Senior Client Representative - Bilingual (English/French)

The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) delivers a unique and diverse range of services that safeguard the legal and financial interests of vulnerable adults. If you are interested in providing financial guardianship services to clients who are incapable of making decisions regarding personal finances, property or health, consider this rewarding opportunity with the Ministry of the Attorney General.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.
We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

You will:
• research all aspects of client's financial, business and legal affairs in order to identify and protect client's assets and identify liabilities
• visit clients and assess circumstances and needs relevant to OPGT's area of authority, which can include exposure to unsanitary conditions and unsafe neighbourhoods, anger, hostility and verbal abuse from clients and family members, and occasional exposure to bacteria/viral
• investigate sale of client's assets at less than fair market value
• monitor complex financial portfolios to include real property and/or other investment vehicles (i.e. securities, RRSPs, RIFs, mortgages, stocks, bonds, etc)
• secure, monitor and manage extended health care benefits and special trusts
• provide testimony as an expert witness at court, inquests and examinations for discovery, tribunals and review boards
• investigate alleged property/financial risks to clients (i.e. financial abuse by relatives)
• develop budgets for clients based on assessment of current and future financial resources, personal needs/expenditures, lifestyle, prior capable wishes and needs of dependents
• monitor client's financial situation on an ongoing basis and adjust budgets to accommodate changes based on life situation (i.e. nursing and retirement homes, other care facilities)

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• You are proficient in English as well as in oral and written French at the advanced plus level. Candidates will be tested as part of the assessment process.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• you have the ability to interpret and apply relevant policies, procedures, directives and legislation to analyze individual cases in order to make decisions as a financial guardian
• you are able to acquire and apply knowledge of the health care sector to deal with health care providers, social workers, community support case managers, and administrators of supervised settings such as nursing homes, homes for special care, and psychiatric hospitals
• you have knowledge of financial management and business practices as it relates to real estate and trust management in order to manage complex property/investment portfolios such as real estate, investment properties, securities, RRSPs, RIFs, mortgages, stocks, bonds and special trusts

Organizational, Analytical and Problem Solving Skills:

• you can manage portfolios and assets, prioritize high volume caseload and balance competing priorities
• you are able to assess client's needs, identify all possible entitlements and obtain necessary information to apply for benefits
• your analytical skills allow you to review financial information that may be conflicting, inaccurate or incomplete
• you can develop alternatives and identify best course of action to protect client's financial interest such as deciding to retain, reinvest or dispose of complex financial instruments

Interpersonal, Negotiation and Counseling Skills:

• your mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills allow you to gain cooperation of clients, family members and others in implementing financial plans
• your counseling skills allow you to manage and resolve conflicts when dealing with clients who may suffer from mental illness, brain injuries, developmental disabilities
• your conflict resolution skills allow you to address differences of opinion or expectations, including de-escalating situations where clients and/or family members may be angry, confrontational, or uncooperative
• you are able to negotiate agreements with creditors and resolve potential crisis of financial or social nature on behalf of clients