Guardian and Estate Administrator - Public Fiduciary

Pima County•Tucson, AZ

About The Position

The Pima County Public Fiduciary serves as the court-appointed Guardian, Conservator, or Estate Administrator (Personal Representative) to protect the legal rights and financial interest of vulnerable adults. The Public Fiduciary also administers the estates of deceased persons when there is no one else willing or able to serve per Arizona Revised Statutes. A fiduciary is someone who accepts the responsibility for taking care of the needs or property of another person for the benefit of that person and serves in a role of trust. The person served by the fiduciary places trust in the fiduciary to manage his or her affairs solely for his or her benefits and not the fiduciary’s benefit. This element of trust becomes crucial when the person receiving services is vulnerable and incapacitated. The Public Fiduciary is seeking a professional and compassionate candidate to fill the position of Guardian and Estate Administrator. The Guardian and Estate Administrator is responsible for investigating, evaluating, and overseeing the personal and financial affairs of persons or decedent estates placed under guardianship, conservatorship, or probate estate by the court. This position provides case management services including medical, entitlement benefits, personal needs, and end-of-life planning for wards; additionally, this role provides property and asset management services, ensuring comprehensive marshalling and financial planning for the protected person. For more information on the Pima County Public Defense Services Department and the offices in this department, please visit their website at: www.pima.gov/pds This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.

Requirements

Current Arizona Supreme Court Fiduciary Certification.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social or behavioral science, public or business administration, finance, accounting or a closely-related field as defined by the department head AND two years of experience in one of the previously noted fields, case management or behavioral health.
Valid driver license is at time of application.
Valid AZ driver license is at time of appointment.
Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements pursuant to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration (ACJA) Section 7-202 and A.R.S. 14-5651.
All positions require current Arizona Supreme Court Fiduciary Certification within 18 months of appointment.

Responsibilities

Responds to and screens referrals from medical, mental health, law enforcement and other community sources
Performs primary assessment of potential wards which includes gathering psycho-social history, interviewing the proposed ward, and conducting a mental status exam
Interviews, evaluates, and documents a proposed ward's relationship to family and community, to determine if an individual with statutory priority may serve as fiduciary
Works with fiduciary staff to conduct property and asset searches, access records and protect assets, and documents all activity
Initiates and maintains court reports, recording summaries and documents in preparation for potential court testimony
Researches and assesses assets, performs cost-benefit analysis, marshals assets and prepares disposition plans, manages and supervises sale or disposition of real and/or personal property, and maintains records and prepares reports and correspondence
Participates in budgeting and conservatorship planning
Manages a caseload of wards/protected persons served by the Public Fiduciary, including consenting to and coordinating care, making medical and financial decisions, final arrangements, and contracting for benefits/services on the ward's behalf
Conducts in-person visits to ensure health and welfare of wards per statutory obligations and best practice, maintains regular contact with service providers, and responds to after-hours telephone calls, text messages and emails
Prepares audits and reports, conducts assessments for social, medical and related services, and develops and implements care or management plans.