What are the responsibilities and job description for the Guardian position at Office of Public Guardian?
The Office of Public Guardian (OPG) is a non-profit corporation organized under New Hampshire law. Our mission is to provide guardianship, protection, and advocacy services to legally incapacitated and vulnerable citizens. While OPG is the legally designated guardian or agent for each client, our Public Guardians carry out the daily duties and obligations of these appointments. Each guardian manages a primary caseload, which varies based on individual expertise, caseload demands, and agency requirements.
Core Responsibilities
- Advocacy & Decision-Making: Render medical, residential, and treatment decisions for incapacitated adults experiencing mental illness, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or dementia.
- Informed Consent: Provide informed consent for medical, psychiatric, and clinical treatments, and make critical decisions regarding living situations and education.
- Rights & Compliance: Practice within the strict legal boundaries of court orders to preserve client autonomy, avoiding overstepped authority unless necessary for health and safety.
- Ethical Frameworks: Abide by the National Guardianship Association (NGA) Standards of Practice and Ethical Principles. Research and seek supervisory review for complex ethical issues.
- Case Onboarding: Open new cases by gathering comprehensive social, medical, residential, psychiatric, and vocational histories to establish long-term service goals.
- Legal Collaboration: Partner with supervisors and the OPG Legal Department to identify legal issues, prepare files, file annual court reports, and provide court testimony.
- Capacity Reviews: Routinely evaluate clients for changes in capacity to determine if modification or termination of guardianship is appropriate.
- Financial Coordination: Collaborate with the fiduciary department and external treatment teams to ensure clients' financial needs are securely met.
- Operations & Travel: Participate in on-call and in-office team coverage rotations. Travel frequently across regional coverage areas to meet with clients and providers.
Required Qualifications
- Education & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree (preferred) in Social Work, Law, Healthcare, or Human Services
- Systems Knowledge: In-depth familiarity with New Hampshire’s developmental services and/or community mental health systems is strongly preferred.
- Operational Skills: Proven ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a team. Strong multitasking skills to manage a large, diverse caseload.
- Certification: Ability to pass the NGA exam to obtain National Certification within 1 year of employment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $63,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
License/Certification:
- Drivers License (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Concord, NH 03301 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Concord, NH 03301
Salary : $63,000