Community Living Ombudsman Program; CLOP Ombudsman

Position Title:

Community Living Ombudsman Program (CLOP) Division:
Community Advocacy Responsibilities

The CLOP Ombudsman regularly visits privately run, publicly funded Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ICF-DD), otherwise known as group homes, to protect and advocate for the rights of the people with developmental disabilities who live in these state licensed ICF-DD facilities.

1. Regularly visit individuals with disabilities who live in in ICF-DD facilities to ensure that they are receiving appropriate care, treatment, and services.

2. Advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities who live in in ICF-DD facilities consistent with DRLA’s goals and priorities.

3. Monitor individuals with disabilities who live in in ICF-DD facilities and advocate for them when care and treatment is inadequate, or where they are being subjected to abuse or neglect, or when their rights are being violated.

4. File formal reports regarding observed and reported rights violations.

5. Prepares reports regarding activities and specific cases as requested by the Regional Coordinator/Program Director.

6. Performs trainings and outreach to the community, facility staff and facility residents as assigned by the Regional Coordinator, Program Director, and/or the Community Advocacy Director on issues affecting the services and benefits available to, and the rights of, persons living in ICF-DD facilities.

7. Coordinates with other agency staff as needed to ensure appropriate care, treatment, and services; to protect residents from abuse and neglect; and to advocate for their rights consistent with DRLA’s goals and priorities.

8. Report to the Regional Coordinator, Program Director, and/or the Community Advocacy Director and, as directed, work cooperatively with DRLA legal staff, whenever it is suspected that residents are not receiving appropriate care, treatment, and services; that they are being subjected to abuse and neglect; or that their rights are being violated.

• Bachelor’s degree in social services related discipline preferred.
• Three to five years in human services field, preferably working with individuals with disabilities.
• Experience with advocacy and/or social work preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented, well-organized, willingness to work as part of a team.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities.
• As this is a field-based position, the candidate must have a dependable automobile, valid driver’s license, and current liability insurance as well as internet access.
• The candidate is required to pass a Louisiana State Police background check to work in this role.

DRLA values diversity among our employees and is an equal opportunity employer. The DRLA hires without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age (over 40), disability (mental and physical), sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

DRLA endorses and supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are applicants or employees needing accommodations.