Human Services Clinician II (Adult Protective Services/Adult Services)

Job Description

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

With the vision to create a just and equitable community that is healthy, safe, economically secure, and free of systemic racism, the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) is recruiting for two Human Services Clinician in the Adult Protective Services (APS)/Adult Services (AS) units to provide care coordination and supportive services to adults aged 60 years and older and adults aged 18 years and older with a permanent disability.

Adult Protective Services (APS) and Adult Services (AS) workers offer home and community-based case management to: (1) ensure the safety of vulnerable and older adults; (2) prevent inappropriate institutionalization; (3) assess and assist with appropriate institutional placements; and (4) assist individuals maximize self-sufficiency. To learn more about our services, please visit ADSD.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include:

• Conducts investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation by conducting home visits, interviewing involved parties and making dispositions;
• Maintain a caseload of clients who meet the DARS services guidelines and who need support to maintain independent living and are at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation;
• Completes face to face visits with clients within specific timeframes, coordinates home and community-based services and collaborates with others to assess risk and improve the health and safety of clients;
• Performs comprehensive assessments using the Virginia Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) to assess physical and mental health, cognitive functioning, financial situation, and formal/informal support systems;
• Completes assessments for assisted living and nursing home placements when requested or deemed the appropriate level of care;
• In collaboration with the client, develops a person-centered, trauma informed, solution focused care plans to prevent/reduce abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
• Works with multidisciplinary teams to remedy unmet needs and reduce behavior patterns of risk, crisis stabilization, and solicit family/caregiver cooperation in care planning;
• Evaluates the progress of care plan objectives outlined, modify the plan as needed, and close case when objectives are achieved;
• Completes and participates in court processes, including but not limited to guardianship/conservatorship hearings;
• Offers alternatives to living environment if necessary and when appropriate, that may include placement of the adult client in an alternative living environment or long-term care residence; and
• Ensures effective and timely documentation of all case notes and records and maintains electronic case records in compliance with applicable clinical and regulatory requirements.
  
  

The ideal candidate will be a clinically proven team player who brings a passion for working with older adults with a strength-based and person-centered approach in human services delivery.

Qualifications

Minimum:

Applicants may be hired at one of the following levels:

Full Performance

• A Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or other directly related clinical discipline;
• A clinical practicum involving diagnostic, treatment and case management services in a child welfare setting (foster care, adoption, child protective services, family preservation, permanency planning, or domestic violence) prior to graduation; and
• Two years of post-Master's degree experience providing professional clinical social work services.
  
  

Trainee

• A Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or other directly related clinical discipline; and
• A clinical practicum involving diagnostic, treatment and case management services in a child welfare setting (foster care, adoption, child protective services, family preservation, permanency planning, or domestic violence) prior to graduation.
• Depending upon qualifications, a training period will be established to last no longer than the equivalent of 24 months. At the end of the training period, the employee must meet experience, training, proficiency and certification requirements for the journey level position. Once the candidate qualifies, the one-year probationary period will begin.
  
  

Substitution: A directly related higher level clinical degree may substitute for the master’s degree education requirement and one year of professional clinical social work experience to older adults.

Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Providing services to persons with disabilities, older adults (60 ), and their families;
• Providing community based services to clients in their home and/or the community settings;
• Experience in Adult Services, APS, individuals with SMI and/or experiencing homelessness, or other case management practice;
• Collaborating with Courts and the legal system when providing services;
• Working with individuals from diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds;
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor (LMHP), or other similar licensure from Virginia or from a State which is transferrable to Virginia.
  
  

Special Requirements

Applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent on a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

A background check and State of Virginia Child Welfare and Neglect Central Registry may be conducted on all candidates who are finalists for the position. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit check and may require signing a release authorizing the County to obtain this information.

The position will require travel primarily in Arlington County.

Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

• You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).
• At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.
  
  

Additional Information

Work Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Some evening and weekend work may be required. Limited telework and remote working will be permitted in accordance with job duties.

Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the application process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.