Ombudsman - Long Term Care

Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA); Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) seeks a Long-Term Care Ombudsman to advocate for residents receiving long-term care, investigate complaints, and provide information and guidance to care recipients, caregivers, facility staff, and the public.

The role also recruits, trains, advises, and supervises volunteer ombudsmen, conducts community outreach, and collaborates with local and state agencies. Occasional travel within Virginia and telecommuting after probation may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Sociology, Psychology, or related field and 1–3 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience with data entry and information management.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and resolve complaints for LTC recipients and provide advocacy.
• Inform and counsel LTC recipients, caregivers, and providers; refer to agencies as needed.
• Recruit, train, advise, and supervise volunteer ombudsmen.
• Conduct community outreach and present on LTC topics.
• Document work using required systems and maintain confidentiality.
• Travel within Virginia for trainings and meetings.

Skills

Presentation Skills

Analytical Thinking

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Internal Self Control

Meeting Standards

Building Collaborative Relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Sociology, Psychology, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Zoom

Teams

Job description

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for individuals receiving long-term care, regardless of where they live. The Ombudsman investigates and helps resolve complaints, referring concerns to the appropriate oversight agencies when necessary. The position also provides information and guidance to care recipients, caregivers, facility staff, and the public, and recruits, trains, advises, and supervises volunteer ombudsmen.

Essential Functions

• Investigation and Resolution of complaints: Receive, investigate, and report on LTC recipient complaints. Provide advocacy and complaint resolution services to or on behalf of LTC recipients.
• Information and Consultation: provide information, counseling, mediation, and referrals to LTC recipients, caregivers, LTC providers, other providers, to JABA and other local and state agencies and governmental bodies.
• Volunteer Management: Support and supervise Volunteer Ombudsman by providing training, direction, and guidance in support of their work.
• Community Outreach: Includes creating and giving presentations on LTC topics Community outreach to potential partners, caregivers, and resident associations. Working independently on special projects designed to enhance services and access to services.
• Data Entry: Utilize required systems to document work as directed by manager.
• Maintaining Confidentiality: Commit to the protection of confidential information related to the agency, its operation, proprietary documents, financials, and the individuals served. Comply with data integrity and security policies.
• Professional Development: Complete 18 hours of professional development/training annually; ensure reporting staff are offered and complete professional development/training that encourages their professional and personal development.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds; ability to serve as an advocate for individuals of all ethnicities, genders, ages and backgrounds.
• Presentation Skills
• Analytical Thinking
• Internal Self Control
• Meeting Standards
• Building Collaborative Relationships

Employee works primarily in an office environment. Remote work may be permitted. This position also requires the employee to travel by automobile and be exposed to changing weather conditions. The employee works in varied business and residential environments based on program needs.

Telecommuting is permitted on the decision of supervising Director after probationary period has been completed. Employees are required to have a dedicated work area established that is separated from other living areas and provides information privacy and the ability to keep all company sensitive documents secure (if applicable).

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• This role is partially sedentary with periods of moderate activity.
• The employee travels to LTC facilities, community meeting, trainings, etc most frequently within PD10 but may travel to other areas of Virginia.
• The employee must conduct interviews with individuals who have a variety of disabilities such as hearing loss, visual impairments, and dementia. This position files physical records and utilizes a computer for documentation and communication on multiple platforms such as online databases, zoom, and Teams.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a Full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, primarily working Monday – Friday.
Travel is primarily local travel during the business day but may require travel to other areas of Virginia for trainings and meetings.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Sociology, Psychology, or other related field or related field and 1-3 year of relevant work experience is required

Computer Skills Requirement

Demonstrated proficient to intermediate user of Microsoft Office Suite and other applications such as Zoom. Experience with online data management.

EEO Statement