Social Services Worker 3 (Senior And Adult Services)

Department: Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS)

Anticipated Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, some flexibility on start and end times, possibility for hybrid work schedule

Reports To: Supervisor, Social Services

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Regular or Temporary: Regular

Bargaining Unit: AFSCME 1746

Classified or Unclassified: Classified

FLSA: Non-exempt

Summary

Classification Function

The purpose of this classification is to provide social services for the senior and adult population.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a journey-level classification that provides intake, investigative, case-planning, and referral services for the senior and adult population under general supervision of a Supervisor, Social Services. This class works within a framework of established regulations, policies, and procedures, requires considerable public contact, and its essential functions have an appreciable impact upon the health, safety, and wellbeing of clients. The employee is expected to independently exercise judgement in performing work to ensure that client concerns are addressed with appropriate services in a timely, efficient, tactful, and sensitive manner. This classification is distinguished by its client population, methods, and manner of service from the DCFS Social Services Worker 3 classification, which provides social services to children, adolescents, and teenagers.

Essential Job Functions

The following duties are normal for this classification. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Conducts case intake and/or investigative activities. Receives notice of complaint by referral to the DSAS Agency, makes introductory contact, and completes initial screening protocol. Interviews the client, client family, healthcare provider, legal representative, and other relevant parties to establish and substantiate facts. Requests and reviews related evidence such as financial, legal, and medical documentation. Makes referrals for consultative review of evidence; evaluation by a qualified medical, psychological, or psychiatric provider; and/or to law enforcement and legal system. Plans and schedules follow-up activities to immediately ensure client safety and timely progress of client cases.

• Provides initial and routine case planning and referral services. Measures and assesses client capacity and competency, and appropriate supportive services. Identifies available community resources, determines client eligibility, provides guidance in enrollment or makes appropriate referral, and may help establish an ongoing case plan. Counsels the client and client family on strategies for living with chronic and terminal illness, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease; managing mental health, substance abuse, and addition diagnoses; healthy relationships and family dynamics; mitigating social isolation, generalized depression and anxiety, and PTSD; addressing short-term food and housing insecurity and financial instability; and assisting with unexpected grief, palliative, and end-of-life care.

• Makes referrals as necessary to other County staff and community organizations (e.g. Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), Ohio Department of Aging, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), County Job and Family Services (CJFS), senior centers or departments of aging, community and collaborative resource agencies, including various nonprofit organizations, legal aid, and Common Pleas or Probate Court (e.g., for protective services orders, access orders, restraining orders).

• Performs related administrative responsibilities; prepares court summaries for guardianship, civil commitments, and testimony, case notes, reports, records, correspondence, forms, and data reports; answers phone calls, represents the department at various administrative staff meetings; provides support with planning and coordinating various events and presentations; assists with development of presentation materials for events and presentations; creates and facilitates simple presentations and meetings.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

• Bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, aging/gerontology or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Knowledge of the biological and physical human aging process and social and sociological factors of aging and disability; knowledge of the lifespan development, psychology, and psychological wellbeing of seniors and adults.

• Knowledge of objectives, methods, and modalities of practice in direct service with senior and adult clients.

• Valid driver license, proof of automobile insurance, and access to a vehicle.

Additional Requirements

• No special license or certification is required.

Minimum Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions Physical Requirements

• Ability to operate a variety of automated office equipment including desktop or portable computer, multifunction printer, tablet device, mobile hotspot, and phone/smartphone.

• Ability to stand and walk for a prolonged period; ability to balance; ability to climb; ability to crawl or crouch; ability to bend and twist; ability to push and pull up to 25 pounds and lift up to 10 pounds.

Technology requirements

• Ability to operate a variety of software and databases including email software (Microsoft Outlook); spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel); word processing software (Microsoft Word); and database applications such as Ohio Database for Adult Protective Services (OPAPS), a departmental case management and documentation systems (PeerPlace, OnBase, and similar) and mobile trip-reporting software (TripLog).

Supervisory responsibilities

• No supervisory responsibilities

Mathematical ability

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percentages, and calculate routine statistics.

Language ability and interpersonal communication

• Requires the ability to perform mid-level data analysis including the ability to audit, deduce, assess, conclude, and appraise. Requires discretion in determining and referencing such to established criteria to define consequences and develop alternatives.

• Ability to comprehend a variety of informational documents including applications, court documents, financial documents, insurance documents, medical documents, case and referral documents, and various rule, procedure, and instructional documents.

• Ability to comprehend a variety of reference books and manuals including Ohio Revised Code (ORC), Ohio Administrative Code (OAC), and agency policies and procedures.

• Ability to convince and influence others, record, and deliver information, explain procedures, maintain confidentiality of restricted information, and follow instructions.

• Ability to use and interpret counseling terminology and basic legal and medical terminology.

• Ability to communicate with clients using an interpreter, special device, or system (e.g., clients who speak a language other than English, speak limited English, or are nonverbal). respond or adapt to biological, psychological, and social factors including age-related, family, gender, sexual, and spiritual identities.

• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, other County employees; clients and their families; healthcare providers; attorneys, court, and legal personnel; and the public.

Environmental adaptability

• Work is performed in an office environment and in client's homes.

• Work may involve exposure to strong odors, smoke, dust, humidity, animals, disease/bodily fluids, and noise.

Application Process

This is a competitive, classified position. The Personnel Review Commission (PRC) will check your application to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications. If you do, the PRC will invite you to take a civil service examination. The exam is specific to this position. Everyone who passes the exam goes on an eligibility list. To fill this opening, the PRC sends the hiring department and Human Resources (HR) a certified eligibility list with the top 25% candidates (or at least the ten highest scoring candidates, whichever is greater). HR helps the hiring department decide who from the certified list to follow up with for interviews and then a job offer.

Most of our communication with candidates is through email. Regularly check the email address you gave us in your job profile. Watch your Spam folder, just in case.

If we offer you a job, you must pass a drug screen and background check before the offer becomes final. Prior criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify you from employment; the County looks at criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis using the guidelines in Chapter 306 of the County Code.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Cuyahoga County is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, which includes building an environment that respects the individual, promotes innovation and offers opportunities for all employees to develop to their full potential. A diverse workforce helps the County realize its full potential. The County benefits from the creativity and innovation that results when people with different experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds work together.

The County is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, language, religion, citizenship status, sex, age, marital status, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity/expression, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, membership in a collective bargaining unit, status with regard to public assistance, or political affiliation.

If you need assistance applying or participating in any part of the candidate experience, contact Human Resources at 216-443-7190 and ask to speak with a talent acquisition team member.