Mineral Co. Adult Protective Service Worker Job Opening

***Please note, an Indeed submission cannot be considered as an official application. To be considered and/or hired, you must apply for this position at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wv

Description:

You will use techniques of case management, investigation and regulations in the area of Protective Services. Work is characterized by cases involving abuse, neglect and/or the exploitation of adults. The nature of the situations requires judgment to deal with problems that are potentially harmful to the client and worker. Work requires the use of personal automobile for extensive travel. May be subject to being on-call during non-business hours and must be available or be accessible by telephone. Protective Services work can be very emotionally rewarding. This work, however, is not for the faint of heart or the impatient person. If you have a desire to help people, especially the very vulnerable, we can provide all the training you will need to make a real difference. Effective Protective Services professionals must have patience, compassion, be non-judgmental, and creative in finding ways to assist a client. Protective Services is not just a job, it's an challenging opportunity to use your interpersonal and organizational skills to really make a difference in the life of a vulnerable adult.

Examples of Work

• Conducts investigations concerning allegations of abuse, including sexual abuse, by talking with and visually observing affected individual; talks with immediate family, relatives, neighbors, teachers, doctors, and relevant others and reviews any pertinent records.
• Defuses possibly hostile situations wherein a person may be a threat to self or others.
• Makes initial assessments of validity of the allegation and the degree of danger that the adult is in; documents the results of the investigation.
• Assesses family and/or residential dynamics and problems that may be precipitating an abusive situation.
• Prepares a complete client service plan to remedy contributing problems and stop behavior patterns of abuse/neglect/exploitation and solicits family/caregiver cooperation.
• Engages family or caretaker in methods to solve problems, refers them to available resources, and monitors situation to prevent a reoccurrence of abuse.
• Files petition with the court when the adult is judged to be in imminent danger and testifies before the court in order to remove an adult from the family and/or residential situation; makes appropriate placement of adult with relatives, in Adult Family Care homes, nursing homes, residential boarding care, personal care homes, or in an emergency shelter.
• Offers alternatives to living environment if the client has been deemed incapacitated or incompetent; arranges placement of the adult client in an alternative living environment.
• Evaluates periodically the progress of the adult or living environment towards meeting objectives of the service plan, the need to modify the plan, and the eventual closing of the case.
• May complete and participate in court processes, including but not limited to guardianship/conservatorship hearings, mental hygiene petitions, and mental hygiene hearings following the execution of an Order of Attachment as dictated by the client's circumstances.
• Completes annual court reports for guardianship cases.
• May monitor Health Care Surrogate and guardianship cases according to policy, including end- of-life decision making.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of the Code of Ethics to make required ethical decisions.
• Knowledge of State and Federal social welfare laws, rules, and regulations, particularly those concerning adult abuse and neglect.
• Knowledge of social work theory, casework methods, and community organization/resources.
• Knowledge of human behavior and the behavioral sciences, particularly concerning human development, aging, family dynamics, and interpersonal relationships.
• Ability to assess emotional states, behavioral indicators, family dynamics, and overt signs of abuse in order to determine whether an abusive situation exists.
• Ability to formulate client service and treatment plans.
• Ability to influence people to engage in problem-solving activities and to change attitudes and behavior.
• Ability to work effectively with judges and law enforcement officials.
• Ability to communicate with individuals who have emotional or mental problems.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain case records and documentation, prepare reports, and compose correspondence both in written and database format.
• Ability to operate a computer.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university.
Substitution for Education: Current West Virginia Social Work License.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $24,912.00 to $46,092.00 /year

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)