Social Worker-Adult Home Services

Primary Purpose The Adult Home Specialist (AHS) position is located in the Adult Services Division and is responsible for carrying out the supervision of adult care homes.  This position assures that various types of adult care homes operate within the applicable rules, regulations and laws through an ongoing planning and monitoring process.  Activities are both consultative and supervisory with the goal of assuring safe and quality care for the residents of these homes.  Additionally, emphasis is placed on promoting operations that exceed minimum requirements.  Adult care homes monitored range from small homes with as few as two residents, such as family care homes and homes for the developmentally disabled, to large adult care homes with as many as two hundred adults, many diagnosed with multiple disabling conditions.  Included in this mix are specialty homes offering hospice care to adults diagnosed with AIDS and other long term, terminal illnesses.  The goal of this position is to foster a protective environment for frail and vulnerable adults served by the adult care home industry. This position also acts as the Adult Day Care/Health Coordinator, ADCC.  Responsibilities include certification of the Center, monitoring, provision of technical assistance, and imposition of corrective or negative action. Essential Functions The Adult Home Specialist(AHS) assures that various types of adult care homes operate within the applicable rules, regulations and laws through an ongoing planning and monitoring process with the goal of assuring safe and quality care for the residents of these homes. Responsibilities include monitoring of adult care homes and adult day care center, provision of technical assistance, issuance of corrective actions and/or recommendation for negative licensure actions. The Adult Home Specialist position is a complex positions due to dramatic changes in the characteristics of residents in adult care homes, changes in licensure rules governing health and medical care, and procedures for carrying out the supervision of homes, the depth of knowledge required to oversee and monitor adult care homes, and the complexity of the regulatory process. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community problems. Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory. Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, and resources in the community, laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program. General knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training. In certain settings, considerable knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies based on medical or psychological diagnosis. Skill in establishing rapport with a client and in applying techniques or assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client's problems. Ability to supervise, train, or instruct lower-level social workers, students, or interns in the program. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of case load and their families, as well as civic, legal, medical, social, and religious organizations. Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively. Minimum Education and Experience Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; Master's degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience; Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience  Additional Training/Experience:   Long term care or regulatory experience in human services, or experience in working with elderly and disabled individuals preferred. Additionally, as specified in G.S. 131D?2.12, the county departments of social services' adult home specialists and their supervisors shall complete: (a) Eight hours of pre basic training within 60 days of employment; (b) Thirty?two hours of basic training within six months of employment; (c) Twenty?four hours of post basic training within six months of the basic training program; (d) A minimum of eight hours of complaint investigation training within six months of employment; and (e) A minimum of 16 hours of statewide training annually by the Division of Health Service Regulation.