Job Specification

Purpose :

- To act as financial guardian for the property and finances of an assigned caseload of clients who have been deemed incapable of handling their own financial affairs and whose cases have been assessed as routine (i.e. low- risk clients whose circumstances do not require the management of assets such as real estate, investment properties, securities, RRSPs, RIFs, mortgages, stocks, bonds, or special trusts).

Key Responsibilities :

1. Financial Guardianship
- Controls assets held in trust for assigned clients of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) (caseload of approximately 200 routine/low risk cases); researches all aspects of client's financial, business and legal affairs in order to identify and protect client's assets and identify liabilities.
- Liaises with internal and external audit personnel to review files, investigate errors or omissions, and gather historical data. Approves or recommends retention or disposal of assets; investigates sale of client's assets at less than fair market value; provides direction to external service providers.
- Identifies potential legal issues with assistance from Regional Counsel; refers issues to Team Leader.
2. Budget Management
- Develops individual budgets for each client based on assessment of current and future financial resources, personal needs/expenditures, lifestyle, prior capable wishes, needs of dependents. Involves clients, family members, and supportive others in the decision-making process to the extent possible. Communicates budget information to clients, family members, and members of the multi-disciplinary team as required.
- Ensures that client's income cheques are re-directed to OPGT and deposited to appropriate client account; arranges for invoice payments for client expenses within delegated authority. Approves other ad-hoc expenses (e.g. gifts, vacations) within approved guidelines and delegated authority.
- Monitors client's financial situation on an ongoing basis, adjusts budgets to accommodate changes in needs or life situation (e.g. nursing and retirement homes, other care facilities).
3. Personal Care Services
- Visits clients and conducts social/life management assessments; identifies dysfunctional social or personal aspects of client's situation; assesses circumstances and needs of client relevant to OPGT's authority; liaises with administrative and professional staff and service providers to resolve problem or to obtain additional information.
- Collaborates with Treatment Decisions Consultant to facilitate provision of personal care services to clients.
Identifies friends and relatives and assesses their supportiveness and degree of desired involvement.
- Reviews private applications for guardianship, assesses suitability of applicant; participates in the evaluation of management plan and suitability of decision maker; initiates interim management as appropriate.
4. Obtain Financial Entitlements for Clients
- Maximizes clients' financial resources by identifying and securing benefits to which client is entitled; obtains necessary records and documents and applies for financial entitlements on behalf of client, e.g. CPP, OAS, EI.
- Applies for personal identification documents and foreign pension benefits as appropriate.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- OPGT policies, procedures and directives as outlined in the Policy and Procedures Manuals, Jurisdiction Manual, Close-Out Manual, Delegation of Authority Memorandum and relevant legislation (Substitute Decisions Act, Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act) to make decisions as financial guardian.
- Health care sector to facilitate dealings with health care providers and administrators of protected settings such as nursing homes, homes for special care, and psychiatric hospitals to review and discuss client requirements and circumstances, resolve issues.
- Federal, provincial and municipal government benefit programs to apply for benefit entitlements on behalf of clients.
- Financial management to control and manage assets held in trust for assigned clients, develop individual budgets based on client situation and monitor/manage client's financial situation.
- Case management, organization and planning to prioritize high volume caseload.
- Communications to explain OPGT role and work with clients, relatives, caregivers, health care professionals and write reports.
- Computer software to access data and prepare reports.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills to: deal with clients who suffer from mental illness, brain injuries, or developmental disabilities and who may have difficulty understanding OPGT's involvement in their financial affairs; respond to clients who are angry, combative and/or uncooperative, or are in a crisis situation; reach agreements with creditors who are not satisfied with the financial settlements being offered.
- Advocacy and counseling skills to gain cooperation of clients, family members and others in implementing financial plans with which they may not agree.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem solving skills to:
- Assess client needs and develop a financial plan that best meets those needs; identify and protect client interests based on research of financial, business and legal affairs; approve/recommend retention or disposal of assets; determine alternatives and best course of action to protect client's financial interest.
- Review and evaluate financial information/resources and develop individual budgets which address situation and circumstances of client; monitor budget, expenditures and client needs and adapt/revise budgets to meet new/changed requirements; address views/requests of clients and/or relatives that may be conflicting, inaccurate or incomplete.
- Interpret federal and provincial benefits legislation/policies and programs to identify clients' entitlements.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Managing budgets and financial assets of clients to best meet their needs and protect their interests, and for ensuring clients receive benefits entitlements under federal, provincial and municipal programs/policies.
Has latitude to:
- Approve financial expenditures (e.g. vacations, gifts, companion services, special duty nursing); refuse expenditures requested by clients.
- Determine sale or purchase of assets (e.g. personal items, vehicle, furniture) on behalf of clients within approved guidelines and amounts.
Decision-making is guided by OPGT Policies and Procedures, Delegation of Authority Memorandum, the Substitute Decisions Act, Health Care Consent Act, and the Mental Health Act. Decisions and recommendations are made within a multi-disciplinary team environment, with Team Leader, Area Manager, Legal Counsel, Treatment Decisions Consultant, Auditor and staff of Intake Unit available for advice and consultation. Financial decisions are made within limits of Delegation of Authority Memorandum; for transactions exceeding delegation of authority recommendations are made to Team Leader.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Clients to obtain information, explain financial decisions and discuss financial plan to the degree client is able.
Family members and supportive others to discuss financial plan, roles and responsibilities.
- Regional Counsel to seek legal opinion/advice and provide instructions.
- Treatment Decisions Consultant to provide information regarding delivery of health care to clients.
- Health care professionals to identify client's financial needs, make financial arrangements and to arrange for appropriate documentation (e.g. medical reports for benefit application).
- Provincial and federal government offices to apply for benefits, locate and redirect income entitlements and to resolve conflicts.
- Service providers to advocate on behalf of client regarding financial matters.
- Members of the public to answer questions and explain the role of the OPGT.

Guidance / Supervision :

Provides technical advice/recommendations to Team Leader on resolution of client's finances/personal care, and to identify issues.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Frequently dealing with a variety of competing demands i.e. changing requirements of clients, emergency interventions (clients in crisis) and ongoing requirements/deadlines for an approximate caseload of 200 clients.

Mental / Sensory :

Focused listening and concentration required in discussions with clients, representatives of financial institutions, health care institutions, other divisions or levels of government.

Conditions / Environment :

Frequent travel to visit clients in home (each client visited at least once a year); frequent exposure to unsanitary conditions and unsafe neighbourhoods. Frequent exposure to anger, hostility and verbal or physical abuse from some clients and family members. Occasional exposure to bacteria/viral infection in nursing homes, hospitals and group homes.