Aging Care Manager III (Adult Protective Services - Berks Area Agency on Aging)

Aging Assessor III (Protective Services)

• The Starting Rate for this position is $33.25 per hour
• 35 hours per week

POSITION SUMMARY:

This advanced care manager position manages protective services cases and provides intensive care management to vulnerable older adults in Berks County. Responsibilities include coordinating with medical, legal, and financial professionals and community organizations. The role requires conducting investigations into abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of older adults, maintaining a caseload of vulnerable clients, and complying with legal regulations and strict time frames. Employees must document actions, exercise independent judgment, and uphold high ethical standards while ensuring quality care management and professional development.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Investigate situations involving older adults at risk of abuse, exploitation, abandonment, or self-neglect. 
• This position is required to maintain a caseload, meet required timeframes for visitation and assessments and have a working knowledge of programmatic guidelines. 
• Participate in court proceedings, including testifying and recommending cases for intervention such as guardianship or other legal related matters. 
• Provide intensive care management to older adults as needed. 
• Advocate for older adults and assess risks to their safety and/or financial well-being. 
• Conduct comprehensive protective service investigations within established time frames, maintaining confidentiality. 
• Manage a complex caseload effectively. 
• Perform all care management functions, validate older adult needs in their environment, and reassess status at scheduled intervals. 
• Work with older adults, families, or caregivers to develop care plans, utilizing supervision and consultation as necessary. 
• Identify and mobilize informal and formal resources to meet older adult needs. 
• Arrange for services and entitlements, coordinate with older adults, families, and service providers, and ensure appropriate service delivery. 
• Mentor new care managers or trainees, participate in special projects, and serve as a senior team member. 
• Support and present protective services training for staff, agencies, police, and the public. 

Operational Functions

• Complete all necessary documentation for case records and maintain programmatic deadlines and requirements. 
• Attend staff, team and in-service meetings monthly and other trainings or meetings as required. 
• Maintain professional and cooperative relationships with agency programs, providers, and referral sources. 
• Obtain and maintain Protective Services certification as required by The Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Agency. 
• Engage in ongoing problem solving, program evaluation, and team development. 
• Represent agency and program policies, procedures and objectives to applicants, referral sources, providers, and the public.
• Perform on-call duties as assigned.
• Adhere to all policies, laws, regulations, codes of ethics, and confidentiality requirements. Perform other duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned. 

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Must have completed one year as an Aging Care Manager II or equivalent position and possess three years of experience in social work within public or private sectors, with at least one year specifically in aging services or case management. 
• Must hold a bachelor’s degree that includes or is supplemented with a minimum of 12 semester hours in college-level courses such as sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, or related social sciences. 
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Valid state-issued driver’s license. 

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to work with individuals with cognitive or mental deficits that may be related to the aging process, mental health, or developmental disabilities.           
• Ability to quickly acquire necessary knowledge and manage a high volume of clientele and documentation with attention to productivity.
• Ability to manage a variety of task simultaneously including the completion of multiple assessments on a daily basis to meet required timelines.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to adapt to situations which includes responding to high-risk situations.
• Skill in prioritizing workflow and attention to detail.
• Skill in advocating for the rights of seniors along with a high standard of professional ethics.
• Desire to work with seniors and obtain additional education/training.
• Possess advocacy skills and a sense of professional ethics.
• High level of adaptability, which includes being flexible and responding to high-risk situations.
• Ability to manage in a fast-paced environment with excellent prioritization skills. 
• Ability to thrive in a stressful, fast-paced team environment.
• Physical presence in the office is required when needed.
• Ability to handle stress.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must have a valid PA driver’s license, a good driving record, and a car available for daily use that is in good working condition and fully insured.
• Pre-employment physical – new employee.
• Drug testing – new employee.
• Criminal history clearance – new employee.
• Computer utilization skills and ability to work effectively in “Windows” environment, agency database and state assessment tools.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work involves standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.  Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds a distance of 15 feet or less.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Normal cubicles and individual office environment. This position requires individuals to be office-based and have the ability to work remotely while performing Care management functions.  While performing care management functions, workers must have access to transportation, be able to make home visits (including areas where public transportation may not be available) and attend required meetings and training courses. Evenings and weekends are occasionally required for on-call work. The position may require working in moderately noisy to loud environments, including cubicles and communal workspaces, and participating in frequent collaborative team meetings. The work environment may include a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions, changing priorities, and interactions with employees, the public, and other stakeholders. 

This position description serves as a guideline for communicating the essential functions and other information about the position to the applicant/employee. It is not intended to create a binding employment contract nor cover every detail of the position and may be changed where appropriate.