County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under supervision,  Deputy Public Guardians-Conservators/Investigators are designated to act on behalf of the Public Administrator/Guardian-Conservator for Alameda County and are responsible for conducting Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS),  Probate conservatorship or Public Administrator intake and/or investigation, case management, estate management and personal and financial management services for decedents, and minor wards, elderly and dependent adults who may need to be conserved; and perform other case related duties as assigned.

 

DISTINGUISING FEATURES

 

Deputy Public Guardian-Conservator/Investigators have the responsibility to respond, intervene and evaluate referrals for decedent case administration; for conservatorship from the community and/or family involving neglect, self-neglect, abuse, financial exploitation, or undue influence of a vulnerable elder in need of management of their personal care or finances or both; and from psychiatric facilities on behalf of dependent adults who may be gravely disabled because of a mental disorder or illness and/or chronic substance abuse. They conduct thorough investigations into the life situations of persons referred to the Public Administrator/Guardian-Conservator’s Office, including evaluating personal, medical and financial affairs, living situation/arrangement, in order to assess appropriateness for conservatorship or decedent case administration; based on the outcome of the investigation, prepare a comprehensive report for the Superior Court recommending that the court grant authority over the person and/or estate, or both. Deputy Public Guardian-Conservator/Investigators do not have caseload standards.

The classification of Deputy Public Guardian-Conservator/Investigator is distinguished from the next higher class of Adult Protective Services Supervisor in the Public Administrator/Guardian Division in that incumbents in the higher class have supervisory responsibility for the activities of incumbents in the class of Deputy Public Guardian-Conservator/Investigator.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in this classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Conducts thorough investigations into the life situation and estate assets of proposed conservatees and decedents referred to the Public Administrator/Guardian-Conservator; conducts thorough searches for next of kin, assets and other relevant information necessary to prepare comprehensive written court reports, conservatorship referrals, estate administration petitions, annual Status Reports and the General Plan of Conservatorship describing the personal and financial situations of minor wards, conservatees and decedents; prepares required detailed reports relating to the collection, management and liquidation of assets of estates; reviews annual and final court accounting reports to the court on the collection and disbursement of conservatee or decedent assets.

2. Provide ongoing case management for an active caseload of conservatees under public conservatorship or decedent estate administration; supervises caseload of conservatees (Probate or L.P.S.) and/or provides counseling and case management services or guidance on personal or financial problems. Conducts regular visits with conservatees, interviewing them in their placement setting (private home, skilled nursing facility, Forensic Unit or board and care setting),checking on such things as nutrition, activities of daily living, medications, health conditions, family relationships, and quality of care received in the placement. Protects and manages conservatee finances in probate and when applicable in L.P.S. by collecting all income due (SSI, Social Security, retirement pension, special insurance income, veteran’s benefits or relative contribution), paying conservatee bills and investing conservatee assets.

3. Inventories all personal and/or real property and determine the types and value of property held to determine the estate’s financial value of wards, conservatees or decedents, in order to assess and evaluate their eligibility for various death, retirement, medical and/or public assistance monetary benefits.

4. Arranges for the most appropriate living accommodations indicated by medical advice, family member input, financial capability of the conservatee for housing costs, and placement resources; contacts and works with local, state, federal and other social services agencies (including Social Security and Veterans' Administration) for possible benefits for which the conservatee may be entitled.

5. Provides or arranges for provision of personal services for minor wards and conservatee, such as purchasing clothing, toilet articles, personal care services, household goods, assistive medical devices, transportation to and from medical and/or dental appointments, personal outings and/or visits with family.

6. Arranges for the purchase of burial insurance and makes funeral arrangements in the absence of qualified or willing persons.

7. Maintains assigned caseload; reports changes in need, income, placement status, geographic location and property of minor wards and conservatees to the Court and other designated agencies; testify in court hearings.

8. Locates and marshals personal property. Arranges for inventory, security, appraisal and sale or auction of personal property held in trust by the Public Administrator/Public Guardian-Conservator. Maintains current inventories of each estate; selects items for auctions; posts notices; collects proceeds of auctions for estates.

9. Arranges for the security, sale, rental and/or maintenance of real property; collects rents.

10. Investigates claims, bills and other liabilities against estates.

11. Enters and secures properties after break-ins; secures estimates for the repair of property; processes evictions; arranges for arrests of trespassers with the proper authorities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I  

Education:   Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Welfare, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Economics, Law, or a closely related field.    

And  

Experience:  

The equivalent of one (1) year of full-time experience in the class of Social Worker II or in an equivalent or higher level social work case management position in the Alameda County classified service.  

Or  

Two (2) years of full-time experience providing social casework services to the mentally ill, persons with disabilities, or elderly in a public or private social services organization, mental health organization, or skilled nursing facility.     

Or  

Two (2) years of full-time experience in the management of financial assets for estates or individuals, or the management of investments.  

License/Certificate:  

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license is required.  

NOTE:   The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.    

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of social work, sociology, and psychology.
• Crisis intervention techniques and principles.
• Available community resources and their appropriate utilization for referral and placement of the elderly and mentally ill.
• Investigative techniques as they pertain to the requirements of Public Guardianship/Conservatorship and Public Administration.
• Medical/mental health and estate management laws.
• Casework management methods, practices and skills.
• Basic methods of conducting a title search and credit collection.
• Basic accounting practices and procedures used in determining valuation of assets.
• Alameda County Local Rules of superior Court procedures related to Public Guardianship/Conservatorship and Public Administration.
• Relevant state regulations and codes including, the Penal, Probate, and welfare and Institutions, Health and Safety codes as they relate to Public Guardianship/Conservatorship, Public Administration, Social Security and Lanterman-Petris-Short Acts.
• Relevant Federal, State and local laws pertinent to public assistance programs.
• Departmental policies and procedures.
• Computer programs and word processing applications.

Ability to:

• Establish and coordinate conservatorship/decedent case management efforts with other public and/or non-profit agencies and effectively interact with other professionals (doctors, lawyers, Court Investigators, social workers, realtors and contractors).
• Manage a conservatee/decedent caseload in an efficient and sensitive manner; organize and prioritize estate/case management tasks and assignments.
• Protect clients’ estates through timely investigation, identification and marshalling of assets.
• Work independently at a journey level with minimum supervision.
• Communicate professionally and effectively; prepare clear, concise, written communications and comprehensive court reports.
• Maintain complete and accurate case dictation and trust/estate case records.
• Communicate effectively with individuals in emotional distress and with clients who lack the mental capacity to manage their person or estates.
• Provide accurate and effective testimony in Superior Court on specific assigned cases as required.
• Provide sound financial and estate management to ensure the most appropriate level and highest quality of care for all conservatee/decedent cases.
• Be flexible and work well under pressure in undesirable environments and on time sensitive tasks.
• Interpret and appropriately apply county, agency, and departmental policies, procedures and rules.
• Understand legal documents such as liens, documents of ownership and encumbrances.
• Physical ability to climb stairs and lift heavy/bulky objects weighing up to 30 pounds and remove them using acceptable removal techniques.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

RE:jf New Spec 6/9/2017

CSC Date: 6/21/2017

IB:jf Revision 5/17/2018

CSC Date: 7/18/18

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.