Social Worker II

Social Worker Position

The focus of this position is enabling vulnerable persons with disabilities resulting from age, mental impairments, or physical limitations, to live independently in the community or facilitating appropriate group care placements when independent living is no longer feasible. This is accomplished through the application of advanced social work principles. Clients targeted for social work services are identified as at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation or at risk of premature or inappropriate institutionalization.

Cases are multi-problem and activities are directed toward prevention. The primary goal of this social worker, like other staff located within the Adult Services Program Area, is to promote self-sufficiency and delay institutionalization whenever possible. Funding for case management activities is provided through the Home and Community Care Block Grant, Social Services Block Grant and Medicaid. This position is part of the Adult Services Case Management Unit within the Adult Services Program Area.

This position conducts comprehensive social work assessments, establishes mutually acceptable service plans and sets and reviews realistic goals. Cases assigned are frail elderly and severely disabled adult in high-risk situations. This position also administers the Special Assistance/In-Home Program in conjunction with the Adult Medicaid Unit. This position also acts as a liaison with various other human service agencies.

• Interviews clients and family members to determine risk factors
• Observes behavior to determine family dynamics
• Identifies strengths and weaknesses in clients' support systems
• Communicates, listens, elicits expression to understand client's perception of problem
• Identifies cultural influences affecting the client and client's perception of his situation
• Evaluates client's behavior with sensitivity to the client's lifestyle
• Analyzes the socio-economic and environmental factors that affect client's situation
• Measures the functional ability of client to care for himself and obtains medical information from client's physician to determine prognosis
• Probes the significance of relationships or facts that affect the client's needs
• Analyzes client needs in relation to existing resources and program funding
• Assesses the degree to which client can take responsibility for his/her own financial affairs
• Identifies if Special Assistance In-Home (SA/IH) referrals meet the criteria in conjunction with the Adult Medicaid worker
• This position participates in a staffing along with other social workers to make a decision regarding client eligibility and to provide input regarding case situations. They also team with a nurse (subcontractor) in assessing and managing plan in applicable cases:
  In-Home Services, Care Management, etc. This worker also works as a team member in regard to SA/IH referrals with the Adult Medicaid worker for initial and ongoing eligibility determination.

• Engages client and family in process of identifying formal and informal support systems
• Formulates and reviews with client strategies of intervention
• Determines the most appropriate case management program and support services
• Opens new possibilities for increased choices by the client
• Independently develops with the client specific time-oriented goals
• Writes agreement with client that encourages and reinforces desired progress
• Engages client's family and support systems in planning process
• Maximizes potential support networks
• Determines if the duration of the intervention is short or long term and sets appropriate time frames
• Determines the need for involvement on the part of other service providers
• Identifies in the service plan of Special Assistance In Hone (SA/IH) clients where additional funding will be utilized
• Worker authorizes expenditures and monitors the financial affairs on behalf of the director regarding cases for which the agency has been appointed payee by the Social Security Administration, Veterans Office or other agency. Authorizations include rent payments, personal allowances, utility bills, insurance payments, etc. All financial authorizations require approval of immediate supervisor.

• Implements plan formulated to safeguard client's well-being
• Mediates between client and conflicting parties
• Determines when agency should intervene as payee for client's Social Security and/or SSI benefits and initiates process
• Refers appropriate cases to other agencies for…