Advocate I - Central Regional Hospital

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

State Operated Health Care Facilities

Job Classification Title

Advocate I (S)

Position Number

60047579

Grade

NC10

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The primary purpose of the Advocate I position is to provide Advocacy services to Central Regional Hospital. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance to facility staff, including monitoring, consulting and training in regard to rights issues, responding to complaints regarding services and investigating alleged rights violations. The Advocate helps to assure that customers are represented at all levels of the assigned facility and that the facility’s systems follow appropriate statutes, administrative codes and standards to uphold customers’ human, civil and legal rights and to meet the customers’ needs for dignity, safety, care, treatment and habilitation.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $43,267.00 - $75,718.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Substantial knowledge of mental health, developmental disabilities and/or substance abuse services systems.
• A thorough knowledge of and the ability to interpret the following is essential: North Carolina's Patient's Rights Laws (General Statues and NC Administrative Code), JCAHO standards, federal HIPAA laws, CMS Standards, ICF Regulations, Nursing Home (OBRA) Regulations, North Carolina Mental Health Laws, Office of State Personnel Policy and Procedures, Division and facility policies.
• Considerable interviewing, investigating and negotiating skills are vital to achieve desirable resolutions of complaints, grievances and allegations.
• Ability to independently plan and coordinate daily work to accomplish all work goals in desired time frames.
• Have capacity for critical thinking and possess analytical skills as well as the ability to exercise these skills even under stressful conditions, in order to analyze data, compile reports, present information to teams/committees and the general public, etc.

This is a full-time position and eligible for the full State benefits package including health insurance and retirement.   The normal work schedule is Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; however, flexibility is required to meet facility needs. The availability of this Advocate is ensured through his/her participation in a 24 hour on-call schedule, with an exception that on-call duty is equally assigned within the Advocacy Department. Monetary compensation in the amount of $2.00 per hour is granted to this employee on-call coverage.

Compensation and Benefits: The state of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits.  Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).   Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.   In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.   Visit the NC DHHS Benefits and Wellness website for more information.  

About the Facility:

CRH is a State-of-the Art psychiatric hospital located in Butner, NC. Our location is ideal with four seasons, mild temperatures and provides an easy commute to the N.C. mountains or beaches. Butner possesses small town charm but is within 30 minutes of a major metropolitan area including Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham, NC. The people we serve are at the heart of our facility.  Our team is critical to the mission of the hospital.  We strive to create an environment in which every team member contributes to the overall success of the hospital to positively impact the lives of those around them and the individuals we serve.

Supplemental Contact Information:

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

Positions in the Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities shall be subject to pre- employment drug testing and criminal record background checks. Also, the use of tobacco products of any kind including vapor products are prohibited from our campuses. All employees are required to adhere to the facility's Vaccination Policy.

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application, to support your answers.
• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm prior to the closing date.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent. For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members.

Veteran’s and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
• Applicants who are former member of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.

Applicants will be communicated via email only for updates on the status of their application. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at (919)764-7200.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Master’s degree in a human services program from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of the experience providing services (diagnostic and treatment, advocacy, and/or casework) for individuals who are developmentally, physically, or mentally disabled;

or

Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience providing services (diagnostic and treatment, advocacy, and/or casework) for individuals who are developmentally, physically, or mentally disabled;

or

Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of human services experience providing skills in investigating abuse and neglect, interviewing techniques, and similar functions; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Theodora Bumpass Ramsey

Contact:

DHHS Workday Support Form