Social Worker Advocate (Long Beach)

The Advocate protects the rights and dignity of residents (typically older adults) in skilled nursing and residential care facilities throughout Los Angeles County. This role strives to ensure high-quality care and life for individuals residing in these facilities by providing advocacy services. Such services involve monitoring visits, identifying and investigating complaints by or on residents' behalf, disseminating educational information, and witnessing health care directives.

The advocates also interact with and establish workable relationships with long-term care facilities administrators and local government entities as necessary. (Note: Eligible staff must not have worked at an LTC facility within one year of employment at Wise & Healthy Aging).

Benefits & Compensation:

We offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. For staff who regularly work 30 or more hours per week, benefits include 80% company-paid medical, 100% company-paid dental, 401(k) plan with competitive employer match, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), optional life and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays plus paid time off (PTO).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide continuing community presence through unannounced visits to long-term care facilities.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve complaints, including alleged elder and dependent adult abuse, to the satisfaction of residents of long-term care facilities.
• Travel (up to 60% time) by personal vehicle to various long-term care facilities (Mileage is reimbursed)
• Supervise and provide technical assistance to volunteers and/or interns and assist the Regional Supervisor as necessary.
• Complete all documentation (cases, consults, visits, etc.) in ODIN on time.
• Attempting/witnessing advance health care directives for residents in SNFs following state guidelines.
• Provide backup to the Regional Supervisor or other regional offices as required.
• In long-term care facility closures, contact the Regional Supervisor daily.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Ability to travel during the day throughout the assigned Regional territory up to 60% of the time, conducting visits to long-term residential facilities. (A valid driver’s license and Insurance are required).
• Ability to conduct in-person preliminary investigations of reports of alleged elder and dependent adult abuse where the Ombudsman Program has jurisdiction.
• Compile and accurately report statistical data in conformance with established policies and procedures using the Ombudsman Data Integration Network (ODIN) and close cases in a timely matter per office guidelines
• Follow stated policies and procedures in the State LTC Ombudsman Core Curriculum and other sources.

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in social work, gerontology, human services, or a related field is required. Master’s degree strongly preferred.

Experience

• Up to three (3) years of related experience (voluntary or paid) in health care, gerontology work, investigations, mediation, and negotiation is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience performing direct service in social services or a related field. Prior responsibilities in handling case management, client advocacy, or therapy involving vulnerable populations, particularly older adults.
• Prior experience with long-term care or advocacy responsibilities.
• Professional knowledge of gerontology, social science, business, medicine, negotiation, health care delivery, long-term care, or advocacy.
• Bilingual Language (Preferred)
• The ability to speak, read, and write in a second language (besides English) is preferred.

Other Requirements

Must not have worked, interned, or volunteered at a long-term care facility or adult day facility within the past year.

• Successful completion of State Ombudsman Certification training. Meet annual State recertification requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Excellent organizational and telephone skills.
• Ability to interface/relate well with all levels of staff and with the public.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

WISE & Healthy Aging is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other category protected by local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive staff team. We strongly encourage applicants who are people of color, LGBTQ, women, people with disabilities, and/or formerly incarcerated people.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $64,500.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Social work with the Elderly: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: On the road