Aging Care Manager III (Adult Protective Services - Berks Area Agency on Aging)

Aging Assessor III (Protective Services)

The Starting Rate for this position is $33.25 per hour

35 hours per week

Position Summary:

This position is an advanced care manager position. It requires knowledge of legal issues, client rights, knowledge of social service theory, medical diagnoses, and mental health. Requires the ability to review and work with subcontractors, the medical, legal, and financial professions, and to incorporate all community organizations that may impact a client's situation. This position may have responsibility for the performance of protective services and/or intensive care management case load in homes and facilities throughout the County.

Employees may be required to provide specialized casework services to clients who are at imminent risk. Employees are expected to be familiar with the protective services legislation rules, regulations, and operating procedures involved in the protective services program. This work requires that the employee document all actions and pay close attention to detail without receiving close supervision. An employee in this class is expected to appropriately maintain a caseload of vulnerable clients who may need protection from abuse, exploitation, abandonment, or self-neglect.

Coordination of medical, social, psychological, or functional evaluations of the client's condition may be part of the employee's responsibilities. Legal and statutory time frames have been established for certain aspects of this work, which provide the employee with little or no flexibility. Employees are expected to have enough knowledge of community resources to be able to include them as a factor in assessing the client's circumstances. Work in this class is distinguished from work in the Aging Assessor II class by a heavier responsibility for the consequences of error. Employee errors in judgment may place clients in dangerous or life-threatening situations. Work is performed in accordance with established regulations, policies, and procedures. Employees are expected to exercise independent judgment in achieving objectives. Work is reviewed by a supervisor through conferences, reports, and the resolution of difficult situations.

To maintain high-quality care management services, identify and meet the varied needs of Berks County Area Agency on Aging consumers. The assessor maintains the highest level of professional ethics, continually seeking opportunities for growth and development.

Position Responsibilities:

Essential Functions

• Conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances of clients who need protection from abuse, exploitation, abandonment, or self-neglect.
• Interface & testify in the court system.
• Recommend case for court intervention, including guardianships or mental health evaluation with possible commitment.
• May provide intensive care management to consumers.
• Advocate on behalf of older adults with mental health issues.
• Conduct protective service investigations within required time frames and adhere to confidentiality regulations.
• The effective management of a complex case mix and/or increased caseload.
• Assigned as a mentor to a new care manager or a care manager trainee. May assist with students or assist with special projects and serve as a senior member of a team.
• Assist in the development and coordination of protective services training for appropriate staff, community agencies, police, and the general public.
• Participate in community committees.
• Perform all care management functions. Validate the assessment of the consumer's needs in the environment. Reassess the consumer's status and review the care plan at regularly scheduled intervals.
• Work with consumer, family, or caregiver to develop a care plan, making use of supervision and consultation with other disciplines as necessary.
• Recognize, support, develop, and mobilize informal and formal resources to meet consumers' needs.
• Arrange for needed services and entitlements, working with the consumer, family members, and service providers. Follow up on service delivered in a specific amount of time, and work with the consumer and provider to ensure an appropriate match of services to specific needs.
• Manage financial and/or resource allocations, matching services to specific needs to provide the appropriate amount of service, while controlling cost.
• Complete all necessary forms for the consumer's case record, other management information, and other written reports as required. Inputs necessary data and maintains automated programs.
• Arrange case conferences with supervisory approval.
• Participate in orientation and training, in-service as assigned, and attend regularly scheduled supervisory, team, and staff meetings.
• Monitor consumer satisfaction to ensure quality of services provided.
• Interface with all Berks County Area Agency on Aging programs, Department of Human Services programs, providers, and referral sources in a professional and cooperative manner.
• Participate in ongoing problem-solving, program evaluation, and development with the team and all staff.
• Represent agency and program policies, procedures, and objectives to applicants, referral sources, providers, and the public.
• Perform on-call duties as assigned.
• Adhere to all policies, laws, regulations, and codes of ethics and confidentiality as outlined by federal and state laws, and agency policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience:

One year as an Aging Care Manager II or Aging Program Assessor; three years of experience in public or private social work, including one year of direct aging care management experience and a bachelor's degree which includes or is supplemented by 12 semester hours of college level courses in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, or other related social sciences; two years of experience in public or private social work including one year of direct aging program experience and a bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; an equivalent combination of experience and training including successful completion of 12 semester hours of college level courses in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, or other related social sciences.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations governing the protective services program
• Knowledge of client conditions that permit or require the intervention of court supervision
• Knowledge of social casework principles and methods
• Knowledge of the availability of community support services for the benefit of elderly clients
• Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and resources as they relate to older adults
• Knowledge of individual and group behavior and ways of working effectively with older adults who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems
• Skill in the development of plans to address the needs of vulnerable older adults
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, other members of the staff, outside agencies, institutions, and the general public
• Ability to plan and organize work, prepare adequate records and reports, set priorities, and maintain a caseload of clients in an effective manner
• Ability to clearly express ideas orally and in writing, and to interpret laws and regulations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in high-pressure situations
• Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of other persons and to work with older adults who are physically disabled or economically disadvantaged
• Ability to work effectively with people and aid them to grow in the constructive use of their potential in adjusting to their specific problems
• Ability to thrive in a stressful, fast-paced team environment
• Physical presence in the office is required

Physical Demands:

Work involves talking, hearing, walking, and standing for extended periods of time. The employee must be able to drive a vehicle and have the means to transport themselves between the office and destinations. The employee must be able to use their hands to handle, feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with their hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include routine and extended periods working from a computer screen and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds a distance of fifteen (15) feet or less.

Working Environment:

• A professional office environment, which will include daily use of phones, computers, and other relevant office equipment.
• This position requires meeting with consumers routinely in their homes, various living environments and in institutional placements during both traditional and non-traditional work hours.
• Given workloads and the unpredictable nature of clientele, it can lead to daily stressors.
• Environmental factors outside of the office environment could present an increased safety risk.
• Travel on an almost daily basis throughout Berks County and occasionally outside the County for training.