Public Guardian
About the role
The Office of Public Guardian seeks an independent, enthusiastic and organized person to protect and monitor the legal and human rights of individuals under court‑ordered guardianship. This position is located at the St. Albans OPG regional office and covers a caseload of individuals with developmental disabilities or age‑related cognitive impairments primarily in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties who require assistance and judgment for critical decision making in life domains such as medical, residential, legal, contractual, and financial decisions. The role involves frequent travel within those counties and may require travel to other parts of the state. Work can be stressful, with difficult interactions and potential confrontations with judges, lawyers, health‑care providers, family members, neighbors, employers, bank officials, law‑enforcement officers, investigators, and clients themselves, including the possibility of direct contact with individuals posing threats and the risk of physical assault. Some work outside normal office hours is required, including emergency calls during evenings and weekends. The successful applicant must have strong emotional self‑regulation, communication, and interpersonal skills, and experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and/or age‑related cognitive impairments is essential.
Qualifications
Preferred: Bachelor's degree or higher.
- Master's degree in social work, gerontology/aging, disabilities, psychology, or closely related field AND one (1) year or more of professional‑level experience in social work or psychology with a focus on aging and/or disability services, a health‑care related field, or similar professional role that included case management responsibilities.
- OR Bachelor's degree AND two (2) years or more of professional‑level experience in social work or psychology with a focus on aging and/or disability services, a health‑care related field, or similar professional role that included case management responsibilities.