Probate Court Investigator / Adoption Assessor

Portage County Ohio•Ravenna, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Court Investigator reports to the Court Administrator and is responsible for providing services and managing relations for Guardianship / Mental Health case participants and Adoption Assessments. The Investigator collaborates with Judicial staff regarding cases in the Probate Court. This position performs investigatory or wellness visits with wards in private residences, residential facilities, and medical facilities, and visits prospective adoptive/birth parents in private residences, residential facilities, and medical facilities. The Court Investigator / Adoption Assessor serves at the pleasure of the Judge. This is a full-time position (40 hours per week).

Requirements

College Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Special Education, or related human services field.
Must be licensed in Ohio by the Counselor, Social Worker and Family Therapist Board.
Required to have a valid Ohio Driver’s License.
Must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all people with disabilities.
Must have excellent written and communication skills, have the ability to prioritize work to meet statutory deadlines, flexibility to respond to urgent case emergencies.
Proficiency in operating a personal computer and ability to learn court's case management system and Microsoft Office products, such as Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Ability to maintain utmost confidentiality.
Effective time management, reliability, dependability, and punctuality.
Professional appearance and demeanor.
Ability to interact and maintain effective working relationships with Community partners, Judge, Magistrates, staff, lawyers, and persons conducting business with the Court.
Must be 21 years of age.
Must have a valid operator’s license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation.
Must pass a criminal background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Certification as an adoption assessor is preferred, or obtained within one year.

Responsibilities

Serves notices to parties in community, local hospitals, or other facilities.
Investigates the circumstances of an alleged incompetent and communicates to the alleged incompetent the rights to which they are entitled, including the right to counsel and to attend hearings.
Investigates the need for, or circumstances of, the proposed or existing guardianship.
Conducts an annual review of all open guardianship cases to ensure compliance with statutory requirements in the Rules of Superintendence, Ohio Revised Code, and other authority.
Conducts investigatory/wellness visits with wards in private residences, residential facilities, and medical facilities in guardianship cases, conducts home studies in stepparent adoption cases (if assigned to adoption), prepares written reports for review and use by assigned magistrates and/or Judge in guardianship cases and adoption cases.
Frequent visits into private residences, which may have substandard living conditions, travel to residential facilities and medical facilities, and occasional travel within Ohio for mandatory training and education.