Rights Officer

General Summary:

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Recipient Rights Officer manages the Recipient Rights Office to ensure that is operating at a uniformly high standard and in compliance with the Michigan Mental Health Code and other State Laws, rules, policies and contracts with the ultimate goal to protect the rights of and advocate for all individuals utilizing services through the LifeWays Provider Network. The CEO designates the Recipient Rights Officer's top functions as the Rights Advisor for the LifeWays Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program. Recipient Rights activities are reported exclusively to the CEO.

Essential Functions:

• Supervises Recipient Rights staff members.
• Conducts complaint investigations and interventions to make determinations regarding the intervention, investigation and resolution of those in accordance with laws, rules, policies, contracts, etc. by interviewing all relevant parties, obtaining, reviewing and analyzing all physical evidence. This may require travel at unexpected times and generally occur in Jackson and Hillsdale counties, but travel within the State of Michigan may be necessary.
• Performs telephone consultations and informal inquiries to reinforce and complete the process of investigations and interventions.
• Supervises and /or conducts and tracks Recipient Rights training orientation to new LifeWays employees, and as annual in-service for LifeWays employees as deemed necessary by CEO.
• Supervises and/or conducts and tracks four-hour Recipient Rights Orientation twice every month to network provider staff. This may require travel at unexpected times and generally occur in Jackson and Hillsdale counties, but travel within the State of Michigan may be necessary.
• Supervises and/or conducts and tracks four annual Recipient Rights trainings for all network provider staff. This may require travel at unexpected times and generally occur in Jackson and Hillsdale counties, but travel within the State of Michigan may be necessary.
• Conducts death reviews.
• Participates in treatment plan consultations.
• Consultant to, and member of, Behavior Risk Management Committee.
• Coordinates Recipient Rights Advisory Council (RRAC) meetings and RR Appeals Committee; liaison to RRAC and RR Appeals Committee.
• Prepares MDHHS-ORR (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Recipient Rights) Annual and Semi-Annual Reports for CEO review and presentation to the Quality Improvement Council and the LifeWays Board of Directors.
• Performs site visits for Recipient Right coordination in and out of network (Hospital/Child Caring Institution (CCI)/Out of Catchment) and conducts policy reviews to ensure compliance with Mental Health Code and DCH standards, as applicable. This may require travel at unexpected times and generally occur in Jackson and Hillsdale counties, but travel within the State of Michigan may be necessary.
• Responsible for annual review of LifeWays Policies and Procedures for Recipient Rights, ensuring they are up to date.
• Conducts preparation for the MDHHS-ORR Assessment performed every three years.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
• The Recipient Rights Advisor/Officer communicates directly with the SUD coordinating agency rights consultant when necessary.
• The Recipient Rights Advisor/Officer receives and investigates all SUD recipient rights complaints independent of interference or reprisal from the program administration.

Required Education/Certification/Licensure:

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• 36 CEUs needed every 3 years as required by MDHHS Contract for Recipient Rights.
• Mental Health First Aid Training, upon hire.
• Must have reliable transportation. *

*LifeWays vehicles are provided to employees for the purpose of transporting consumers; employees must possess a valid MI motor vehicle operator's license and verification of an acceptable driving record. Personal vehicles may be used for company business when drivers meet the following; valid MI motor vehicle operator's license and proof of personal vehicle insurance in accordance to guideline.

Preferred Education/Certification/Licensure:

• Master's degree related field, or a combination of education and work experience.
• CPR, AED, and First Aid Training.