Guardianship Specialist I

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), GuardianshipServices Program (GSP), employs the Guardianship Specialist (GS) position. This position provides 24/7 service coordination and oversight for people under HHSC guardianship. The GS’s main responsibility is to continuously assess and determine whether or not guardianship is the most appropriate and least restrictive alternative necessary to ensure the health and safety of the person under guardianship. With the support of HHSC regional guardianship attorneys, this position prepares legal documents for filing with the court, testifies in court hearings related to guardianship, and prepares documents to be used during the referral phase of the guardianship process. Once appointed as legal guardian via a court with probate authority, this position becomes responsible for all aspects of the person’s life in accordance with the limits as described within the guardianship court order. This includes making placement decisions, handling and arranging on-going medical treatment and care,facilitating educational efforts if applicable, and making life and death decisions for the person under guardianship. This position may also be responsible for handling the person’s financial affairs, including establishing bank accounts, paying bills, selling property, and establishing trusts, as appropriate. This position interacts routinely with internal and external stakeholders, which includes HHSC staff, Adult and Child Protective Services, judges and court personnel, attorneys,providers and professionals within the community, and also the general public. This position reports directly to the Guardianship Supervisor.
“This position is eligible for telework consistent with HHSC telework policy, which is subject to change. Employees may be required to work in the office one or more days a week.”
The selected candidate must have the ability to provide a reliable internet service in a home office location free from distractions and will providethe ability to ensure confidentiality of client and employee’s information.
Why Work for HHSC?
The Guardianship Services Program (GSP) with HHSC is responsible for assessing elderly individuals and individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities who have been abused, neglected,and/or exploited and referred by DFPS and serving as the legal guardianwhen the person meets HHSC criteria.
The HHSC GSP offers opportunities for professional growth and advancement through a career ladder. The career ladder provides a structured framework for advancement based on performance, skills, and experience.
The HHSC GSP is not only a qualifying organization for the Service LoanForgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments, but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. An additional benefit you will receive is 12 days of paid annual leave, 12 sick days, and the potential to earn up to four days of administrative leave each year. Annual paid leave accruals increase as your tenure increases.

Requirements

• Knowledge of federal and state law, regulations, policies, and rules relating to guardianship in the State of Texas
• Knowledge of Texas Health and Human Services policies and procedures
• Knowledge of community services and resources for people under guardianship
• Skilled in working directly with, and knowledge of community services and resources.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to communicate and work with the aging population and persons with disabilities
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, complex information to a variety of individuals or groups
• Ability to develop professional reports and/or presentations utilizing Word, Excel, and/or PowerPoint
• Ability to prepare legal documents under the direction of the regional attorneys
• Ability to testify in court on behalf of agency
• Skilled with operating a computer and other common office equipment, such as a copier, printer, fax machine, etc.
• Ability to type and upload data into an on-line computer database on a daily basis.
• To provide guardianship services in Texas, employees must meet and maintain all standards set by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC) and become certified by the JBCC within the first year of employment.
• A valid driver's license appropriate for the vehicle, passenger or cargo load. Applicants must provide proof of their driver's license.
• Experience working with federal and state law, regulations, and policies
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Must be willing and able to travel up to 75%
• Must be able and willing to work on-call and outside of regular business hours, including nights and weekends
• A minimum of 2 years’ professional case management experience
• A minimum of two years’ work experience in interpretation or analysis of state or federal regulations

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides on-call coverage outside of regular business hours, including nights and weekends when needed.
• Assesses the need for guardianship; explores and/or identifies least restrictive alternatives, completes assessments timely; coordinates all aspects of a person under guardianship’s life; visits the person monthly; arranges for shelter and basic health and safety needs; provides oversight of medical and psychiatric care and arranges for education, training, rehabilitation and social services; monitors resident trust fund accounts; uses Guardianship Emergency Client Services (GECS) funds per policy; assesses continued need for guardianship.
• Effectively documents monthly status contacts and all facts and events related to the people under guardianship; develops plans of services, various correspondences and other required documentation using the agency data management system; documents all contacts with collaterals and consultations with all agency staff - i.e. Guardianship Supervisor, Regional Operations Manager, Regional Attorney, State Office staff.
• Maintains professional and effective working relationships with court staff, agency attorneys and all other legal staff; communicates with legal services in coordination, completion, and filing of all legal documents required; regularly consults with legal services to determine best course of legal action; attends court hearings and provides professional testimony.
• Manages the estate and/or financial affairs of the person under guardianship when applicable and/or as ordered by the court, and ensures all legal, financial and ethical laws and policies are followed.

Benefits

• Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.
• The HHSC GSP is not only a qualifying organization for the Service LoanForgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments, but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. An additional benefit you will receive is 12 days of paid annual leave, 12 sick days, and the potential to earn up to four days of administrative leave each year. Annual paid leave accruals increase as your tenure increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level