Under administrative direction,
plans, organizes, staffs, directs and controls the county’s Conservatorship,
Guardianship, and Substitute Payee programs; oversees and administers
court-authorized personal case management and/or financial management as
required under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, probate code, and other related legislation/laws/regulations;
coordinates program activities with other agencies as needed; and does related
or other work as required.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This single position, at-will class is assigned
to the San Joaquin County Department of Health Care Services and is exempt from
the San Joaquin County Civil Service System.
The incumbent has broad, senior management responsibility for leading,
managing, and administering the County’s public guardian and conservatorship
programs and assuring that mandated activities are performed in accordance with
applicable laws, regulations and codes.
The incumbent is expected to model a strong work ethic and leadership
skills, including accountability for oneself and others.
TYPICAL DUTIES
This specification is a general
guideline for the class. The statements
below are not restrictive, and the responsibilities and duties assigned to a
position in this class may expand beyond those identified in this
specification.
Plans,
organizes, staffs, directs and controls various conservatorship activities
under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act as well as guardianship and substitute
payee activities as required by probate and other codes; oversees and
administers investigative, case management, financial and other services as
required by such activities; exercises good judgment and makes sound decisions
in managing assigned areas and functions.
Through subordinate
managers and/or supervisors, oversees and directs a multi-disciplinary staff
responsible for real and personal property estate management, individual case
management, and/or case support activities; selects, assigns, trains, directs
and evaluates staff and ensures appropriate management of subordinate
personnel; monitors staff work activities and responsibilities; directs and
administers personnel matters; directs employee discipline as required; directs
and oversees staff development training.
Oversees and
directs the preparation of reports for conservatorship and guardianship
hearings in Superior Court; oversees and directs the preparation of petitions
and other required legal documents in conjunction with the County Counsel’s
Office; oversees and directs the determination of available and potential
sources of medical, social, and rehabilitative services, sources of appropriate
home and care arrangements, and the scheduling of clients for needed services.
Directs,
reviews, and approves financial transactions on behalf of conservatees and
guardianship wards; oversees and directs the purchase and disposal of real and
personal property on their behalf; develops public and private financial
resources for payment of care and incidental needs.
Acts as the
county’s official Substitute Payee for individuals who are unable to manage
their funds but who are not designated as conservatees or wards.
Acts on behalf
of the Conservatorship/Guardianship Programs as the administrative liaison with
staff in the offices of the County Counsel, Public Defender, Department of
Public Assistance, Superior Court, Public Administrator, and other public and
private agencies; may serve as the County representative in areas related to
conservatorship/guardianship; helps develop public awareness of the services
available; addresses public and private groups regarding conservatorship/
guardianship services.
Directs and
oversees the preparation of an annual financial report for each conservatee,
guardianship ward, and substitute payee, and the presentation of such report to
the Superior Court.
Manages special
projects; researches and analyzes statistical information and data; evaluates
Conservatorship/Guardianship/Substitute Payee Program components and reviews
staff activities to assure efficiency as well as appropriate accountability and
responsibility; analyzes statistical data; interviews clients and/or others as
needed to verify service levels; prepares complex correspondence, reports, and
other documents; makes oral and visual presentations.
Directs the
establishment of administrative and/or operational policies and procedures to
assure appropriate and efficient provision of services; analyzes and interprets
existing and proposed federal, state, and local legislation, policies, procedures,
and other directives to determine impact on assigned operations.
Directs the
development and implementation of quality control and quality improvement
programs and initiatives; analyzes and monitors performance indicators and
ensures that assigned operations meet established standards; recommends and
implements process improvements to ensure operational effectiveness and
superior customer service.
Develops,
prepares and administers complex budgets and fiscal plans; may review and/or
write funding proposals; negotiates with contract agencies and/or individuals
for services; assists and advises contractors in Program requirements; monitors
contractors to assure that appropriate services are provided and
recommends/initiates remedial actions if necessary.
