Court Visitor Volunteer Job Description
Guardianship is a court-created entity that gives someone the legal right to take care of an incapacitated person and make decisions on his or her behalf. Persons under guardianships are unable to take care of themselves and to make decisions. A person's incapacity could be the result of a range of diseases and conditions including but not limited to the following: Alzheimer's disease, other forms of dementia, intellectual disability, autism, head injuries, and injuries related to strokes.
The Court Visitor's job is to monitor individuals who have been placed under guardianship and whose care is the responsibility of their legal guardians. This important monitoring function enables the Court to have first-hand information about the Wards under its supervision.
The Court Visitor should:
- meet with the Court Investigator for training
- get a case assignment
- obtain the necessary information from Court files and visit the Ward
- fill out a report indicating the status of the Ward
The Court Investigator reviews all reports to determine whether further action is necessary.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Complete initial orientation/training (group or individual training is make an appointment available and can be held at any point during the year)
- Arrange with the Court Investigator a mutually agreeable time to receive and discuss assignments
- Visit the Ward (and Guardian when appropriate) and make an assessment of the Ward's situation
- Complete and submit a case report form with your observations from the visit
- Complete assignments in a timely manner and according to Court procedures
- Maintain a record of volunteer hours
- Notify the Court Investigator in a timely manner of any problems with assignments
- Submit volunteer evaluation forms.
Qualifications
- Access to a car or other reliable transportation.
- Good listening skills, patience and tact.
- Ability to work with a wide variety of individuals, including people with significant physical and mental impairments from different racial, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to remain objective and nonjudgmental in making reports to the Court.
- Ability to keep information confidential.
- Willingness to visit people in their homes, nursing homes, group homes, the Austin State Hospital, the State Supported Living Center (formerly State School) and other care facilities.
For more information, please contact Al Benedict, Guardianship Coordinator, at (512) 854-4359 or [email protected].
