Description

Company name: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

Title of position: Investigator I

Position type: Full Time

Pay range: $50,400.00 - $58,344.30 varies with experience.

Location: Hybrid (after training)

THE ORGANIZATION

A private nonprofit organization founded in 1973, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is a large agency that is part of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) nationwide network. Founded as a result of the federal Older Americans Act, the AAAs are mandated to “facilitate the area-wide development and implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated system for providing long-term care in home and community-based settings, in a manner responsive to the needs and preferences of older individuals and their family caregivers.” PCA carries out this mission through advocacy, stewardship of public funding, planning, development and administration of programs, and service coordination.

The mission of PCA is to improve the quality of life for older Philadelphians and those with disabilities and assist them in achieving the greatest possible levels of health, independence, and productivity.

Benefits:

• Medical, prescription drug, vision, and dental coverage
• Flexible spending plan (health and dependent care)
• EAP, life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Pre-tax commuting, and parking benefits
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions and optional employee pre-tax contributions.
• Annual paid time off includes 13 holidays, 10 sick days, 2 personal days, and 4 weeks of vacation. (Note: vacation and personal days are front loaded and are pro-rated if date of hire is not January 1st; sick days are accrued based on hours worked).

Requirements

Description of Role: The Protective Services Investigator evaluates the medical, social, and psychological needs of older adults, investigates allegations of elder abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation, and offers services to detect, reduce, correct, or eliminate the risks associated with all types of abuse identified during investigations. 

Required Education and Experience:  A bachelor's degree in social work, behavior sciences, human services, or a related field and one and one-half years of professional human services, law enforcement, or nursing experience. OR An equivalent combination of 5 years of experience and education / training which includes six months of professional human services, law enforcement, nursing, or related experience.

Job responsibilities: 

1. Assures that records and reports are legible, timely, accurate, complete, and relevant. 

2. Participates in in-service training in protective services annually as required by the PA Department of Aging and PCA. 

3. Receives and investigates reports of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment of individuals aged 60 and above as described in the Older Adults Protective Services Law and the regulations accompanying this law. 

4. Determines if report of abuse or neglect is substantiated or unsubstantiated.

5. Assesses the need for emergency intervention including petitioning for involuntary mental health commitments, protection from abuse orders, emergency intervention and access orders, when appropriate. Testifies in court as needed.

6. Accompanies and assists police in delivery and enforcing of above-mentioned court orders. 

7. Completes investigations and develop care plans for older adults which may include family members, friends, and formal service providers.

8. Provides ongoing case management to older adults in need of protective services as defined by the Older Adult Protective Services law reassessing as required. 

9. Documents all case activity in accordance with State regulations, agency policies, and best practice. 

10. Provides financial or surrogate management as appropriate.

11. Complies with departmental performance benchmarks. 

12. Establishes and maintains relationships with public service providers, including mental health and health care providers, police district offices, and other community agencies. 

13. Coordinates care planning with other service providers and other service delivery systems. 

14. Coordinates investigations in institutions with appropriate State licensing agencies and Ombudspersons. 

15. Arranges and conducts case conferences as needed. 

16. Locates and/or mobilizes resources to meet client needs.

17. Identifies service gaps which inhibit the provision of high-quality care to vulnerable older adults. 

18. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Professional Characteristics:

• Effective time-management skills. 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Establishes rapport with PCA staff, consumers, providers, families, and outside agencies. 
• Meets agency and state compliance standards for all investigations. 
• Assists with outreach and public education. 
• Excellent customer service skills. 
• Ability to quickly acquire knowledge of resource data and willingness to continually update knowledge to keep pace with industry standards. 
• Solid critical thinking skills 
• Excellent computer skills. 

Additional Requirements:

• A valid driver's license, a good driving record and access to a fully insured car. Transport of clients. 
• Paid evenings and weekends on-call on a scheduled rotating basis. 
• Completion of Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Older Adult Protective Services training. 
• Adherence to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Confidentiality Statement.
• Adherence to all agency and departmental policies and procedures.

For information on Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, including more information on our company culture, visit our website at https://www.pcacares.org/

All applicants will receive an acknowledgement that their application has been. Those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.