Adult Protective Services chez Sheboygan County, WI

About the Department

Sheboygan County - Health & Human Services is a proud 2025 Gold recipient of Mental Health America’s Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, awarded for our commitment to employee mental health and well-being. Learn more about the Bell Seal at mhanational.org/bestemployers.

Here is why working at Sheboygan County is for you:
It is our imperative to remain an inclusive workplace. Sheboygan County is committed to attracting, supporting, and retaining a culturally diverse workforce that represents our community. Sheboygan County Health and Human Services also strives to be a trauma informed organization which fully realizes the prevalence of trauma, recognizes the effects of trauma, and responds with trauma informed policies and practices, and we are looking for staff who will help us champion this journey.

Becoming a member of our growing team also means that YOU become our top priority. You will not only enjoy a dynamic work environment but a variety of perks including but not limited to the following:

• Generous benefits package and access to our free InHealth Clinic
• Time off: 15 vacation days, sick time and 10 paid holidays
• Other perks: Referral program, Wisconsin Retirement System, education discount and more!

What to Expect:
Essential goals of this position include, but are not limited to:
Position is held at the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Worker is responsible for providing Elder Abuse/Adult-at-Risk investigations and guardianships/protective placements. The Adult Protective Services Specialist is responsible to receive, respond to, and investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and self-neglect of seniors and adults with disability. Position has extensive contact with law-enforcement, hospitals, residential facilities, court system, and other County Departments. The goal is to link persons at risk with the least restrictive interventions consistent with their ability for self-determination.

Adult Protective Services is a unit within the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Sheboygan County Health and Human Services. Sheboygan County Adult Protective Services works with adults (18 years and older) with disabilities and elder adults (60 and older) in Sheboygan County who are at risk and/or experiencing
some form of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. The primary role and responsibility of an Adult Protective Services Specialist is to investigate and intervene in reports of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation as guided by Wisconsin State Statutes (46.90, Ch 54, and Ch 55). The goal is to link persons at risk of, or currently experiencing, abuse and neglect with protective services in the least restrictive means to promote their best possible quality of life. Adult Protective Service Specialists work with adult clients across the lifespan that present with a variety of risks to their health, safety, and well-being to determine the most appropriate course of intervention to meet their individual needs. Every action taken by Adult Protective Services must balance the duty to protect the safety of a vulnerable adult with respecting a competent adult’s right to self-determination. Adult Protective Services Specialists work closely with the court to provide legal protection of incompetent adults through a variety of court interventions including court ordered guardianships and protective placements.

