Jessica Fitzgerald

Receive and investigate complex allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation and mistreatment of vulnerable adult population. Prepare and document findings in clear concise manner in order to hold perpetrators accountable for their offenses. Coordinate and communicate with number of outside sources to better assist vulnerable adults in addressing their needs. Must be able to communicate with empathy and understanding while being well versed in legal aspects of any allegation. Being able to coordinate and communicate findings to courts, law enforcement, and additional state entities to ensure overall wellbeing of vulnerable population while holding those responsible for their care to high standard of conduct.

Met with residents daily to assess needs related to their long-term care or rehabilitation. Worked with nursing staff, LNA/CNAs, members of the therapy team and physicians to ensure concerns, related to the medical and social needs were addressed, and discharged residents to the community if/when appropriate. Completed treatment plans for residents and coordinated care plan meetings to ensure collaboration while ensuring residents received the best possible care. Met weekly with home health and hospice liaisons and made referrals to the services as needed. Maintained documentation regarding contacts with residents and updated care plans. • Successfully supported multiple residents and their families through the end-of-life process. • Intervened with the troubling behaviors of residents and was able to provide both support to the resident and staff for successful engagement between them. • Active and supportive participant in counseling the residents and assisting the Elderwood community in addressing needs. • Successfully engaged multiple residents with dementia who generally did not participate in activities. They were noted to become more alert and seemingly in a better mental state both emotionally and cognitively. • Received ongoing recognition from the staff regarding a client focused approach ensuring everyone's needs were met.

• Responded to and assessed reports of alleged abuse, neglect, self-neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults aged 18 and over. Provided crisis intervention and referrals for community resources, Ability to institute corrective actions when necessary. Experience in thoroughly documenting and providing sound judgment and determination to ensure thorough and fact-based disposition. Worked collaboratively with medical staff and social workers, group homes, rehabilitation centers, law enforcement and other programs as needed. Experience with varying cases from simple referral needs to most complex and well formulated exploitation and abuse cases. • Received employee of month 9/2020.

Utilized communication and rapport building to assess family needs and child safety risks through in-home and office interviews. Assessed for relevant information, composed reports containing service recommendations and ways to address family needs for children to remain in-home, Prepared court documentation recommendations regarding removal of children from their home. Worked with external stakeholders, law enforcement, and with management and employees of the Department for welfare of children. Successfully managed caseloads for clients who physically, sexually or emotionally abused their children, while showing ability to assist clients with behavioral challenges due to domestic violence and substance abuse concerns. • Able to utilize interpersonal communication skills, empathy in order to help parents engage in court process and services to reunify with her child. • Successfully assessed and recommended appropriate legal actions for numerous children in order for them to remain in the family home or in placement of relatives/foster care. • Successfully argued Department's stance on high-profile case in absence of Assistant Attorney General.

Utilized family engagement techniques to assess and manage children's safety, risks, and needs through in-home interviews. Compiled and reviewed relevant information, composed court recommendation reports related to the termination of parent’s rights and removal of children from unsafe conditions. Additional court work with Probate to make recommendations regarding guardianship. Provided testimony in conjunction with law enforcement regarding parent-child reunification requests. Worked with local police departments. Assigned to law enforcement agency as a "high risk" investigator to manage a case load of sexual assault, significant physical injury, and death of a child. Provided detailed and factual reports of interviews with disclosures of abuse, leading to arrests and convictions of parents whose actions were criminal in nature.

• Worked closely with a mother who sought to reclaim her lost parental rights, speaking with her daily until she was reunited with her daughter. She has since earned a degree and is now helping others. We were subjects of an article in the statewide newspaper highlighting department success stories.

• Resolved an ongoing issue with an uncooperative father through empathy and encouragement, resulting in his reclamation of legal guardianship over his daughters.

• Co-created a program that involved foster parents mentoring new or expecting parents about the basic life skills necessary to properly care for a child. The program was approved to receive funding.

• Received high praise of multiple Assistant Attorney Generals