Aging Care Manager 3 (Local Government) - Luzerne/Wyoming County Area Agency on Aging

Luzerne County•Wilkes-Barre, PA

12h

About The Position

This is a Care Manager 3 position in the Area Agency on Aging, assigned to the Protective Services Unit within the Social Services Department. The employee performs tasks required of an Aging Protective Services Investigator, including receiving and investigating reports of need, determining whether cases are substantiated, and taking action to protect older adults. The role involves coordinating with older adults, alleged perpetrators, collateral contacts, law enforcement, financial institutions, medical providers, domestic violence services, and other agencies. The employee also helps older adults access services and entitlement programs, documents case activity, completes reassessments and reports, and may testify in court. The position includes rotating coverage of protective-services phone referrals during regular business hours. Employees may volunteer for paid after-hours crisis coverage on a rotating basis. The position is full-time, permanent, union, and non-exempt. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, totaling 75 hours bi-weekly. The position is based in the Luzerne/Wyoming County Area Agency on Aging. Applicants must be Pennsylvania residents and meet the stated minimum experience and training qualifications. Candidates are also subject to the listed merit and seniority selection criteria.

Requirements

Meet the minimum experience and training qualification through one of the stated pathways: one year as an Aging Care Manager 2 or Aging Program Assessor; or one and one-half years of professional human services, law enforcement, or nursing experience and a bachelor's degree in social sciences, behavioral sciences, human services, or a closely related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes six months of professional human services, law enforcement, or nursing experience.
Be a resident of Pennsylvania.
Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations governing the protective services program.
Knowledge of client conditions that permit or require court supervision.
Knowledge of social casework principles and methods.
Knowledge of community support services available to older adults.
Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and resources as they relate to older adults.
Knowledge of individual and group behavior and effective ways of working with older adults who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems.
Skill in developing plans to address the needs of vulnerable older adults.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, outside agencies, institutions, and the general public.
Ability to plan and organize work, prepare records and reports, set priorities, and manage a caseload effectively.
Ability to express ideas clearly orally and in writing and interpret laws and regulations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality in high-pressure situations.
Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and work with older adults who are physically disabled or economically disadvantaged.
Ability to work effectively with people and help them make constructive use of their potential in adjusting to specific problems.
For the listed selection criteria, meet the minimum experience and training requirements, have meritorious service as defined in the posting, and meet the stated seniority requirement where applicable.

Responsibilities

Record Reports of Need for Protective Services and determine the category and priority of need.
Investigate allegations and categories of abuse within regulatory time frames.
Conduct face-to-face visits with older adults within regulatory time frames.
Interview relevant collateral contacts, including alleged perpetrators, and collect necessary evidence and documents.
Coordinate with other agencies and entities, including law enforcement, financial institutions, medical providers, domestic violence services, and social services agencies.
Determine whether cases are substantiated or unsubstantiated.
Take necessary actions to protect older adults, including arranging Aging services, ensuring medical intervention, assisting with Protection of Abuse orders or eviction notices, arranging placement, and applying for Representative Payee when appropriate.
Assist older adults with applications for entitlement programs, including LIHEAP, PACE, Medicaid (PA 600), SNAP, tax and rent rebates, and Shared Ride Transit.
Use legal intervention as necessary to gain access to an older adult or participate in proceedings to appoint a guardian of estate or person.
Testify in court when needed.
Conduct required reassessments, including a final reassessment before closing a substantiated case.
Refer cases to appropriate AAA services, including OPTIONS, Care Management, Aging Waiver, Caregiver Support Program, and Active Adult Centers.
Document case activity in the Well-Sky database.
Provide rotating phone coverage during regular business hours to receive new protective-services referrals.
Complete statistics, reports, case records, and other forms within Department of Aging time frames.
Attend required Protective Services Investigator training, including Basic Protective Services and annual PS Enrichment, as well as relevant seminars, webinars, in-services, and supervisory meetings.
Explain AAA programs and Protective Services regulations to individuals, the public, and other agencies.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.