Adult Services Position
A. Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:
Primary Purpose of Position - The primary purpose of the position is that of Adult
Services which includes Adult Protective Services, Guardianship, Adult Home
Specialist, Adult Placement Services, Services Intake, and payee.
The purpose of this Adult Services position is to enable adult clients in need of
services to function at their optimum level for as long as possible under
independent living conditions with their physical health, mental health, social,
economic, and daily functional needs satisfied.
The purpose of the Adult Protective Services worker is to act for the state to
protect adults and children threatened by abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
B. Primary Purpose of Position:
1. The Protective Services Adult Statute was developed to assist adults who
have disabilities which have incapacitated them so that they are unable to take
care of themselves, and who have no one able or willing to assist them with the
care they need. These adults may be abused, or neglected by a caretaker, they
may be neglecting themselves, or they may be exploited. They may be alone, or
they may have a spouse, other relative or unrelated person acting as caretaker.
They may live in private homes; residential care facilities, state institutions or
other types of living arrangements. They may be old or young, male or female,
rich or poor.
The protective service evaluation may be initiated without the consent of
the adult. In this respect, protective services differ from other services which are
provided only on request. The involuntary nature of the evaluation component of
the services, as well as the vulnerability of the population, makes consideration
of ethical issues especially important.
The APS worker's primary concern is ensuring that protective services are
provided to disabled adults who have been abused, neglected or exploited rather
than determining whether a particular abusive incident occurred or punishing the
perpetrator. Sometimes, court action is necessary to help protect those
individuals from themselves or perpetrators. Also, this is for competency issues.
The worker will receive an intake form, which addresses the concerns of the
reporter. The worker will then assess the situation for risk. The worker may
need the help of other agencies to determine the risk. The worker is required to
see the client in certain time frames, depending on how the report is screened.
15%
2. The Adult Service worker evaluates the need, eligibility, and continued
need for services provided to adults which enable these adults to function at an
optimum level as long as able under independent living conditions.
The social worker arranges for agency support in the area of: Adult
Protective Services, Guardianship, Adult Placement Services, Individual and
Family Adjustment, Health Support, Transportation, In-Home Services, and Adult
Home Specialist. The social worker also enlists the aid of other community
resources. When it appears that intervention can no longer enable the client to
remain in an independent living situation, the social worker works with the client
and family to provide a secure living situation.
Client's ages may range from emancipated minors to 100+. The
diagnoses may include, but is not limited, mental retardation, poor coping skills,
mental illness, Alzheimer's, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Substance
Abuse, head trauma, abuse, neglect, and impairment of hearing, speech and
vision. Client need include referral and consultation to find appropriate treatment
for the diagnosis considering the limited resources of the client and related
characteristics, i.e., low income, no telephone, no transportation, little or no
family support, and no skills to utilize available resources.
The referral process includes reports from relatives, friends, neighbors,
medical caregivers, law enforcement, and service providers - such as Medicaid,
AFDC, and Food Stamp workers, ADAP and Mental Health personnel and
rehabilitation, physical therapy, and occupational therapy counselors. 10%
3. Monitoring Facilities - includes looking at physical environment, food
services, drug management, fire and safety, housekeeping, personnel, and staff
of a facility i.e.: Adult Care Home. Purpose is to license, monitor, and re-license.
15%
4. Adult Home Placement - Adult Placement Services help aging or
disabled adults find appropriate living and healthcare arrangements when their
health, safety, and well-being can no longer be maintained at home. Placement
arrangements are made in adult care homes, nursing homes, other substitute
homes, residential health care settings, or institutions. 5%
5. Guardianship - purpose is to help those individuals who do not have
appropriate care givers or lack capacity to care for themselves. 25 %
6. Intake - purpose to receive calls regarding abuse, neglect, dependency
and exploitation of an adult, also take referral service inquiries. 5%
7. Payee-purpose is helping individuals to pay their bills to meet their
everyday living and expensive as they are not able and no one else is available.
