Associate Public Guardian

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:

Supreme Court - Agency 5

Location:

Lincoln NE

Hiring Rate:

$27.175

Job Posting:

JR2025-Associate Public Guardian (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed job is posted as open until closed):

Job Description:

The Judicial Branch is a state-funded Branch of Government that offers medical/dental/vision $20000 free basic life insurance state-matched 156% retirement plan 13 paid holidays earned paid vacation and sick leave and more.

The Administrative Office of the Courts is accepting applications for a full-time Associate Public Guardian position who will under general supervision independently perform professional staff functions as a representative of the Office of Public Guardian serving the Lincoln Office of Public Guardian Service Area. The work location is in the OPG Lincoln office. As an Associate Public Guardian the candidate will be responsible for adult individuals whose disabilities and functional capabilities hinder day-to-day management of personal affairs and/or management of financial matters. The Associate Public Guardian will also recruit substitute private guardians and provide education and information to support family and private guardians.

JOB DUTIES

Responsibilities include assisting in expediting benefits to entitled eligible individuals; conducting intake interviews and providing counseling to a caseload of clients; investigating the financial psychological family and social histories of referred individuals; arranging for client services and housing; conducting home and facility visits and inspections; assuring care and treatment best-suited to the clients interests; recommending action based on informed consent for medical surgical and hospitalization; and all other responsibilities as required by the type of guardianship identified. Will work with various private and public organizations for the purpose of developing local resources. Responsible for estate management and sound personal and financial management to ensure the most appropriate level and highest quality of care of person and property. Will prepare comprehensive personal and financial court reports maintain case records ensure clients bills are paid; attend court hearings as appropriate; and collect data and statistics as required. Ability to work from home will be required and extensive independent travel may be required.

The Judicial Branch values our employees as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity equity inclusion and belonging. We recruit hire train and promote in all job qualifications at all levels without regard to race religion sex age national origin disability marital status sexual orientation or genetics. The Judicial Branch complies with Veterans Preference Laws.

Requirements/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a focus on social work counseling psychology gerontology related behavioral science or client support business services and at least two years experience in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services which must include decision-making judgment for the benefit of others in the area of legal guidance and counseling healthcare probation and parole public administration with a focus on developmental disabilities and/or persons with disruptive behaviors. Equivalent education or experience will be considered.

All educational credits must be granted from an accredited institution approved by the U.S. Dept. of Education.

Preferred Qualifications:J.D. or Ph.D.; or Masters degree in Social Work Counseling Clinical Psychology Gerontology or related behavioral science or equivalent advanced degree which includes a supervised field placement providing social casework or counseling services to elderly vulnerable or dependent adults.

Other: No felony conviction or misdemeanor conviction involving moral turpitude. Possess a valid Motor Vehicle Operators license or alternate means of transportation. Excellent credit history; highest personal and professional references that would support a court finding of suitability to qualify for appointment as a guardian and conservator. In order to serve as Guardian/Conservator in Nebraska the individual chosen for the position is required to have an extensive background check conducted to include Credit Report Sex Offender Registry Criminal History and Abuse Neglect Registry. All areas will be reviewed during the application process and will be kept confidential.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS ABILITIES

• Outstanding analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to think logically and arrive at sound conclusions; able to project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations; exercise appropriate judgment answering questions and releasing information;

• Exceptional organizational skills including the ability to prioritize tasks and accomplish multiple projects simultaneously take prompt action to achieve objectives as well as identify issues as they arise and address them proactively;

• Working knowledge of the Office of Public Guardian goals objectives and statutory requirements;

• Ability to read understand and learn to interpret documents used in financial and estate management (e.g. contracts wills trusts insurance policies tax returns stocks bonds promissory notes and other legal documents) and in real property transactions (e.g. deeds payment records rental receipts);

• Working knowledge of medical and psychiatric terminology and the symptoms or behavior patterns of persons with dementia Alzheimers and psychiatric problems; ability to research medical issues to facilitate decisions and care plans; and insight to know when to engage second opinions and wider professional team involvement;

• Working knowledge of community systems and services and the appropriate utilization for referral and placement of minors the elderly people with mental illness and individuals with developmental disabilities;

• Basic knowledge of federal and state disability medical mental health estate management social security economic assistance and veteran laws and procedures;

• Knowledge of principles of social work sociology and psychology; crisis intervention techniques and principles; casework management methods organize and prioritize personal/estate case management tasks and assignments;

• Ability to utilize personal computer programs and word processing applications; input and retrieve data and information stored in computerized record systems; learn a variety of computer programs;

• Ability to coordinate guardianship/conservatorship case management efforts with other public and/or non-profit agencies involved in client cases and effectively interact with other professionals (lawyers social work and health care);

• Ability to prepare clear concise written communications and comprehensive office and court reports; maintain complete and accurate case information and trust/estate case records;

• Ability to communicate effectively with clients who are physically or mentally incapacitated; exercise tact and diplomacy with persons under emotional stress or with people who have cognitive disabilities are hostile or uncooperative; work effectively with persons from varied socio-economic and cultural backgrounds;

• Must be able to be flexible and work well under pressure; maintain a calm and professional performance while operating under time constraints; work independently with minimum supervision.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay benefits paid time off retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position agency and employment status. For more information on benefits please visit: Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity inclusion and belonging. We recruit hire train and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race color religion sex. age national origin disability marital status or genetics.

Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.