Caseworker III - Protective Services Intake

It is the responsibility of the Intake Protective Services Worker (PSW) to provide intake for Protective Services (PS). The PSW is charged with handling incoming contacts to Protective Services by assessing a consumer's imminent risk for stated allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment or exploitation.

Completion of Reports of Need must be done in a thorough and timely fashion and in accordance with the Older Adults Protective Services Act. Once a thorough Report of Need (RON) is completed, the case is discussed with the unit supervisor to determine if an investigation is warranted. If this is to occur, the case is assigned to a worker and an investigation is conducted.

Should it become necessary, due to the number of cases and their priority, this worker will conduct Protective Services investigations. These investigations are designed to protect a consumer from imminent risk and include an assessment of need and coordination of services. At the conclusion of the case, the PSW who is charged with the responsibility of conducting an investigation will either substantiate or unsubstantiated the allegations in the Report of Need.

The worker will be expected to perform other direct service roles as agency needs dictate.

• Provides information to those contacting Protective Services.
• Receives incoming contacts related to potential PS RONs.
• Gathers information and assesses consumer situation to complete PS RONs.
• Provides precise and thorough documentation in completing RONs.
• Responds to direction from supervisor and/or administrative staff in a professional and respectful manner so that office and unit can fulfill the agency's mission.
• Contributes to a positive work environment.
• Attendance and punctuality fulfill agency needs.
• Attends trainings and maintains a working knowledge of programs and services for which consumers are eligible.
• Performs other duties, as required, to maintain office functioning. These may include all other direct service roles. When other direct service roles are performed standards and guidelines for these positions are met.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Education and Skills

One (1) year of experience in public or private social work and a bachelor's degree which includes or is supplemented by 12 college-level credit hours in sociology, social work/social welfare, psychology, gerontology or other related social sciences; OR a bachelor's degree with a social work/social welfare major; OR an equivalent combination of experience and training including successful completion of 12 college-level credit hours in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology or other related social sciences.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to sit, stand and walk for moderate periods of time. Ability to work in all weather conditions. Occasionally may be required to do Medium Level and/or Heavy Level physical work that would include reaching, walking, pushing, pulling and lifting.

They must be able to drive to various appointments throughout Montgomery County on a regular basis.

They must be able to carry a laptop to meet with consumers in order to assess their needs.

They must be able to sit for extended periods of time in order to complete extensive case record documentation. Case documentation is done via a computer.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.