SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, investigates recommendations for the appointment of a conservator or need of a representative payee. Recommends to the court the establishment, continuation, or termination of conservatorship. Arranges for and monitors the care and treatment of persons placed under the jurisdiction of the Public Guardian. Investigates and administers the personal and financial needs of persons under conservatorship or representation payeeship. Safeguard the interests of and obtain legal services for clients. Provide 24-hour emergency response services. Perform other work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Deputy Public Guardian is distinguished from the next higher class of Public Guardian/Conservator in that the latter is responsible for planning, organizing, supervising, reviewing, and evaluating the work of the Deputy Public Guardian.

TYPICAL TASKS

Interviews the proposed conservatee, family members, friends, treating physicians, psychiatrists, law enforcement personnel, social workers, and others. Prepares detailed reports of findings and recommendations to the court, concerning family, finances, real and personal property, social history, medical and psychological conditions and the need for conservator or representative payee. Deputy Pubic Guardians work with County Counsel in the preparation of petitions, interview witnesses, assist with trial preparation, and arrange appearance of clients at court hearings and trials; arranges for the hospitalization, care treatment, vocational training, education, and housing of clients. Negotiates rent payments, investigates extent and nature of conservatee estates. Locates, inventories, and protects all real and personal assets. Initiates application for, and assures receipt of all benefits to which the client is entitled. Works with a multiplicity of agencies and individuals to arrange for the delivery of services to clients. Assists case management personnel from other agencies in visiting and monitoring progress of conservatees in local and out-of-county placements, and prepare reports of visits. Provides medically necessary ancillary assessment and case management services to Conservatees.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge:

Working Knowledge of:

Community health, welfare, social, and legal support systems, and other resources available to clients.
Interviewing and record keeping techniques, including the documentation of all actions and contacts in case files.

Some Knowledge of:

Techniques used to locate and determine client assets including real and personal property, stocks, bonds, appraisals of value and other assets.
Welfare and Institution Code, Probate Code, and other pertinent laws, codes, and regulations related to the Public Guardian function.
Social, psychological, and medical problems affecting the acutely and chronically mentally ill and medically disabled client.
Fiscal management, investment techniques, or related fields.
Supportive interventions for chronically mentally disabled individuals.

Ability to:

Communicate and relate effectively with emotionally or mentally disabled, medically disabled, and elderly persons.
Develop and maintain confidence and cooperation of emotionally or mentally disabled, medically disabled, and elderly persons, to assume responsibility for provision of their personal and financial needs, and to monitor delivery of those needs on an ongoing basis.
Conduct investigations and gather information on financial resources, real or personal property, available benefits, and community resources available to Public Guardian clients.
Administer the estates of mentally or medically disabled persons including the payment of bills, rents, taxes, and other obligations and expenses, and to establish and maintain budgets for each client.
Represent conservatees and payees in matters relating to their well-being, including hiring and monitoring in-home care givers, and setting goals and procedures for service providers and care givers.
Recognize and analyze problems, gather relevant information, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, respond to case details promptly, and communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
Prioritize and respond to demands of caseload in a prompt and efficient manner.
Be familiarized with complex codes, laws, and regulations, and apply them appropriately in management of caseload.
Establish and maintain working relationship with others, including client family members and others who may be under distress or duress.
Work effectively under pressure and deadlines imposed by law or regulation.
Locate, develop, and maintain community resources for the benefit of clients and advocate for services on behalf of clients.
Work flexible hours and respond to after hours emergencies.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Completion of 24 semester units with emphasis in business or public administration, financial management and/or investment, social work/welfare, behavioral science, or a related field.

AND

Four years of experience in estate, financial or budgetary management, estate investigation work or providing case worker service to incompetent, disabled or needy persons.

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college with a major in social work, social welfare, human services, public administration,, or business administration.

AND

Two years experience performing social casework or conservator case work.

Successful completion of a paralegal curriculum approved by the American Bar Association or Graduation from Law School.

AND

One year experience providing social casework or conservator casework.

Note: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a month-for-month basis.

Special Requirements/Conditions:

License/Bonding Requirement: Possession and maintenance of a valid California class C driver license. Ability to be bonded.
Background Investigation: Fingerprinting is required.
Special Working Conditions: In the field, possible exposure to: Silica dust such as asbestos in old homes of clients; poison oak and insects in yards of clients; infections from needles, syringes, lice, scabies, fleas, and staph infections; odors such as human and animal feces, urine-soaked beds, unwashed clients that smell of old alcohol and unwashed clothes.
Other Special Requirements: Perform tasks requiring physical strength such as moving couches, boxes of books, and other client property; lift items weighting up to 60 pounds such as television sets. Must be available to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays. May be assigned to carry a pager and respond to crisis situations.
Physically and mentally capable of performing the position's essential functions as summarized in the typical tasks.

PREVIOUS CLASS TITLES:
Bargaining Unit: 41
EEOC Job Category: 02
Occupational Grouping: 65
Workers' Compensation Code: 0290