Patients Rights Advocate

Disability Rights California; Atascadero (CA); On-site; USD 53,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% Match – 401K

Health benefits

Dental and vision

Life and disability insurance

Flexible spending accounts

PSLF eligible

Vacation and holidays

Job summary

Disability Rights California (DRC) seeks a Patients’ Rights Advocate to provide onsite advocacy at the Atascadero State Hospital. You will investigate complaints, represent patients in hearings, and educate staff and residents about patients’ rights.

This full-time role requires a bachelor's degree and two years of consumer advocacy experience. Travel is limited and the position emphasizes safeguarding rights, equity, and inclusion within a challenging, secure health care setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required.
• Two years of direct life experience as a consumer advocate or similar substitute for degree.
• Working knowledge of mental health and criminal justice systems.
• Experience using Microsoft Word/Windows or similar word processing program.

Responsibilities

• Maintain onsite advocacy presence at the state hospital during normal business hours.
• Investigate complaints regarding abuse/neglect and denial of rights of state hospital residents.
• Provide direct representation for involuntary medication hearings held in-house.
• Maintain confidential complaint processes and services.

Skills

Advocacy experience

Disability rights knowledge

Spanish/ASL (Desirable)

Mental health systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Job description

Description

People with disabilities, people of color, people in all protected classes, and formerly incarcerated people are encouraged to apply. Make a difference! We fight for the rights of people who have disabilities.... JOIN US!

Equitable and Inclusive Hiring at Disability Rights California (DRC)

At Disability Rights California (DRC), we are committed to creating an equitable, accessible, and inclusive experience for all applicants. Below, we’ve outlined important details to ensure you feel fully supported throughout the hiring process.

Examples of reasonable accommodations include:

• American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
• Alternative formats for interview materials (e.g., large print, Braille, digital files)
• Interview questions are provided prior to the interview
• Extended interview time
• A quiet or distraction-free interview setting
• Adjustments to the interview format for accessibility (e.g., pinning participants,)
• Assistance with reading or note-taking during interviews

LOCATION:

Atascadero State Hospital (full-time onsite/ in-person)

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:

Non-exempt; Regular; Full-time (37.5 hrs)

SALARY RANGE: (add band and step range)

$27.47-$40.23 hr / $53,560-$78,452.40 yr (Band 6)

As part of our commitment to internal equity, salary offers are determined through a structured analysis that considers each candidate’s relevant education and years of substantially similar experience for the position. We review the candidate’s resume to assess relevant experience in relation to current employees in comparable roles. This process ensures our compensation decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with organizational equity standards.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS

• 8% Match – 401K
• Health benefits (HMO options)
• Additional Benefits: dental, vision, basic life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care and commuter). Health Reimbursement Accounts for some HMO Plans. Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Teladoc
• We offer ample vacation, Sick / Self Care time and holidays (including the last week in December)
• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - eligible employer.

INTERNAL CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY

• Regular employees
• Meet the minimum requirements of the position for which they are applying
• Employed for more than 6 months
• In good standing

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Open until filled. Applications should be received by October 9, 2026 to be considered for the first round of interviews. Resume and cover letter are reviewed and required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

WHO WE ARE

Disability Rights California (DRC) defends, advances, and strengthens the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.

DRC works for a world where all disabled people have power and are treated with dignity and respect. In this world, people with disabilities are supported, valued, included in their communities, afforded the same opportunities as people without disabilities, and make their own decisions.

DRC values all forms of human diversity. We are committed to a culture of belonging where all people are welcome. In order to be effective advocates for all people with disabilities, we must address discrimination in all its forms, including the unique challenges faced by people who experience the intersection of multiple systems of discrimination.

California Office of Patients’ Rights (COPR)

COPR is contracted by the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) and works with the Department of Health Care Services to ensure that the treatment and legal rights of people receiving mental health treatment are observed in State Hospitals.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Patients’ Rights Advocate (PRA) provides onsite advocacy services to state hospital patients. The PRA also investigates complaints regarding abuse and denials of patients’ rights, provides training to both the hospital staff and residents related to the rights of state hospital patients, and represents patients at involuntary medication or other due process hearings held at the state hospital.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential functions are the job responsibilities an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential functions of a Patients’ Rights Advocate include:

• Maintaining an onsite advocacy presence at the state hospital during regular business hours.[DW1]
• Receiving and investigating complaints regarding abuse/neglect, and punitive withholding or unreasonable denial of rights, of state hospital residents.
• Providing direct representation for involuntary medication hearings held in-house at the state hospitals.
• Maintaining the complaint process and services in a confidential manner.
• Ensuring that state hospital residents are notified of their rights and provide informational presentations to residents regarding their rights.
• Providing in-person or virtual training and education about mental health laws and patients' rights to facility staff, as well as being a consultant to state hospital staff about patients' rights.
• Advocating for state hospital residents who are unable to register a complaint because of their physical or mental health condition.
• Participating in all unit meetings, trainings, functions, and communications.
• Monitoring facility programs and services for compliance with patients' rights laws, regulations and procedures as directed.
• Demonstrate DRC’s values around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Conducting unit visits at the state hospital on a weekly basis.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

(Applicants MUST meet EACH of the minimum qualifications to be considered for an interview.)

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field. Four years of direct life experience as a mental health consumer or four years’ experience as a consumer advocate may be substituted in lieu of the Bachelor’s Degree (i.e., social work, counseling, self-help).
• Two years’ experience as a consumer advocate within the social, human service, government, or health care environment. (if using experience in lieu of Bachelor's degree, this qualification has been met)
• Working knowledge and understanding of the mental health and criminal justice systems.
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Word/Windows or comparable word processing program on a personal computer.
• Experience working with and a sensitivity to the rights of persons with disabilities.
• Experience working with and a sensitivity to persons from multi-ethnic communities.

Licenses / Certificates

This position has no licenses or certificates requirements. Applicants must be able to pass a background check with the State of California to be eligible for a DSH contractor identification badge.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

(Applicants DO NOT have to meet any of the Desirable Qualifications to be considered for an interview.)

• Experience in direct advocacy for persons with psychiatric disabilities.
• A working knowledge of the legal, civil, and service rights of persons with psychiatric disabilities in California.
• Ability to communicate in Spanish or American Sign Language (ASL).
• Experience with the mental health system as a current or former consumer/or with family member, significant other.
• Contacts with disability organizations and/or within disability communities.
• Contacts with multi-ethnic organizations and/or within multi-ethnic communities.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to travel to locations other than primary work location 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 onsite at a state hospital. Most duties are performed either in a two-person or shared office environment, or in a secure health care setting.
• Duties include moving inside and outside of buildings, including within the secured treatment area, to observe resident living environments and provide direct advocacy services.
• Duties require regular communication in-person and over online platforms.
• Duties occasionally require periods of maneuvering about the office area, primarily related to processing paperwork or performing other clerical tasks. These duties may occasionally consist of lifting and/or moving filing boxes and other packages weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Duties require compliance with applicable safety/ security protocols and health and safety requirements of the Department of State Hospitals.