Patients' Rights Advocate

Individuals who are Deaf or Disabled are encouraged to apply.   Office Location: Atascadeo, CA - Atascadero State Hospital   Salary Range (Depending on Experience):  $25.67 - $34.41 hourly   Employment Status: Regular, Exempt, Full-Time, 37.5 hours   WHO WE ARE Disability Rights California (DRC) is a statewide, non-profit legal organization dedicated to advancing the rights of Californians with disabilities to live with autonomy, dignity, and respect in a barrier-free, inclusive, and diverse world that values each individual and their voice.    California Office of Patients’ Rights (COPR) COPR is contracted by the Department of State Hospitals and working with the Department of Healthcare Services to ensure that the treatment and legal rights of people receiving mental health treatment are maintained.   PURPOSE OF THE JOB The Patients’ Rights Advocate (PRA) provides advocacy services to, and investigates complaints regarding abuse and denials of rights of, state hospital patients, provides training to both the hospital staff and residents, and represents patients at hearings on-site involving involuntary medication or at other due process hearings.   JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Essential functions are the job responsibilities an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. Patients’ Rights Advocate essential functions include: -                  Receive and investigate complaints from or concerning state hospitals regarding abuse/neglect, punitive withholding, or unreasonable denial of patients’ rights. -                  Provide direct representation for involuntary medication hearings held in-house at the State Hospitals. -                  Maintain the complaint process and services in a confidential manner.  -                  Ensure that state hospital residents are notified of their rights and provide informational presentations to residents regarding their rights. -                  Provide training and education about mental health laws and patients' rights to facility staff. Act as a consultant to hospital staff in the area of patients' rights. -                  Advocate for residents who are unable to register a complaint because of their physical or mental health condition. -                  Participate in all unit meetings, training, functions, and communications. -                  Monitor facility programs and services for compliance with patients' rights laws, regulations, and procedures as directed. -                  Participation in outreach activities to minority and underserved populations. -                  Conduct unit visits on a weekly basis. -                  Other duties as assigned.   TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Ability to travel infrequently for activities such as training, site coverage, and unit meetings, up to 10% of the time.   WORKING CONDITIONS The following describes general working conditions and requirements of the job, which can be performed with or without disability-related reasonable accommodations. Duties are performed in a two-person or shared office environment. Walking inside and outside of buildings to observe resident living environments and provide direct advocacy services. Duties regularly require include communicating with clients. Duties occasionally require periods of standing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching primarily related to processing paperwork. Weights to be lifted and/or moved of filing boxes and other packages up to 25 pounds are occasionally encountered.