10%
8. Outreach- purpose is to help individuals who are in need of services that do
not reach the level of a protective services report.10%
9. Other duties as assigned as directed by the Director, Program Manager or
Supervisor. 5%
B. Work Schedule:
This position is for a full time. The agency is open from
8:30 am till 5:00 pm. This worker is responsible to cover
On-Call for some holidays and periods of time throughout
each month. On-Call would be for emergencies and coverage
of phone calls. The agency needs coverage 24-7 for 365
days a year.
C. Change in Responsibilities or Organizational Relationship:
No changes at this time
II. A. DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: Method
Used:
See above
II. B. OTHER POSITION CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Accuracy Required in Work: The accuracy of the work is critical. Errors can
jeopardize the outcome of court decisions. An error in judgment can leave the
abused client at even greater risk. The accounting of time and expenses must
balance without error.
2. Consequence of Error: The consequences could be life or death related.
Error is based on judgments and can be very critical for determining services and
needs.
3. Instructions Provided to Employee: Instructions come from a variety of
resources. This worker will be working with another worker and has access to
State trainings, Supervisor consultations and will be provided manuals and
additional resources as needed.
4. Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used by Employee: Guides,
References, and Technical Advice Used - The manuals provided by the
Department of Social Services, and a copy of the North Carolina statutes are the
primary references. The handbook provided previous adult services courses as
well as books provided in that course are also used. Manual distributed in adult
and child protective service workshops is kept for reference. In addition, this
agency maintains a small library of books dealing with various aspects of social
work and specific services, to which the worker has access.
5. Supervision Received by Employee: Supervision is provided by the Program
Manager and lead worker for the Adult unit. The regional representative will also
give guidance as well as any State representative through trainings.
6. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts: This position works in the field in
client’s homes and facilities if that is where they reside. The worker is responsible
for having face to face contact and to speak to collaterals to access in the
determination of the risk to the client.
7. Physical Effort: The physical effort required in the work is usually moderate.
In a few cases, the client has had to be located by means of search by foot and
physical restraint used on the client when located. Endurance is the greatest
strain with one situation demanding a 24-hour, non-stop intervention. Regular
off-the-job exercise is necessary to overcome the negative physical results of a
desk job.
8. Work Environment and Conditions: This position is housed in the Family
Services building. The conditions are and environment of the building are
limited.
9. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment, and Materials Used: Equipment
used includes the agency vehicle, dictation machine, copiers, telephones,
electronic pagers, recording equipment, cameras, fax machine, beeper, lap top
computer and personal computer.
10. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration, and Manipulative Skills: Close visual
attention is required especially during interview with abused clients and
perpetrators. Visual clues often reveal necessary information. Driving to and
from the agency on calls requires close visual attention. Reading and writing
case reports does require close visual attention but is not of such duration as to
cause physical harm.
Mental concentration is most intense when interviewing victims and perpetrators.
When observations by the interviewer may result in dramatic changes for an
individual's entire life, the pressure to be accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive
is great. Individual interviews of this nature last up to two hours. If multiple
interviews are required, the investigation can last long into the evening.
11. Safety for Others: Safety for self and others is most important. If there is a
need for or concern for safety issues then the worker will be allowed to take
another worker or seek the assistance of the Sheriffs Department.
12. Dynamics of Work: To fulfill Adult protective services and to serve as a
liaison between community and clients.
III. KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
Required Minimum Training:
1. Master's degree from an accredited school of social work; or graduation from a
four-year college or university, nine months of graduate training in an accredited
school of social work, and one year of social work experience; or graduation from
a four-year college or university, preferably with a major in sociology or
psychology, and two years of social work experience; or a master's degree in
guidance counseling, pastoral counseling, or related field and one additional year
of social work experience; or graduation from a four-year college or university
and two years of experience in guidance counseling, rehabilitation counseling,
pastoral counseling, or a related human service field providing experience in the
techniques of casework, group work, or community organization, supplemented
by at least one additional year of social work experience; or an equivalent
combination of education and experience.
2. Additional Training/Experience:
Additional training
assessed as worker gains experience and needs.
3. Equivalent Training and Experience:
See above.
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