Position Duties

• Direct work with vulnerable adult populations including adults with cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, degenerative brain disorders, developmental disabilities, adults with chronic mental health and/or substance abuse concerns, and other incapacities.
• Case Management and in-home assessments to vulnerable adults in the community including unannounced home visits. Ability to maintain professionalism in regards to in-home factors that may include unsanitary living environments, animals and contentious persons.
• Keep current regarding community resources and programs, inform clients of available programs and services to meet their individual needs, and encourage participation in the most appropriate activities, or ensure participation in court- mandated services. Provide necessary referrals.
• Court work, documentation, and testimony – expertise and knowledge in Wisconsin Statutes 46.90, 51, 54, and 55. Provide information to the public on guardianships and protective placements.
• Completes Comprehensive Evaluations for Protective Placement and Annual WATTS reviews to the court. This work involves time sensitive deadlines which includes completing court documents, filing court documents, explaining rights and responsibilities to proposed guardians, scheduling hearings, ensuring guardianship training is complete, locating and notifying interested parties, coordinating doctor evaluations, talking with attorneys and medical personal as well as care teams. Placements of individuals may be outside of Sheboygan County and will require the Adult Protective Services Specialist to travel to their location to complete assessments.
• Conduct Chapter 55 emergency protective placements as necessary, facilitate detainment with emergency services involving police, emergency medical
  services, hospital staff, crisis services, child protective services, family care providers, examining physicians, and corporation counsel to ensure proper care and placement. Complete appropriate court documentation, and maintain regular communication with all involved parties and case management.
• Maintain consistent communication with Assistant Corporation Counsel, probate office, and other interested parties involved in guardianships and protective
  placements. Make appropriate referrals to law enforcement and District Attorney’s office. Provide support and documentation to active investigations.
• Provide community outreach and education on topics to include: scams, guardianships and alternatives to guardianships, the referral process, elder abuse and neglect. Create and deliver presentations; social media posts; newsletter copy; flyers, posters; and in person presentations to community groups, schools, and area partners.
• Make initial contact with and receives referrals of clients with a variety of challenges which require assessment and/or intervention.  
• Conduct assessments of client needs through interviews, collateral contacts and other investigations, develop a casework plan with clients, and perform agreed- upon and necessary casework services.  
• Maintain a caseload involving clients with personal, family, or socio-economic challenges and attend to the related protection and safety needs.
• Counsel, mediate, and provide intervention and case management services, coordinating the various social, community, and other services received by the clients.
• Inform clients of available programs and services to meet their individual needs, encourage participation in the most appropriate activities, or ensure participation in court-mandated services.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, caregivers, services providers, volunteers, community agencies, court system, and the general public.
• Maintain documentation of requirements and standards, and make timely, complete entries into the electronic record and state reporting system.
• Participate in unit and department-wide meetings, discussions, training, and activities, demonstrating orientation towards professional competence and continuous quality improvement; make recommendations for and assist with service improvement when warranted.
• Provide consultation to other personnel and para-professionals within the agency and community.
• Serve as a representative of the department to interested individuals, professionals, and community groups. Provide trainings and in services as assigned.
• Serve as a member of the Sheboygan County I-Team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, or a closely related field required. Relevant prior experience with the populations to be served preferred.
• Comprehensive and working knowledge of the symptoms of degenerative brain disorders, developmental disabilities, severe and persistent mental illness, and other like incapacities.
• Considerable knowledge of financial, health, mental health, and community resources.  
• Knowledge and understanding of federal laws, state statutes 46.90, 51, 54, and 55.
• Ability to respond appropriately in a crisis situation and provide skilled intervention to clients.
• Working knowledge of computerized department program software, including electronic health record, internet access, database, spreadsheet, and word processing programs.
• Ability to effectively interact with sensitivity with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, groups, and lifestyles.
• Skill in working with involuntary clients and/or clients with complex needs.
• Ability to establish positive connections and develop relationships with clients, their natural supports, and other professionals.
• Knowledge of, and sensitivity to, social problems; cultural diversity; human growth and development; addiction; domestic violence; abuse; neglect; discrimination; disability; poverty; aging; and individual and family functioning.
• Ability to coordinate activities and functions that cross unit and departmental lines and involve other county and community agencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, superiors, community partners, and the public at large.
• Ability to relate to people and to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality. Working knowledge of confidentiality statutes and requirements including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
  Act (HIPAA) of 1996.  
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in confrontational and stressful situations.
• Ability to follow instructions to complete tasks and to work closely with the supervisor and others.
• Must have unlimited access to a car, a valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and the ability to efficiently travel in and out of county as needed.
• Knowledge of or experience with trauma-informed principles and practices is preferred.

Other Qualifications

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Frequent contact with colleagues, consumers, State and County personnel, other authorities, law enforcement, court personnel, medical professionals, community
  partners, and members of the public.
  
• May occasionally deal with aggressive or violent individuals.
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work is performed in a variety of home, community based and office settings and involves travel. Ability to lift up to 20 pounds and a combination of sitting and standing postures may be required. Ability to minimally work 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week is required. Some remote work may be available if requested.
  
• This job will involve being in community member’s homes which can include potentially dangerous people, contentious people, animals, and unsanitary environments including but not limited to human waste; animal waste; blood; mold; dust; and rotting garbage.
  
• Must be able to operate and be conversant with office equipment including phone, computer, facsimile , calculator, printer and photocopier. Familiarity and
  capacity to work with various software applications and keyboarding proficiency are essential.
  
• Risk of blood borne pathogen exposure is considered moderate.
  

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