Human Rights Officer

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Harlingen, TX

1d•$4,020 - $6,336•Hybrid

About The Position

The Human Rights Officer maintains a facility program that promotes and protects the legal and basic human rights of people served at a state supported living center. The position chairs the Human Rights Committee and coordinates the facility Self-Advocacy Program. It investigates and resolves rights-related complaints, evaluates how the facility investigates and reports unusual incidents and injuries, and conducts quality assurance reviews of practices affecting individual rights. The officer provides input to the facility Director and recommends systemic improvements to reduce abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The role also provides training, reviews trend analyses related to resident protections and rights restrictions, and ensures Human Rights Committee review of restrictions. The position works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment, and may develop facility policies and procedures or serve on facility committees. The job is based at the Rio Grande State Supported Living Center in Harlingen, Texas, and is eligible for telework. Travel is up to 5%. The position is full-time, regular, nonexempt, and on a day shift, although flexible hours, overtime, extended hours, weekends, holidays, rotating schedules, and on-call duty may be required. Employees must complete mandatory training and may support disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activities, potentially at an alternate location or on an alternate shift. The agency describes its state supported living centers as campus-based facilities serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may be medically fragile or have behavioral problems. Applicants must pass fingerprint-based criminal background checks, a pre-employment drug screen, and specified registry checks. Employees at state supported living centers are subject to random drug testing. Applicants must be at least 18 years old; males aged 18–25 must be registered with Selective Service.

Requirements

At least two years of experience in human rights, advocacy, or human services; or
At least two years of experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; or
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.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the program area, and ability to apply them to agency and facility policies and procedures and convey them to others.
Ability to develop and evaluate administrative policies and procedures, prepare concise reports, plan and facilitate meetings, and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Working knowledge of legal and basic human rights and due process.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Computer skills, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to develop and provide training to staff, volunteers, and persons served.
Pass fingerprint criminal background, pre-employment drug screening, and required registry checks.
Must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.
Males between ages 18 and 25 must be registered with Selective Service.
Must be willing to work weekends and holidays; flexibility in hours, overtime, or extended hours may be required.

Nice To Haves

Having two or more of the listed initial screening qualifications is preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain a facility program that promotes and protects the legal and basic human rights of persons served.
Coordinate and chair Human Rights Committee meetings to ensure due process for recommended rights restrictions or modifications.
Use the facility electronic health record to review documentation submitted to the Human Rights Committee.
Coordinate the facility Self-Advocacy Program and maintain its effectiveness through regularly scheduled meetings and activities.
Participate in investigations and resolution of rights-related complaints and issues.
Consult with Interdisciplinary Team members about rights-related facility processes, policies, and education.
Provide training to staff, Human Rights Committee members, and persons served as requested or required.
Interact with residents, legal guardians, and family members.
Monitor and promote staff and resident awareness of potential rights violations during visits to homes, work sites, and day program areas.
Ensure that restrictions of individual rights adhere to due process and are based solely on the individual's needs and capabilities.
Review departmental data and work with the Interdisciplinary Team on follow-up to remove or reduce restrictions as needed.
Review trend analyses on resident protections, including data on imposed rights restrictions, and ensure Human Rights Committee review and follow-up.
Educate, encourage, and support individuals in exercising their rights, including self-advocacy, citizenship, voting, and community political participation.
Evaluate facility investigations, reviews, and reporting of unusual incidents and injuries, and conduct quality assurance reviews of facility practices related to individual rights.
Provide input to the facility Director and recommend systemic improvements to reduce incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Develop facility policies and procedures and serve on facility committees as needed.
Perform other assigned duties, potentially including incident management team meetings, guardianship services, and committee service such as on the Ethics Committee.
Attend work regularly, follow assigned schedules, and perform other duties as assigned; may serve rotating on-call duty and work overtime, extended shifts, weekends, or holidays.
Complete mandatory training on HHS policies and procedures, HIPAA, applicable state and federal rules and regulations, ICF-IID regulations, and the SSLC Department of Justice Settlement Agreement.
Support agency disaster response or recovery and Continuity of Operations activities when assigned, potentially at an alternate shift or location.