Adult Protective Services Caseworker

Description

The primary purpose of the Adult Protective Services Caseworker (Social Service Worker 2) position is to investigate claims of abuse and neglect of older adults and/or to maintain a caseload of families who have previously been determined to require the protective assistance services of the agency; performs other duties as assigned.

Duties

45% Provides services to older adults (age 60 & over) by maintaining a caseload of exploitation, self-neglect, neglect, and abuse cases; assesses the validity of complaints accepted according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) rules and agency policies of abuse, neglect, and dependency; conducts interviews of at-risk adults and other associated individuals at various locations; completes assessments in the Ohio Database for Adult Protective Services (ODAPS); gathers evidence; works with community partners and/or collateral sources; provides interventions to alleviate crises and reduce risks to adults by engaging the adults, their family, and personal supports, community partners, and referring for service linkage; establishes service plans with individualized goals and assesses progress on a routine basis; determines alternative plans as necessary; attends and testifies at court hearings; attends and actively participates in administrative case reviews; handles difficult and emergency cases and/or situations; makes referrals within Protective Services or to community partners for additional services during and after work hours.

30% Maintains case record documentation in the ODAPS system (photos, audio/video recordings, activity logs, forms, written summaries, assessments, social history, court documents, etc) for supervisory approvals and agency records retention.

15% Collaborates with family members in determining and accessing necessary services; facilitates safe placement as necessary; facilitates and accesses evaluations of competency; facilitates and accesses guardianships; establishes and maintains working, collaborative relationship with community agencies and other service providers; participates as an active member of the Elder I-Team; works with physicians, hospitals, and home health providers in assuring continuity of services to older adults; works with nursing homes in planning for discharge of APS clients; maintains contact with probate court, prosecutor’s office, and law enforcement agencies; makes court appearances as needed; attends conferences and workshops; speaks to organizations or other community partners as a department representative; provides information and referrals.

10% Participates in ongoing training, supervisory/staff meetings, group decision making, and other related management support tasks; participates in weekend and after hours on call coverage on a rotating basis; assists with overflow case assignments by assessing the validity of complaints according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) rules and agency policies of abuse, neglect, and dependency; conducts interviews of adults and children at various locations; completes assessments in the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS); gathers evidence and works with community partners and/or collateral sources; provides interventions to alleviate crises and reduce risks to children by engaging the family, community partners and referring for service linkage; prepares older adult related cases for court; participates in legal action to establish legal guardianship in cases related to older adults; meets procedural deadlines governing the management of social services cases set by the State of Ohio; ensures that all documentation is complete; may serve as on-call social service worker on weekends, holidays, and after business hours).

Qualifications

Supplemental Information