Social Worker III - Adult Services

Social Worker Position

This position will service the Polk County Polk County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) divisions of social services. The agency is seeking a unique individual who has a passion for working with at-risk adults, working with a broad age range of adults, conducting outreach efforts in the community, provide social work services, and protective services for adults. The selected candidate will promote independence;

and enhance the dignity of disabled and elderly adults and their families in Polk County. These services are provided in the least intrusive and most productive manner.

We have an innovative model of service delivery that promotes a comprehensive team approach to providing quality service to our community. The selected candidate will be expected coordinate with community partners and HHSA staff on cross functional programming activities.

• GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES
  • Assessing an individual's need for guardianship
  • Locating the appropriate person(s) to serve as guardian(s)
  • Petitioning or assisting the individual's family for the adjudication of incompetence and the appointment of a guardian
  • Ongoing casework when the agency director has been appointed as guardian
• PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR ADULTS
  • Intake -- Receive and Document allegations that a disabled or elderly adult has been abused, neglected or exploited and is in need of protective services
  • Evaluation – Determine whether an adult is disabled, has been abused, neglected or exploited and is in need of protective services; and assess what services are needed to prevent further mistreatment
  • Mobilize Services – Provide services to the disabled adult when a case has been substantiated
• OTHER ADULT SERVICES
  • Conducting social work intervention services which, in addition to core services listed above protect and promote the welfare of disabled and elderly adults. The primary elements of the duties and responsibilities of each service are defined by law and policy. These services include but are not limited to the following:
  • Adult Day Care
  • Adult Placement
  • Individual and Family Adjustment
  • Representative Payee
  • Special Assistance In-Home
  • In-Home Aide
• Adult Home Specialist
  • The primary elements of the duties and responsibilities of the Adult Home Specialist are defined by law and policy and include but are not limited to the following:
  • Assist potential adult care homeowners with the Initial Licensure Process
  • Monitor and Assess licensed adult care facilities
  • Evaluate Incident Reports
  • Conduct Complaint Investigations
  • Complete Corrective Action Process
  • Initiate Negative Licensure Action & Administrative Penalties
  • Investigate Unlicensed Facilities
• Other duties will be assigned and may include but not be limited to participation in community outreach and educational efforts and as a member of various agency work groups.
• All Polk County HHSA may be called upon to perform work during emergency or disaster situations including but not limited to staffing shelters overnight. This service, if required, will take precedence over duties described in this position description.

• Good work ethic
• High level of initiative to learn job responsibilities
• Flexibility within established schedules
• Ability to function in highly stressful circumstances
• Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism and to conduct business in an ethical manner at all times
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrative superiors, co-workers, and with community, social and religious organizations by utilizing the Six Principles of Partnership
• Basic workable understanding of social work theory, techniques and practices, individual and group behavior, social problems, medical and mental illness, family dynamics, coping behavior, crisis intervention, and treatment of various medical and mental diseases and social issues.
• Social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children
• Laws, policies and procedures affecting the provision of Adult Protective Services, Guardianship Services, Adult Home Monitoring Services…