Master Family Service Specialist Adult Protective Services

About the role

The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) seeks a Master Family Service Specialist to join the Division of Services for Aging and Persons with Disabilities (DSAAPD). This role is designed to assist elderly adults and adults with physical/mental disabilities that are impaired, incapacitated, and vulnerable or at risk of harm to live in a safe environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments to develop and implement service plans designed to meet the personal, social, health, and financial needs of caregivers and clients.
• Interview clients and family members to gather personal, social and background information; work closely with the client and family to formulate a clear description of the client and family’s problems; identify the key forces which maintain the problems; discover resources and strengths available to the client and family to resolve the problems; and identify the blocks, if any, that prevent the client and family from resolving the problems without the intervention of the State agency.
• Determine eligibility for various social service programs offered by the agency or available in the community.
• Collaborate with the client and family to develop and implement service/treatment plans, outlining the goals and objectives to be accomplished, methods and techniques to be used, and anticipated results; help the client and family to obtain community, social and/or therapeutic services and resources needed to accomplish plans and objectives.
• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions with clients and members of the family to aid in achieving satisfactory social development and adjustment to specific problems and situations.
• Assess progress toward goals and make recommendations on plans such as reclassification, discharge, aftercare, emergency protective placement in emergency or crisis situations, guardianship, petitions or options counseling.
• Prepare social histories, client progress reports, evaluation and discharge summaries, court reports or petitions; prepare and maintain a variety of records and files pertaining to clients assigned to caseload.
• Enforce court orders and conditions of community supervision as required.
• Attend court hearings and other judicial proceedings to answer questions, make recommendations and present progress reports regarding clients.
• May be called upon to intervene in crisis situations such as potential suicides, assault and battery against clients, and sexual abuse cases. May coordinate with law enforcement and other emergency staff if needed. May be required to isolate and/or physically restrain clients who are acting out.
• May be required to perform emergency duty which requires being on call for an assigned time period.

Requirements

• Education, training, and/or experience demonstrating competence in professional health or human service work.
• One of the following:
  • Three years' experience in professional health or human service work.
  • Possession of an Associate's degree AND two years' experience in professional health or human service work.
  • Possession of a Bachelor's degree or higher.
• Experience in health or human services focusing on the safety and welfare of families such as identifying issues, barriers and goals; determining eligibility for and availability of community resources; assisting clients and their families in obtaining needed services; family conflict and crisis resolution and assessing progress towards goals.
• Two years' experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual's human service needs.

Job Requirements

• Professional health or human service work may include but is not limited to determining eligibility for and availability of community resources; assisting and connecting clients and their families to needed services; addressing family conflict and engaging crisis resolution; and evaluating progress towards goals.
• One year of experience in health or human services focusing on the safety and welfare of families such as identifying issues, barriers and goals; determining eligibility for and availability of community resources; assisting clients and their families in obtaining needed services; family conflict and crisis resolution and assessing progress towards goals.
• Two years' experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual's human service needs.

Conditions of Hire

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Valid driver's license (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package, please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/.

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training, and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties. For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content. Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. Individuals who use TDD may request auxiliary aid or service by calling (800) 232-5470 or by visiting delawarerelay.com . If you need assistance with an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or general applicant support, you may call (302) 739-5458 or email jobs@delaware.gov .

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.