving a more satisfactory adjustment to their specific problems or situations.
• Obtains information from consumers, members of consumer families, neighbors and other people necessary for the identification of social, economic, emotional health or physical problems in accordance with PDA & AAA policy on protective services investigation.
• Conducts and/or coordinates assessments of the elderly who are at risk of being institutionalized or having multi-faceted service needs. The task consists of the needs assessment, the writing of the care plan, arranging for services and follow-up. These tasks will be completed in accordance with PDA & AAA guidelines and policy.
• Performs reassessments of consumers as designated in the consumer contact plan. Arranges for changes in service as an outcome of the reassessment. Conducts follow-up. Responsible for the ongoing care management of the case.
• Documents all actions and pay close attention to detail.
• Recommends cases for court intervention, including involuntary interventions, guardianship or mental health commitments.
• Testifies in court concerning various aspects of assigned cases.
• Conducts phone contact with consumers, families, physicians, or others in regard to consumer needs and services.
• Establishes an effective working relationship with consumers, family members, neighbors, other social services workers or attorneys to provide a better living situation for consumers.
• Maintains a caseload of vulnerable consumers who are in need of protective services.
• Attends protective services meetings and reports on consumers’ statuses.
• Serves in an advisory capacity to staff and the public in specialized areas such as legal, medical, privacy laws, rules and regulations as they relate to protective service consumers.
• Required to provide after-hour emergency intervention as part of the agency’s on-call system, on a rotating basis as assigned by the Protective Services Supervisor.
• Travel as required to perform essential job duties, i.e. to homes, hospitals, and agencies.

Marginal Functions

• Assists with public information and public relations activities as required.
• Attends meetings and/or training as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Clearly expresses ideas orally and in writing, and to perform basic arithmetical operations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, consumers, community leaders, and the public.
• Understand and accepts the needs and rights of older adults.
• Problem-solve and practice use of good judgment in assessing Agency resource needs.
• Able to maintain a caseload of consumers in an effective manner.
• Able to interpret policies, laws, and regulations.
• Skilled in the development of care plans that address the needs of vulnerable older adults; prepare records and reports.
• Knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations governing the Protective Services Program.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to sit for long periods throughout the workday, with intermittent periods of standing walking, bending, twisting, reaching, and traveling as necessary to carry out essential job duties.
• Dexterity requirements range from simple to coordinated movements of fingers/hands, feet/legs, and/or torso as necessary to carry out duties of job.
• Occasional lifting/carrying objects with a maximum weight of twenty pounds.

Working Environment Works indoors in a common workplace with adequate lighting, temperature and ventilation, as well as normal indoor exposure to dust/dirt, noise, stress, and disruptions.

• Travel to other work sites as needed.
• At times may be exposed to dangerous situations when visiting consumer’s homes.

This job description is intended to identify the essential functions and qualifications of this job. Individuals may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an individual be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the individual when possible.

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