HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE 37121

8/16/90 B

This is the first class in the Human Rights Advocate series of classes with positions responsible for ensuring the rights of individuals residing in State operated mental health, mental retardation and correctional facilities or disabled citizens who have disputes with service providers and employers. Positions in this class assist in representing individuals in the human rights process, advise individuals of their rights to file complaints or grievances, investigate complaints and assist with training facility staff, service providers or employees in program policy and procedure. This class is distinguished from the higher level Human Rights Senior Advocate by the latter's charge or leadership responsibilities.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of routine complexity. Positions in this class advise clients and private citizens of their rights, investigate complaints or grievances, attend negotiation meetings and monitor cases until they are resolved. Positions devote the majority of their time to complaint/grievance receipt and investigation. Duties include interviewing clients; collecting data; and tracking complaints/grievances, preparing monthly reports, monitoring client treatment and daily service delivery and assisting with staff/consumer training. Positions provide information and coordinate matters with agency legal representatives to facilitate case resolution and serve as liaison to special interest groups, and local human rights committees.

Supervision Given: Supervision is typically not a factor.

Supervision Received: Positions in this class receive general supervision from a Human Rights Program Supervisor, deputy agency head, Corrections Operations Officer, or other facility or agency administrator.

Scope: Work affects a segment of the agency's overall human rights program.

Impact of Actions: Work has minor impact on the quality of residential life or the work environment, the efficiency of the human rights program, the life, health, and safety of those protected by the program.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal and external contacts with clients, service providers, constituent consumer groups, attorneys and other state agencies in order to resolve disputes, complaints or grievances, collect or provide case information, or to provide training.

Knowledge: Some knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations on services provided to the disabled, of human service or correctional systems, of program policy and procedure and of counseling, investigation and negotiation techniques.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to interview clients and research and investigate allegations of rights violations; to provide technical consultation and establish effective working relationships; to train others in the procedural aspects of the program, and to read and analyze data related to a complaint investigation.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in social sciences, counseling, or a related field.

Level and Type of Experience: Some experience in counseling, social work, or a closely related field.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was established as part of the Classification Review/Specification Update Program. It replaces the Human Resource Developer A class, effective August 16, 1990.