Protective Services Worker – Public Conservator

City and County of San Francisco - Human Services Agency; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Job summary

City and County of San Francisco - Human Services Agency seeks a Protective Services Worker to manage a caseload, conduct investigations, and advocate for appropriate care for conservatees under the Office of the Public Conservator. Travel is required as caseloads span City and County facilities and outside San Francisco.

The role involves collaboration with mental health teams, courts, and community agencies, along with using electronic systems for charting and communication.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work from CSWE-accredited school.
• Alternative qualifying master’s degree in counseling with supervised field placement.

Responsibilities

• Conducts investigations to determine eligibility for psychiatric care and services.
• Visits clients in jail, state hospital, inpatient units, and community settings.
• Performs crisis interventions during business or after hours.
• Completes time-sensitive court reports and may provide testimony.
• Evaluates and approves psychiatric treatment and medications in care plans.
• Assesses placement appropriateness and level of care.
• Completes placement, legal, financial, and medical forms.
• Documents cases in digital case management systems.
• Collaborates with Public Health, Police, Jail, and City Attorney’s Office.

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work

Master’s Degree in Counseling

Tools

Avatar system

Panoramic

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Under general supervision, positions in class 2940 Protective Services Worker within the Office of the Public Conservator in the Department of Aging and Adult Services provide a broad range of clinical/advocacy services to temporary/permanent conservatees and collateral contact with a multidisciplinary team. In general, an average caseload is approximately 65 clients and can be more or less depending on case intensity and program capacity.

The target population of this office is individuals who are gravely disabled, (unable to provide for food, clothing and shelter as a result of chronic mental illness and/or chronic alcoholism), as a result of major mental illness as defined by the Diagnostic Statistical Manuel (DSM). The population also includes individuals who may have involvement with the Criminal Justice System and are being held in jail and State Hospitals or other facilities designated for those who have committed, or are alleged to have committed a crime.

The Office of Conservatorship Services has an average caseload of 700, with approximately half of these individuals placed outside of San Francisco County in either locked psychiatric facilities or residential care homes. Therefore travel is required in order to meet the needs of the conservatee and our service mandate by State and County regulations. The average number of miles driven per month is 350.

The 2940 is responsible for managing an independent caseload and is assigned mental health (LPS) conservatorship investigations as well. This involves interaction with Mental Health Court, including Public Defender and District Attorney, Department of Public Health, hospitals, jails and community agencies. In addition to assessments and making recommendations for levels of care, the conservator is also responsible for advocating these recommendations, which may at time be at conflict with the interests of other stakeholders.

Basic computer skills are required to perform charting on electronic systems (Avatar and Panoramic), emailing (the bulk of inter and intra agency communication is done through e‑mail).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job class and are not intended to be an inclusive list; may include additional duties as assigned.

• Conducts investigations to determine eligibility for psychiatric care and services, including interviews and information gathered from collateral sources.
• Conducts regular in-person visits in a variety of settings including jail, state hospital, inpatient acute psychiatric units, locked psychiatric treatment centers and skilled nursing facilities as well as community settings within and outside the City and County of San Francisco.
• Conducts crisis interventions during business hours or after hours.
• Completes time sensitive court reports and provision of expert testimony witness to the Superior Court as needed.
• Evaluates and approves psychiatric treatment and medications included in clients care plans.
• Continually assesses appropriateness of placements and the least restrictive level of care.
• Completes various types of applications and forms related to placement, legal, financial, and medical issues.
• Utilizes productivity tools such as Microsoft Office Suite to complete various work duties including coordinating case conferences, presentations, and communicating with team members and other necessary service providers..
• Documents cases in a clinically significant and timely manner using applicable digital case management system.
• Works collaboratively with other city departments, including Public Health, Police, Jail, and City Attorney’s Office.

How to Qualify

1. Education: Possession of a master’s degree in Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE);

OR

A Master’s Degree from a two-year (2) counseling program from an accredited college or university. (Qualifying Master’s Degrees in counseling include Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Addiction Counseling and Counseling Psychology that included a supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum).

AND

2. Experience: Satisfactory completion of two semesters of graduate field placement which involved the provision of direct services to elders and/or dependent adults and/or adults with physical, cognitive or mental health disabilities in one of the following or closely related areas: Adult Protective Services, intensive case management such as MSSP/Linkages, medical social work in a hospital or clinic, mental health program/agency, home health agency or alcohol and drug counseling and treatment program

OR

Six (6) months post baccalaureate professional work experience which involved the provision of direct services to elders, dependents, or adults in one of the areas previously described.

AND

3. License & Certification:

• Possession of a valid California class C driver’s license and clear Motor Vehicle Record (MVR);
• Possession of a valid Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences(BBS) OR
• Current proof of registration as an Associate Social Worker (ASW) intern issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences(BBS); OR
• Possession of a valid Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences(BBS); OR
• Current proof of registration as a valid Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (MFTI) issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences(BBS); OR
• Possession of a valid Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences(BBS); OR
• Current proof of registration as a Professional Clinical Counselor Intern (PCCI) issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).

AND

Special Condition

• Twelve (12) months experience working with Mental Health Programs