Deputy Public Guardian-Conservator/Investigator

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. 

Applications will only be accepted on-line.

The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is comprised of 2,400 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community. Services are provided through four departments: Administration and Finance, Adult and Aging Services, Children and Family Services, and Workforce and Benefits Administration. To learn more about the Alameda County Social Services Agency, please visit the website at https://www.alamedasocialservices.org/.

 THE POSITION

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.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for this position possesses the following:

·    Ability to demonstrate diplomacy by approaching others about sensitive issues in a professional manner.

·     Integrity and social responsibility, ensuring all conservatees receive the most appropriate level and highest quality of care.

·     Excellent oral and written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to prepare written reports and records in a clear, concise manner.

·    Outstanding analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to think logically and arrive at sound conclusions.

·    Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and complete multiple time sensitive tasks.

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.    

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

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.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps:

1) A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

The County will inform applicants, via email and with reasonable notice in advance, of any examination process that will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on operational needs.

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
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• 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.

 

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, @acgov.org, Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email boxes Noreply@jobaps.com and noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org are routed to unmonitored mailboxes. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 

Montrice Goodman | Human Resources Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 208-3954 | Montrice.Goodman2@acgov.org

www.acgov.org/hrs

 

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.