Customer Care Advocate jobs in Alexandria, LA

Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA) has an immediate opening for an Investigative Advocate to join our Legal Department.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Investigative Advocate is a crucial member of our team, responsible for monitoring and conducting investigations into potential violations of the rights of persons with disabilities in congregate settings. This role requires a strong commitment to social justice, a keen investigative mind, and the ability to build trust and rapport with individuals with disabilities. This role combines knowledge and investigative skills to uncover systemic issues and advocate for systemic change.

The candidate for this position must reside in the Baton Rouge, LA or Alexandria, LA areas.

ABOUT US

Disability Rights Louisiana is a private, non-profit, law firm that is designated as the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for the State of Louisiana. DRLA is part of a nationwide network of P&A agencies that advocate, empower, and protect individuals with disabilities.

Since 1977, DRLA’s team of attorneys and advocates have provided free legal and advocacy services to people with disabilities, of all ages, throughout Louisiana. We work at the intersection of disability discrimination and race, gender, age, and other issues that compound socio-economic inequities. DRLA prioritizes its work to make change on these multiple fronts through individual and systemic advocacy, by monitoring places where persons with disabilities live or receive services, investigating allegations of abuse and neglect; conducting outreach and training; and engaging in legislative and administrative advocacy.

DRLA’s core mission is to protect and advocate for the human and legal rights of people with disabilities of all ages across our state. We work to empower the disability community to live an integrated life, free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. To learn more, please visit www.disabilityrightsla.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Investigative Advocate will engage in individual and systemic advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities. Specifically, they will monitor facilities that provide care, treatment, and services for persons who have developmental disabilities, mental illness, brain injuries, and other disabilities, and will conduct investigations in such facilities where there may be probable cause of abuse or neglect. They will use the information gathered through monitoring and investigations to assist DRLA in shaping and engaging in systemic advocacy.

Additionally, they will work on distinct issues affecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in facilities or in the community and provide individual advocacy, technical assistance, consultation, and outreach and training to clients, family members, and other advocacy organizations.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Director of Legal Programs and Advocacy, the Investigative Advocate will:

• Monitor conditions through onsite visits to community residences, mental health treatment facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities, long term care facilities, and other congregate settings that provide care, treatment, and services for persons with developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and other disabilities.
• Identify situations through monitoring and investigation that require further advocacy, investigation, or other services.
• Investigate complaints of abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities by reviewing relevant medical, other investigating agency, and service provider records; interviewing individuals with disabilities, family members and guardians, and service providers; and documenting investigative observations.
• Draft memoranda and investigative summaries, findings, and reports.
• Maintain an active caseload of individual cases, as assigned, involving issues such as human rights and civil rights violations, discharge planning, community integration, Medicaid services, and access to educational services in congregate settings.
• Analyze statutes, regulations, agency policies/procedures and proposed legislation as applicable to individual advocacy, investigations and monitoring.
• Develop and maintain thorough knowledge of appropriate community resources for clients.
• Provide short-term information and referral for persons with disabilities.
• Conduct outreach and develop and maintain effective working relationships with service providers, public and private organizations, other agencies, and the community at large, including unserved and underserved populations.
• Prepare training materials and deliver presentations, trainings, and workshops on subjects pertinent to persons with disabilities, their families, service providers and the community.
• Comply with agency policies and procedures concerning maintaining complete and accurate records of monitoring, investigation, and advocacy activities in DRLA’s database and maintaining confidential records.
• Assist in the planning and development of DRLA’s priorities areas.
• Perform any other duties, as assigned.

Required Attributes

• Professionalism and sound ethical judgment.
• Ability to interact effectively with and be sensitive to the individualized needs of persons with disabilities.
• Ability to work efficiently, independently, and collaboratively.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage time spent conducting multiple tasks with long-term and short-term objectives.
• This position will require extensive field work, including some overnight travel, within Louisiana approximately 70% of the time. Pre-approved travel and mileage costs will be reimbursed. The applicant must have a dependable automobile, valid driver’s license, and current liability insurance.

Other Desired Attributes

• Ability to communicate effectively in ASL, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese, or another non-English language preferred.
• Experience working with people with developmental disabilities, including people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, and their families and advocates.
• Experience conducting investigations.

Education and/or Work Experience Required

The successful applicant must meet one or more of the following minimum experience requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with experience (3 years) in advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities;
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in human services area, with at least 3 years of direct experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or with mental health issues; or
• A comparable combination of educational and work experience.

Benefits and Compensation

DRLA offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Health insurance (employee coverage is paid 100% by agency, additional contribution for dependent coverage)
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Long-Term disability insurance
• Basic life insurance (fully paid by the agency)
• Voluntary life insurance
• Accident insurance
• Hospital indemnity insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan (with agency match and profit sharing plan)
• Flexible Spending Account (with agency contribution)
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, 14 paid holidays)
• Hybrid work schedule – 3 days in the office and 2 at home

The starting salary range for this position is $42,000.00 to $50,000.00 depending on experience.

Applications

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume.

Equal Opportunity

Disability Rights Louisiana values diversity among our employees and is an equal opportunity employer. DRLA hires without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age (over 40), disability (mental and physical), sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

Disability Rights Louisiana endorses and supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are applicants or employees needing accommodations.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $42,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Location:

• Alexandria, LA (Required)

Work Location: Remote