Advocate/Investigator - Investigations Team

Disability Rights Florida was founded in 1977 as the statewide designated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities in the State of Florida and is the third largest Protection and Advocacy system in the nation representing a growing, diverse state.

Disability Rights Florida advocates, educates, investigates, and litigates to protect and advance the rights, dignity, equal opportunities, self-determination and choices for all people with disabilities. We are a passionate, highly motivated group and we are looking for exceptional talent to join our team.

We offer an excellent comprehensive employee benefit package. Some of the benefits included are paid vacation time, contributed employer medical, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) plan with an employer 3% match, life, short and long-term disability insurance, and generous paid holidays. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Disability Rights Florida is seeking an Advocate Investigator to join the Investigations Team.

Bilingual/Multilingual candidates preferred (e.g. American Sign Language, Spanish, Haitian Creole, etc…)

This will be a full-time position located in or near one of our office locations in Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa.

Advocate/Investigators share responsibility with other Disability Rights Florida program staff for providing information, technical assistance, outreach, and training. Advocate/Investigators are expected to successfully resolve assigned issues using authorized strategies to include negotiation, education, information and referral or other appropriate activity on behalf of clients of Disability Rights Florida. The primary responsibility of the Advocate/Investigator is to support the organization’s efforts to advocate for the enforcement of the civil rights of people with disabilities as provided by law and regulation. Advocate/Investigators work under attorney supervision and, depending on the team or grant, work directly with the client to gather facts necessary to advocate effectively on the client’s behalf before service providers or state agencies.

Essential Functions
Visits clients to gather additional case information or to provide appropriate follow-up at facilities that include but are not limited to inpatient mental health facilities; community-based institutional settings such as assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or group homes; and correctional facilities such as jails and prisons.
Gathers information from individuals who reside in facilities in order to determine eligibility for services.
Identifies and develops appropriate resources and referrals for individuals with disabilities.
Responds to requests for information from clients or representatives and provides information, referral, and technical assistance as provided by federal funders.
Represents the client’s interests in meetings, negotiations, mediations, and administrative proceedings as authorized and under attorney supervision.
Develops and conducts outreach, education, and training for clients and their families, community groups, public policy-makers, state agency staff, and other stakeholders, as assigned.
Provides direct services to clients, maintains electronic case management notes, and collects and organizes case-related documents.
Collaborates with an interdisciplinary team.
Qualifications
Education or experience equivalent to a four-year undergraduate degree required.
Training, education, and/or experience working with individuals with mental illness and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities is required
Advocacy experience in either social or human service, government, public interest, legal, or health care environments required.
Must possess strong computer skills; prior experience with documenting and maintaining information in electronic case files preferred.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and to deal effectively with and negotiate through confrontational situations and possible stressful interactions.
Ability to manage individual workloads so that services are delivered timely and appropriately.