Social Worker III - Adult Protective Services

Job Title

Adult Services Social Worker III
- Adult Protective Services

The Johnston County Department of Social Services has an immediate opening for an Adult Services Social Worker III
- Adult Protective Services. The Adult Services Unit of the Johnston County Department of Social Services provides services to individuals over the age of eighteen. These individuals have a wide range of needs, lifestyles and handicaps. They may be physically and/or mentally handicapped, or they may have no medical problem lt services offer the following SA-In Home/CAP Services, Adult Home Specialist, Placement Services, Protective Services, Intake, Guardianship, and Services for the Blind.

Will accept work against or trainee status if fully qualified applicants are not located.

Regular office work hours will be maintained with the expectation of working whatever hours are necessary or indicated for the necessary performance of job duties. Periodic performance of emergency on-call duties will also be required.

The primary purpose of this position is to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation for disabled adult's ages 18 and over and take whatever protective measures are required to ensure the protection of this vulnerable population. Often these adults may be abused, neglected or exploited by a caretaker or they may be neglecting themselves. Adult Protective Services is initiated without the consent of the adult and is administered without regard to income.

After a thorough investigation and evaluation of the individual's living environment and situation, a determination is made if the adult is in need of protective services or should be directed to other agency or community resources. If the adult is in need of protective services, the worker begins a complex, decision making and multi-faceted approach to correct or prevent further abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Services include, but not limited to, planning and counseling with the adult and his relatives/caretaker, assisting in arranging alternative living arrangements in the community or in an institution and arranging for medical, legal or other services as needed.

• Be able to quickly ascertain facts on accepted reports to determine within mandated time frames what if any steps are necessary to protect and ensure the safety of the alleged victim.
• Have and maintain a knowledge family dynamics, social worker assessment techniques, consultations and teaching techniques to help the adult to eliminating or addressing the problems, causing abuse or neglect or exploitation.
• Possess interviewing skills for adult of all ages, ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
• Ability to obtain appropriate background checks and information on offending and non-offending adult and caretakers and the ability to interview adults with limited mental functioning and capacity.
• Be able to function in chaotic and potentially hostile environments and be knowledgeable of appropriate legal statutes that must be used when necessary to protect victim adults.
• Ability to provide intensive in-home guidance to all adults pertinent to the achievement of the goal of maintaining the disabled adult in the least restrictive home environment and a minimal standard of care.
• Prepare reports, necessary court paperwork, and potential witnesses and testify if needed during various incompetency hearings.
• Provide and ensure compliance with ward's care coordination.

• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work and community problems.
• Thorough knowledge of a wide range of behavioral and psychosocial problems and their treatment.
• Thorough knowledge of family and group dynamics and a wide range of intervention techniques.
• Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.
• Considerable knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
• General knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program.
• Considerable knowledge of disease pathos-physiologies in order…