Patient Rights Advocate, Patient Advocacy

Position Title: Patient Rights Advocate

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Patient Advocacy Program

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Onsite

Reports To: Patient Advocacy Supervisor

Pay Range: $25.03-$26.64/hour

Total Compensation: 

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees


• Generous employer 401(k) contributions


• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave


• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays


• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview: 

Do you hate injustice?  Do you like fighting for the underdog?  Would you like to be a part of a dynamic and dedicated team of advocates who travel the county representing mental health clients and ensuring that their rights are upheld? 

We’re looking for an outstanding individual who loves challenge and gets satisfaction from helping others in need.  

Our highly regarded advocates investigate and resolve complaints, concerns, appeals, or grievances received from behavioral health clients about rights violations, coordinate efforts with other agencies as needed, and visit and monitor facilities for compliance with clients’ rights laws, regulations and policies. They also ensure that clients, staff, owners, and administrators are informed of the rights of persons receiving behavioral health services.

The person hired for this position will provide advocacy services to clients receiving behavioral health services. They also represent clients at Certification Review Hearings for involuntary holds in hospitals.

Key Talents:   You are proud of your communication skills, both written and oral.  You demonstrate great compassion for your fellow man and have a deep sense of responsibility and accountability.  You also have a well-developed sense of humor and like to make your work fun. 

Responsibilities:

• Deliver introductory training on legislative updates for each law enforcement (LE) jurisdiction by June 2024  


• Deliver legislative updates in Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) trainings to LE jurisdictions and LPS facility staff in person or virtual, by Sept 2024.


• Record webinars for asynchronous training availability; update as needed


• Develop tracking and reporting systems for all LPS trainings


• Lead/Coordinate the individual 5150 certification process on behalf of (San Diego County Behavioral Health Services (BHS)


• Provide updates and revisions to the individual 5150 designation/certification training on


• an ongoing basis to ensure accuracy


• Work with LPS facilities to provide training/test materials and collect test information from facilities


• Our team will work with the BHS Medical Director as needed regarding certification materials


• Track the list of certified individuals and due dates for re-certification to inform LPS facilities in advance, working to ensure certification does not lapse


• Work with LPS facilities to cross check on a (bi-annual basis) to ensure accurate lists

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Successful completion and pass of Criminal History Background Check


• Experience working with clients receiving behavioral health services


• Knowledge of clients’ rights law and/or willingness and ability to learn California State laws and San Diego County Policies and Procedures as they pertain to clients’ rights


• Strong oral and written communication skills


• Ability to work with a wide range of community groups including professionals, facility administrators, clients as well as advocacy groups such as NAMI, CCHEA, etc.


• Strong sense of ethics


• Ability and willingness to regularly use office equipment such as computers, fax machines, telephones and cell phones


• Car required


• Ability and willingness to travel throughout San Diego County


• Ability to work independently and as part of a team


• Flexible and able to handle emotionally intense situations

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and listen. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, use hands and arms to finger a keyboard, handle papers, and reach for the phone. The employee may need to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The noise level is moderate, so concentration and good hearing are required.

These are the job duties and the approximate % of time spent on each: 

• Sitting (i.e., data entry at a computer or talking on the phone) 75%


• Standing (i.e., faxing, copying, filing) 15%


• Lifting (occasional moving of boxes) 10%     

Important Notice:

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided). Please submit a cover letter to be considered for this position.

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community.  For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving.  At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency.  We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect.  Our goal is your success.  Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together.  To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.