Director of Rights Protection

Location: Waco, TX

About the role

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at every stage of your life and work journey. This position is under the supervision of the State Hospital Superintendent and performs advanced (senior-level) rights protection work without any conflict of interest. The Human Rights Officer III (Director of Rights Protection) is responsible for maintaining a program that ensures the legal and basic human rights of individuals served are promoted and protected. Investigates allegations of rights violations and seeks resolution for all parties involved. Supervises the work of subordinate Rights Protection Officers.

Waco Center for Youth is a psychiatric residential treatment facility serving teenagers ages 13 through 17 with emotional difficulties and/or behavioral problems. The facility operates under the belief that both behavior change and an understanding of self and others are equally important for long-term success in treatment. The mission is “to give each youth a chance for change” by providing comprehensive psychiatric residential treatment services. The facility is accredited by The Joint Commission.

Responsibilities

• Supervises the work of subordinate Rights Protection Officers and develops and implements processes to ensure individual patient rights are observed on all state hospital units and programs.
• Represents individuals served in recovery team meetings and on hospital committees, including the Hospital Executive Committee, Grievance Committee, Ethics Committee, and others as requested.
• Responds to requests and complaints by visiting individuals on their treatment unit and assists with other hospital rights issues as needed.
• Conducts observations and interviews with staff and individuals to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) standards, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), HIPAA, and agency policies related to the rights of individuals served.
• Completes medical record audits using Quality System Oversight (QSO) instruments, TJC tracer tools, and unit review tools to ensure rights restrictions are properly documented.
• Provides a mechanism to file complaints and/or grievances, thoroughly investigating each allegation or request and referring it to the appropriate agency as needed.
• Represents the expressed desires of individuals served and advocates for the resolution of their grievances, providing results to the patient and other appropriate parties.
• Provides analysis and trends on the nature and extent of complaints and/or grievances and prepares reports.
• Supports HHSC provider investigators regarding Client Abuse/Neglect cases and works closely with the hospital Superintendent responding to abuse, neglect, and exploitation (ANE) investigation results.
• Supports Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigators when conducting their investigations.
• Serves as liaison with Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) responding to inquiries regarding patient rights.
• Coordinates and leads group meetings with patients on treatment units.
• Supports the implementation of the Patient Rights handbook and ensures patient rights information is posted.
• Ensures the rights of individuals receiving services are thoroughly explained to staff and volunteers through orientation and ongoing training.
• Actively participates in disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, which may require alternate shift patterns or locations.
• Attends work regularly and may be required to work extended shifts, overtime, or rotating schedules in accordance with agency leave policy.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in psychology, sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, or a related human services field AND a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in human rights, patient advocacy, mental health services, or case management work.
• OR Associate’s degree AND a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in human rights, patient advocacy, mental health services, or case management work.
• OR No degree AND a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in human rights, patient advocacy, mental health services, or case management work.
• Two (2) years’ experience working with persons with mental health or intellectual and developmental disabilities is required.
• Must possess a valid Texas driver’s license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date to drive a state vehicle. Applicants with an out-of-state driver’s license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of licensure.
• Must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide, Employee Misconduct, and List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
• Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• All applicants must be at least 18 years of age; Waco and Terrell Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.
• Must comply with HHSC immunization policy and State Hospital operating procedures related to immunizations, including vaccinations for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and influenza.

Skills

• Working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and department/agency policies and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of TJC, CMS, and HIPAA standards.
• Knowledge of legal and basic human rights, mental health disorders, and statistical analysis.
• Skill in conducting interviews and facilitating meetings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Ability to make decisions, share recommendations with facility leaders, and work independently with all levels of staff.
• Ability to gather, assemble, analyze, and trend facts/data and present findings effectively.
• Ability to supervise the work of others.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Generous time off benefits.
• Numerous opportunities for career advancement.

Pay

Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $8,304.83 per month

Schedule

• Full-time, regular position.
• Day shift.
• Not eligible for telework.
• Travel up to 15%.
• Flexibility in work hours may be required, including overtime and/or extended hours.