Core role: Advocates for older adults in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and administers related services like VICAP, operating under Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and Older Americans Act standards.
Key responsibilities:
- Advocacy & complaints — Counsels and advocates for residents; receives, investigates, resolves, and documents complaints per state/federal Ombudsman standards; promotes resident self-determination; keeps resident records strictly confidential.
- Facility monitoring — Conducts routine, non-complaint visits to observe care quality and identify systemic issues, reporting findings through program channels.
- Program support — Handles intake, referral, and documentation for related services including VICAP.
- Education & outreach — Delivers presentations and training to facility staff, residents, and families on rights, long-term care options, and aging services.
- Reporting & compliance — Maintains confidential files per DARS/program standards; submits monthly, quarterly, and annual reports; ensures compliance with applicable laws and contracts.
- Systemic advocacy — Contributes to identifying broader trends affecting long-term care quality and participates in planning/advocacy efforts.
Required knowledge/skills: Counseling and ethics, community resources/benefits knowledge, risk assessment and advocacy ability, cultural sensitivity toward older adults, independent work management, policy interpretation (including Medicare/VICAP), strong communication, and recordkeeping.
Education/experience: Prefer Bachelor's in Social Work, Human Services, or related field; 3+ years of experience in elder services, advocacy, counseling, or long-term care (relevant coursework can substitute for experience).
Physical/other requirements: Ability to travel to facilities and homes, navigate stairs and various environments, periodic sitting/standing/walking; valid VA driver's license and reliable transportation for travel within the Fifth Planning District.
Benefits:
- 15 paid holidays
- 12 paid vacation days
- 5 paid sick days
- STD & $20k Life Insurance
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Supplemental insurances ($1000/mo employer credit)
- Employee Assistance & Wellness
- Training & Development
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- AD&D insurance
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid orientation
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Travel reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- elder advocacy: 3 years (Preferred)
- complaint investigation, audit or monitoring: 3 years (Preferred)
- intake/referral documentation: 3 years (Preferred)
- electronic notetaking or reporting: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- license or certification relevant to this role (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
