Adult Protective Services Case Manager 3

Human Services, Department of•Lawrenceville, GA

About The Position

The Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services, Adult Protective Services (APS), is seeking an APS Investigator-Lead Worker in Gwinnett County. The position conducts investigations of protective-service reports that meet APS criteria, assesses client risk, determines appropriate interventions, and takes action to protect clients. It also provides follow-up, consultation, and resources to help stabilize situations and prevent recurring abuse, neglect, or exploitation. When necessary as a last resort, the role initiates legal proceedings for guardianship of incapacitated adults. The employee maintains required case documentation and reports, keeps current with relevant policies, laws, trends, and developments, and performs other professional responsibilities as assigned. In addition to casework, the Lead Worker provides administrative and quality-assurance support to Regional Supervisors. Duties include consulting with staff on cases and policy questions, conducting at least three peer reviews each quarter, identifying regional training needs, mentoring and training employees, participating in interviews as needed, monitoring adherence to office practices, and alerting the District Manager to cases or situations requiring greater attention. When the Supervisor is absent, the Lead Worker organizes and prioritizes unit work, assigns tasks, approves leave in consultation with the District Manager, communicates objectives, monitors productivity, evaluates designated procedures, and helps resolve client-staff problems. The position is the unit’s primary community outreach and education liaison. It makes presentations about APS upon request, represents the unit on multidisciplinary teams and community groups, and serves as the unit liaison for the Division of Aging Services Forensic Unit’s ACT training. The role requires customer service, teamwork, respectful conduct, accountability, sound judgment, effective communication, and proficiency with Microsoft Office or similar standard office applications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and one year of related experience; or two years of experience as an Adult Protective Services Case Manager 2 (SSP171) or equivalent position.
Excellent oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and/or standard software applications used in a corporate office environment.
Ability to provide helpful, courteous, accessible, responsive, and knowledgeable service to internal and external customers.
Ability to cooperate and work as a team player across departments toward shared goals.
Ability to meet business results, quality standards, and deadlines while maintaining focus on agency and State goals.
Honesty, accountability, commitment to public duty, and ability to represent the agency credibly.
Ability to make sound judgments and develop effective, viable solutions.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience as an APS Investigator.
Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services program.
Experience working with issues affecting client populations, such as family violence, crisis intervention, substance abuse, or services to elderly or disabled people.
Valid driver’s license and consistent access to a vehicle for required work-related activities.

Responsibilities

Conduct initial investigations of protective-service reports that meet APS criteria and determine appropriate interventions within required standards of promptness.
Assess client risk and take appropriate action to ensure safety.
Provide follow-up, consultations, and resources to stabilize situations and prevent further abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Initiate legal proceedings for guardianship as a last resort to protect incapacitated adults.
Maintain required documentation and complete reports within standards of promptness.
Keep current with applicable policies, laws, trends, and developments by attending training sessions and meetings.
Consult on cases and assist staff with work-assignment problems, decisions, and policy questions or clarifications.
Conduct at least three peer reviews per quarter for quality assurance and provide input on regional training needs.
Ensure job-related instruction is provided to staff, including mentoring as needed; provide on-the-job training and mentor fellow workers.
Participate in interviews for vacant positions as needed.
Monitor workers’ adherence to office policies and practices and promptly inform the District Manager of problem cases or situations requiring higher-level attention.
In the Supervisor’s absence, plan and organize unit work; delegate and prioritize assignments according to employee skills, workloads, and coverage areas.
Approve leave for other workers in consultation with the District Manager.
Communicate organizational goals and objectives to staff and monitor assigned staff’s progress and productivity.
Evaluate programs, procedures, and processes on an interim basis as designated by the Supervisor.
Address or resolve problems between clients and staff.
Make requested presentations about APS to community groups or individuals to raise public awareness and support.
Represent the APS unit on multidisciplinary teams and other community groups, and act as unit liaison for DAS Forensic Unit’s ACT training.
Perform other professional responsibilities as assigned.