Ombudsman Representative (Program Manager I), Grade

About the Position

The expected salary range for this position on hire is $71,299 - 92,603

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the County’s public health and human services that meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a Department, we believe health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Join the Montgomery County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program team of committed professionals who aim to protect and improve the quality of care and quality of life for residents of long-term care facilities through advocacy for and on behalf of residents and through the promotion of community involvement in long-term care facilities

What You'll Be Doing

In accordance with State Ombudsman expectations through MDoA agreement with Area Agency on Aging, maintain regular visits to residents living in long term care settings which are licensed nursing homes and assisted living communities. The visits include identifying, investigating, documenting, and resolving complaints; providing information and consultation on community resources to the residents, families, and providers of long-term care services; and providing advocacy information promoting residents’ rights in navigating the long-term care system. Response coordination to identified emergencies, including county related disaster preparedness duties for weather related events, and facility specific advocacy resulting from sanctions imposed by the state licensing agency (OHCQ) when care is jeopardized as a result of non-compliance or overt actions of the long-term care provider.

Provide supervision and technical assistance to develop skills of pro-bono ombudsmen who provide regular contact with residents in assigned facilities, and who are delegated to do complaint investigations, and complaint resolution in those facilities. Provide on-site ombudsman services when a pro-bono advocate is unavailable to serve.

Organize, develop, and support resident and family councils formed within the licensed long-term care and assisted living facilities. Research and provide examples of best practices in person-centered care.

Develop creative legislative and non-legislative strategies to resolve complex issues that involve individuals as well as issues that affect all licensed long term and continuing care facilities. Analyze trends/patterns in program area and recommends modification in program practices.

Enter all mandated data in Get Care software database, as required by MDoA, timely.

Develop in-service training programs for the staff in long term care facilities, community, and ombudsman volunteers on residents’ rights and long-term care issues.

Develop collaborative relationships with other services and agencies to resolve individual problems and to assist in making changes in the long-term care system. Some evening or weekends required.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Considerable (3 years) of professional experience serving frail seniors, disabled individuals, and their families through advocacy network programs.

(NOTE: For positions in the DHHS’ Coordination of Community Services Program: Applicants must have an advanced degree in a human services field and 1 year of professional experience OR a Bachelor’s degree in a human services field with 3 years professional experience; No substitution allowed).

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

(NOTE: For positions in the DHHS’ Coordination of Community Services Program education and experience requirements may be waived if an individual has been employed as a coordinator for community services supervisor for at least 1 year as of January 1, 2014).

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

We will use interview preference criteria:

Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, policies and regulations affecting residents living in licensed long term care facilities (nursing homes and assisted living) and implementation skills to adapt them for advocacy.

Documented experience in mentoring, skills development in volunteer recruitment & retention; and/or employ Bi-Lingual Proficiency in English/Spanish

Documented experience developing and delivering trainings pertinent to Long Term Care topics (such as resid rights, the protection of vulnerable adults, and long-term care issues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at . Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.