Attends
meetings and conferences, including meetings of the Board of Supervisors;
provides recommendations on matters germane to areas of assignment;
participates on committees and task forces; develops and maintains cooperative
and collaborative working relationships with federal, state, and county
officials, other counties, community groups, and the public, and may represent
Behavioral Health Services and/or Health Care Services as assigned; meets and
confers with various agents to negotiate effective solutions to difficult
problems; coordinates the provision of assigned departmental services.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Certification:
Current Certification by the California State Association of Public
Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators (CAPAPGPC).
Education:
Graduation from an accredited college or
university with a master’s degree in public or business administration,
accounting, finance, social science, psychology, or a closely related field.
Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible
management experience over financial or social case management, estate
management, and/or trust administration programs for incapacitated or
incompetent persons as part of a conservatorship/guardianship/substitute payee
program. Desirable experience will have included assessment and responsibility
for meeting clients’ needs related to medical/psychological treatment,
placement, and legal/financial matters.
Other Qualifications: The following
qualifications are also desirable and may be considered as an
alternative to some or all of the education/experience listed above: possession
of a California license as a Certified Public Accountant; possession of a law
degree from an accredited law school; or supervisory or management experience
in a healthcare, financial, or legal business environment that included
responsibility for program management, budget administration, or client case
management.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Certification:Must obtain certification issued by the
California State Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and
Public Conservators (CAPAPGPC) within four (4) years of appointment under the
standards and certification requirements set forth by the CAPAPGPC and maintain
certification while employed in the Public Guardian/Conservator’s Office per
Probate Code Sections 2923 and 1456.2.
Special
Requirement: Must
pass background processes required by County policy and/or State law.
KNOWLEDGE
The California State Mental
Health Act (Lanterman-Petris-Short Act), the Probate Code, and the Welfare and
Institutions Code as they apply to public guardianships/conservatorships;
principles and practices of public administration including supervision,
planning, analysis, and investigation; customer service principles and best
practices; basic psychological terminology; basic principles and practices of
social casework; methods of financial control and accounting; court procedures
relative to conservatorship, guardianship and substitute payee functions; principles,
practices, and methods of estate administration and management, including legal
requirements; project management; modern office technology and software
relevant to assigned operations.
ABILITY
Plan, assign, and direct
the County’s public guardianship/conservatorship programs in a cost effective
manner while ensuring excellent customer service; provide appropriate and
effective leadership, supervision and management of diverse staff teams,
including subordinate managers and supervisors; work collaboratively with
staff, other departments, and pertinent stakeholders to achieve successful
outcomes and effectively represent clients and the County in a variety of
public and private situations; exercise good judgment and make sound managerial
decisions; exercise analytical and critical thinking to evaluate complex
problems and recommend appropriate solutions; understand, interpret and apply
complex laws and regulations pertaining to assigned operations; analyze and
implement program mandates that comply with federal, state, or other types of
regulatory requirements; formulate and present short and long-range plans; establish
and maintain accurate financial and casework records; prepare accurate and
detailed narrative and statistical reports; develop methods of financial
control and verification; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
establish and maintain effective working relationships with others including
the general public, Behavioral Health and Health Care Services staff, advocacy
groups, and other departments and agencies, both internal and external to San
Joaquin County government; work closely with gravely disabled and/or
disoriented people; direct the provision of consultative services related to
client care; recommend the development and utilization of effective automated
systems.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Mobility – sitting for long periods; walking; occasional
standing, pushing, pulling, bending, squatting, climbing; Lifting
– frequently 5 pounds or less; occasionally 5 to 30 pounds; Visual
– constant good overall vision and reading/close-up work; frequently color
perception and use of eye/hand coordination; occasional use of depth perception
and peripheral vision; Hearing/Talking – frequent hearing of
normal speech, hearing/talking on the telephone, talking in person; Emotional/Psychological
– frequent decision making, concentration, and public contact; Special
Requirements—may require working nights and weekends; Environmental—occasional
exposure to varied weather conditions.
San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.