Rights Specialist ; Field​/Community Rights Specialist - ORR

The MDHHS mission is to provide opportunities, services, and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents to be self‑sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment where all employees are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

For more information, please visit our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan.

This position is the agency‑wide specialist in hospital and community rights protections. The role serves in a professional capacity in the rights system, interpreting, applying, and providing advice on statutes, administrative departmental policy, interdepartmental agreements, to consumers, facility staff, community mental health staff, and interested others. The specialist independently analyzes investigations of alleged violations of rights guaranteed by the Constitution, statutes, and rules;

draws conclusions; recommends and ensures appropriate remedial action. Findings and recommendations are reported to complainants, ORR and appropriate facility, Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs) and License Private Hospital Unit (LPH/U) staff; the role undertakes complex special assignments that impact rights protection systemically. The specialist also supports the Director of Hospital and Community Investigations by reviewing prepared reports for compliance with code, rules, and policy and reviewing cases not open for investigation to ensure appropriate handling per Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and ORR policy and procedure.

This position requires flexibility to travel among the five state‑operated facilities and to be “on assignment” at a facility for a varied duration.

• Apply for this position online via NEOGOV. Hard copy applications are not accepted.
• Relevant experience and/or education must be documented in the resume, transcript and/or application to allow for accurate screening.
• Be able to meet the Long-Term Care Background Check Requirement/Sub Class Code and the State Operated Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Requirement/Sub Class Code:
  • LTCBC – Position has direct access to a patient or resident, or to a patient’s or resident’s property, financial information, medical records, treatment information, or any other identifying information. As authorized under MCL 333.20173a, MCL 330.1134a, and MCL 440.734b, incumbents must pass and comply with the Long-Term Care (LTC) Background Check at the time of hire and during the duration of employment.
    
    The LTC Background Check includes a state and federal fingerprint‑based criminal history record check and placement on statewide rapback.
  • SPHCLEAR – Position completes work at a State Operated Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital and must abide by state law and federal regulatory requirements with health‑related testing and screening to ensure and maintain the safety and well‑being of patients. Incumbents are subject to health‑related testing and screening at the time of hire and during the duration of employment.
• Attach a resume identifying specific experience and dates of employment. Dates of employment should include month and year and hours per week.
• Attach a cover letter.
• Attach an official transcript if applicable. Official transcripts must be scanned copies. They must provide the name of the institution, confirmation that a degree was awarded and the date, and the registrar’s signature.

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree in any major.

• Four years of professional experience equivalent to a Rights Representative or Civil Rights Representative, including two years equivalent to a Rights Representative P11 or Civil Rights Representative P11, or one year equivalent to a Rights Representative 12, Rights Representative Manager 12, Civil Rights Representative 12, or Civil Rights Manager 12.

If you previously held status in this classification and departed within the last three (3) years, please contact Human Resources regarding your interest in a potential reinstatement. Reinstatement is not guaranteed or required.

Your application for any position does not guarantee you will be contacted by the Department/Agency for…