Guardianship Specialist

About the role

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Guardianship Services Program (GSP) employs the Guardianship Specialist (GS) position. This role provides 24/7 service coordination and oversight for people under HHSC guardianship. The GS’s main responsibility is to continuously assess and determine whether or not guardianship is the most appropriate and least restrictive alternative necessary to ensure the health and safety of the person under guardianship.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides on-call coverage outside of regular business hours, including nights and weekends when needed.
• Affords assessments the need for guardianship; explores and/or identifies least restrictive alternatives, completes assessments timely; coordinates all aspects of a person under guardianship’s life; visits the person monthly; arranges for shelter and basic health and safety needs; provides oversight of medical and psychiatric care and arranges for education, training, rehabilitation and social services; monitors resident trust fund accounts; uses Guardianship Emergency Client Services (GECS) funds per policy; assesses continued need for guardianship.
• Effectively documents monthly status contacts and all facts and events related to the people under guardianship; develops plans of services, various correspondences and other required documentation using the agency data management system; documents all contacts with collaterals and consultations with all agency staff - i.e. Guardianship Supervisor, Regional Operations Manager, Regional Attorney, State Office staff.
• Maintains professional and effective working relationships with court staff, agency attorneys and all other legal staff; communicates with legal services in coordination, completion, and filing of all legal documents required; regularly consults with legal services to determine best course of legal action; attends court hearings and provides professional testimony.
• Manages the estate and/or financial affairs of the person under guardianship when applicable and/or as ordered by the court, and ensures all legal, financial and ethical laws and policies are followed.

Requirements

• Experience working with federal and state law, regulations, and policies.
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Must be willing and able to travel up to 75%.
• Must be able and willing to work on-call and outside of regular business hours, including nights and weekends.
• A minimum of 2 years’ professional case management experience.
• A minimum of two years’ work experience in interpretation or analysis of state or federal regulations.

Qualifications

• To provide guardianship services in Texas, employees must meet and maintain all standards set by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC) and become certified by the JBCC within the first year of employment.
• A valid driver's license appropriate for the vehicle, passenger or cargo load.

Skills

• Knowledge of federal and state law, regulations, policies, and rules relating to guardianship in the State of Texas.
• Knowledge of Texas Health and Human Services policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of community services and resources for people under guardianship.
• Skilled in working directly with, and knowledge of community services and resources.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate and work with the aging population and persons with disabilities.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, complex information to a variety of individuals or groups.
• Ability to develop professional reports and/or presentations utilizing Word, Excel, and/or PowerPoint.
• Ability to prepare legal documents under the direction of the regional attorneys.
• Ability to testify in court on behalf of agency.
• Skilled with operating a computer and other common office equipment, such as a copier, printer, fax machine, etc.
• Ability to type and upload data into an on-line computer database on a daily basis.

Benefits

The comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $4,020.33 - $6,335.66, paid monthly.

Schedule

This position operates on a day shift.

Additional Shift Telework

Eligible for Telework consistent with HHSC telework policy, which is subject to change.

Travel

Up to 75%.