JOB TITLE: DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AGING

JOB CODE: 41170

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible professional and administrative work directing the statewide Older Adults Protective Services Program for the Department of Aging.

The employee in this job directs and coordinates all activities of the Bureau of Protective Services. Work involves developing program plans, goals, objectives, policies, guidelines, and standards to protect older adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment; identifying and implementing means to prevent and address elder abuse; designing and implementing a statewide reporting and investigative system to address the needs of older adults requiring protective services; overseeing quality assurance measures for protective services provided by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs); directing the provision of technical assistance and protective services training to the aging network and other associated professionals; and overseeing criminal history background checks for prospective employees of facilities defined in the Older Adults Protective Services Act. Work also involves serving as the advisor to department leadership on protective services policy and programmatic matters; and participating in the development of legislation that impacts the Older Adults Protective Services Program. Supervision is exercised over professional and clerical staff. Work is performed independently under the general direction of the Deputy Secretary of Aging, who reviews work through reports and conferences, to determine attainment of goals, objectives, and overall program quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Develops and implements policies, procedures, reporting methodologies, and performance measures for the Older Adults Protective Services Program.

• Analyzes and interprets federal and state legislation and regulations to evaluate and assess impacts on older adult protective services.

• Manages staff responsible for performing compliance reviews of AAA protective services programs.

• Evaluates program operations, develops recommendations for improvements or new program components, and implements changes.

• Oversees the contract vendor that provides technical assistance and statewide protective services training for the AAA.

• Directs the provision of consultative services and technical assistance to department staff and the aging network on regulations, policies, and procedural standards related to older adult protective services.

• Oversees statewide mandatory and voluntary reporting of abuse.

• Advocates for and promotes collaboration among providers, community based organizations, state agencies, the judicial system, and other support systems that can facilitate protective services for older adults.

• Oversees the effective financial management of programs, contracts, and grant agreements.

• Provides testimony to the legislature on statewide protective services issues.

• Works with the Office of the Attorney General on financial exploitation cases of older adults, Act 28 referrals, and medical assistance fraud cases.

• Advises AAA on petitioning courts for guardianship of abused, neglected, or exploited older adults.

• Oversees the hearing appeals process for individuals designated as perpetrators of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment; and determines whether to uphold the designations.

• Coordinates and speaks at conferences and events to educate, train, and inform a variety of groups on protective services.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates' work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of protective services.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of human services program planning and delivery.

• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing aging programs, older adult protective services, and guardianship.

• Knowledge of social, economic, and health issues as they relate to older adults.

• Knowledge of the range of services available to older adults.

• Ability to analyze and evaluate human services programs and practices.

• Ability to analyze and interpret policies, regulations, and legislation.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These are not used for merit system evaluation or examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.)

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of abuse case investigation.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Ability to make determinations of care for those placed under guardianship.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Six years of professional experience in the field of human services that includes two years of aging program development, design, and implementation, including or supplemented by one year of protective services program development, administration, or quality assurance;

                                                                                                                                                                          or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes two years of aging program development, design, and implementation, including or supplemented by one year of protective services program development, administration, or quality assurance.