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Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Lead Patient Advocate, Patient Advocacy

Jewish Family Service of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States, 92189

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Organization:

Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Position Type:

Full‑Time (37.5+ hours/week), Non‑Exempt

Work Setting:

Fully Onsite

Reports To:

Program Director

Pay Range:

$32.00 to $34.00/hour

Total Compensation In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

Comprehensive, low‑cost healthcare coverage for employees

Employer‑covered life insurance

Time Away from Work Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

Paid vacation time and sick leave

15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays

2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview JFS is looking for a compassionate, mission‑driven individual to join the Patient Advocacy team as a Patient Advocate Lead. In this role, you have the opportunity to use your leadership skills and advocacy experience to make a meaningful difference in your community and help change lives across San Diego. The Patient Advocate Lead plays an integral role on the team and supports the entire agency by adhering to the Jewish values. This position reports directly to the Program Director and works closely with the other Patient Advocate lead and the rest of the Patient Advocacy team.

Provide advocacy services to consumers with mental illness and substance use disorders who are receiving services in psychiatric hospitals, crisis centers, residential substance use disorder treatment facilities, board and care and skilled nursing facilities, long‑term care facilities, and licensed residential facilities. Duties include conducting educational training for consumers and professionals, investigating claims of client rights violations, and representing behavioral health clients at Certification Review Hearings for involuntary psychiatric holds.

Responsibilities

Provide day‑to‑day leadership and coordination of the Patient Advocacy Program

Participate in hiring, training, and supporting qualified staff and volunteers, and continually assist with the development of a team focused on collaboration, productivity, efficiency, and passion

Follow up with new hires to ensure timely completion of requirements

Assist Director/Program Manager with the completion of quarterly and annual status reports

Build and maintain relationships and collaborate effectively with a wide range of community partners, including: professionals, facility administrators, law enforcement, fellow advocates across the state, as well as advocacy groups such as NAMI, CCHEA, DRC, etc.

Assist with the review of goals and objectives of program on a quarterly basis and revise programming according to evaluation findings mid quarter

Leverage individual staff strengths to continually improve program needs and objectives

Attend and participate in community meetings, committees, and events relevant to the provision of behavioral health services in private and publicly funded treatment and residential facilities

Maintain an awareness of current community resources relevant to the populations served

Respond to questions from the behavioral health community

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must‑Have

Must have a valid California Driver’s License, reliable transportation, insurance and be able to travel throughout the county

BA/BS or equivalent experience

Experienced in facing verbal abuse or hostile interactions from clients, family members, or facility staff

Ability to work with a wide range of community groups including professionals, facility administrators, clients with behavioral health diagnoses, as well as advocacy groups such as NAMI, DRC, Ombudsman, etc.

Strong sense of ethics

Willingness to be exposed to contagious illnesses when entering health facilities. Safety precautions are provided

Experience working in high‑stress environments and emotionally charged situations that can lead to mental and emotional burnout. Emphasis on one’s wellness should be prioritized

Willingness to visit facilities like correctional institutions, where individuals are in crisis, which may pose physical safety risks

Must be able to pass a background check

Experience working with clients diagnosed with a serious mental health or substance use disorder

Knowledge of patients’ rights law and/or willingness and ability to learn California State laws and San Diego County Policies and Procedures as they pertain to patients’ rights in treatment and residential facilities

Strong oral and written communication skills

Strong sense of ethics

Ability and willingness to regularly use office equipment such as computers, fax machines, telephones and cell phones

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Flexible and able to handle emotionally intense situations

Physical Requirements

Sit, talk and listen

Stand, walk, and use hands and arms to use a keyboard, handle papers, and reach for the phone

Occasionally climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl

Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds

Concentration and good hearing are required

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client‑centered, impact‑driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life‑changing, and often life‑saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org.

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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