Social Worker - Adult Protective Services
La Crosse County
- La Crosse, WI
- $57,283-73,652 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
The Adult Protective Services Social Worker position is in the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). This role assists clients with environmental and supportive services designed to overcome financial, personal health or family problems; conducts individual or family assessment to determine services needed; provides agency services when appropriate; and refers clients for other community services when needed. Services to clients may take the form of protective actions in their behalf or on behalf of the community. This is a full-time, salaried position working Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.Salary Range: $57,283 -$73,652We offer:
- A supportive, collaborative, inclusive, and diverse workforce.
- Ample opportunities for career learning, development, and growth.
- A culture of respect, teamwork, honesty, and integrity.
- The chance to serve your community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
- Flexibility with generous paid time-off benefits.
- The Wisconsin Retirement System
- Great health insurance
- Comprehensive dental coverage
- Life insurance with disability options
Contributes positively to an inclusive workplace.Provides social services per Wisconsin Statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of the program, state, or federal guidelines.Accepts requests and referrals for agency services.Conducts thorough assessments through interviews, home visits and collateral investigations, to determine the range of services needed by these individuals and their families for preventative, remedial or rehabilitative services.Explains the scope of the agency's services and discusses the client's rights and responsibilities in relation to the use of such services.Arranges or provides for appropriate social services for clients based on assessments of needs.Maintains case records containing pertinent, accurate and current information.Prepares correspondence, reports and other records as required.Fully completes required documentation in a timely fashion and in accordance with program requirements.Coordinates or participates in care conferences.Participates in committees and task forces as assigned.Testifies in court as necessary or required.Provides court evaluations for Chapter 55 Protective Placements/Guardianships.Investigates allegations of adult abuse and neglect.Provides mental health assessments per request by policy, family and community members, making determinations regarding criteria for possible mental health services, Chapter 51 detentions or Chapter 55 Protective Placements, and connects with consumers with community-based mental health resources.Provides training to agency and community on Chapter 51 and 55 court process.Maintains confidentiality of client-related information, maintains respectful treatment of clients, and adheres to the La Crosse County Standards of Conduct in the Administrative Code (3.13).Adheres to approved social worker principles, methods and practices, including the National Association of Social Worker's (NASW) code of ethics.Maintains skill and competence levels as policies and regulations change by attending department/staff meetings and by participating in continuing training as required and appropriate.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of the philosophy, history and development of social welfare programs.
- Knowledge of Emergency Mental Health detentions, commitment, protective placement, guardianship, and Adult Protective Services.
- Basic knowledge and understanding of human growth and behavior.
- Knowledge of current social and economic problems and the way in which these problems affect families and individuals.
- Knowledge of laws, regulations and practices pertaining to federal and state public welfare programs.
- Knowledge of resources for community welfare and health, and ways in which these resources may be used by people in need.
- Ability to work with diverse populations.
- Ability to relate to people in an unprejudiced and understanding manner with concerns for their circumstances and feelings.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
- Ability to plan and organize work to most effectively achieve program objectives.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
- Ability to participate in, and appropriately use, available supervision.
- Ability to participate meaningfully in training provided by the agency, State Department, the University of Wisconsin Extension, and other resources.
- Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work (or any related college degree such as Sociology, Psychology or Criminal Justice).
- Strong preference for minimum of one year of experience working with the same population of clients that are served by the unit in which the vacancy occurs, and familiarity with community resources available to them.
- Experience in mental health services, particularly crisis intervention and stabilization.
- Experience working with the court process of Chapter 51 detentions, commitments, Chapter 55 Protective Placements and guardianships.
- Experience investigating and making determinations related to Adult Protective Service issues.
- Requires basic computer keyboarding skills for entering data related to clients
- Must have valid driver's license and access to personal transportation, or other reliable means for city and rural travel.
- Requires certification by the State of Wisconsin as a Social Worker. If not certified at the time of application for employment with La Crosse County, must have applied to the State of Wisconsin for a Temporary or Training Certificate and obtain regular Certification within specified time limits.