Adult Protective Service Worker

Office of Shared Administration•Monongalia, WV

About The Position

Adult Protective Service Workers protect vulnerable adults who are experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation, or who may be at risk of immediate danger. They connect adults and families with services during hardship and perform complex social casework and family intervention services after completing an in-house training program. The position requires evaluating risk and danger, sometimes coordinating with law enforcement. Travel is required and may include on-call work during non-traditional hours. Ongoing training and worker support services are provided, and the position is eligible for overtime pay. Workers maintain a caseload serving adults, take and evaluate customer applications, and determine eligibility for services. They maintain active cases involving Health Care Surrogate, Guardianship, Homeless, Adult Family Care, and Assisted Living. Work is assigned in Monongalia, Marion, Doddridge, Pleasants, and Ritchie counties. Applicants must have a valid West Virginia driver's license, reliable transportation, access to a phone, and strong oral and written communication skills. Detailed case records and extensive documentation are required. A background check must be successfully completed. Employees hired into this classification must obtain licensure as a Social Worker from the West Virginia Board of Social Work within a timeframe established by the appointing agency; until licensed, they may not perform duties requiring licensure under state law or Board regulation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
No prior experience required.
Valid driver's license; the special requirement specifies a valid driver's license, and the posting also requires a valid WV driver's license and reliable transportation.
Accessibility to a phone.
Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to maintain detailed case records and extensive documentation.
Successful completion of a background check.
Obtain licensure as a Social Worker from the West Virginia Board of Social Work within the timeframe established by the appointing agency; until then, duties requiring licensure may not be performed.

Responsibilities

Attend ongoing training on state and federal social welfare laws, rules, regulations, and evolving protocols concerning adult abuse and neglect.
Investigate allegations of abuse or neglect by interviewing and observing affected adults, speaking with family members and other relevant people, and reviewing pertinent records.
Assess the validity of allegations and the degree of danger, and document investigation results concerning the accused.
Complete family assessments to identify dynamics and problems that may contribute to abuse or neglect.
Develop interventions to strengthen families and address adult safety, well-being, and permanency.
Prepare safety, service, and treatment plans to address contributing problems, stop abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and seek family cooperation.
Engage families in counseling, refer them to available resources, and monitor safety and risk to prevent recurrence.
File court petitions as needed, testify in court, and arrange appropriate placements for adults, including with relatives, in residential treatment facilities, or in emergency shelters.
Evaluate progress toward plan objectives, determine whether plans need modification, and assess case disposition.
Maintain a caseload for programs and services serving adults.
Take, evaluate, and approve customer service applications and assess eligibility criteria.
Maintain active cases involving Health Care Surrogate, Guardianship, Homeless, Adult Family Care, and Assisted Living.