Stat State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program-SOCIAL SERVICES SPECIALIST III - Remote

About the Department

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Position Duties

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

About this Position:
The Colorado State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program protects the rights and improves the quality of care and quality of life for residents in long term care through individual and systems advocacy and on behalf of residents living in licensed nursing homes and assisted living homes.  As a part time long-term care ombudsman to travel across the state to advocate on behalf of the residents in Long-Term Care Facilities and/or Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly.

Advocacy-investigates Compliance of Agencies & Facilities and Provides Technical Assistance.   At the direction of State LTCO and/or Deputy State LTCO, the Ombudsman Specialist directly manages complex complaint handling on behalf of the residents/participants advocating for residents of long-term care facilities and for participants enrolled in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Program. Facilitates comprehensive customer service and program navigation for the PACE Ombudsman Program and Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. The Ombudsman Specialist is responsible for the following duties:

• Ensure program integrity by managing resident-directed complaints in accordance with LTCOP P&Ps. This includes conducting formal investigations and facilitating multi-party resolutions to uphold resident rights.
• Identify, investigate and work to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of PACE Participants.
• Provide structured advocacy services focused on the four pillars of participant well-being: health, safety, welfare, and statutory rights. 
• Ensure residents and participants in the applicable Regional Ombudsman Program service area have regular and timely access to the services provided through the Ombudsman Program
• Ensure residents, participants and complainants receive timely responses to requests for information and complaints.
• Facilitate the development and sustainability of resident and family councils by providing specialized technical assistance and strategic guidance to both established and prospective groups.
• Travels throughout the state to provide advocacy services in person and conducts in-person training at the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. To include assisted living homes, nursing homes, Adult Day Centers and private homes. The position will deliver educational materials to assisted living homes, nursing homes, Adult Day Centers, the residents’ rooms and participants’ locations.

Support Quality Assurance Manager and Program Coordinator.  The Ombudsman Specialist provides support for the Office of the SLTCO. The SLTCO or Deputy SLTCO assigns and coordinates with the Quality Assurance Manager and the Program Coordinator to complete tasks as necessary.

Other Duties as Assigned: The SLTCO may assign this position to other duties regarding the general operation of the program. 

Minimum Qualifications

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

OR

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years.

Special Qualifications:  This position is required to have LTC Ombudsman certification in Colorado upon hire, or obtain LTC Ombudsman certification in Colorado within the first 90 days of employment, and this position must maintain certification throughout employment. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant years of state service experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology and/or human services related field

Conditions of Employment:

• Full Background  CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services),Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check, if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License or a non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border.
• Other Conditions of Employment specific to Program.
• Special Qualifications.  This position is required to have LTC Ombudsman certification in Colorado upon hire, or obtain LTC Ombudsman certification in Colorado within the first 90 days of employment, and this position must maintain certification throughout employment. 
• Travel.  This position is required at times to travel across the state to local LTC ombudsman programs as well as LTC facilities to meet with residents to conduct their business. This position will be required to use State Fleet Vehicles when travel is necessary, therefore the position requires a valid Colorado Driver’s License.
• This position is required at times to travel across the state to local LTC ombudsman programs as well as LTC facilities to meet with residents to conduct their business. This position will be required to use State Fleet Vehicles when travel is necessary, therefore the position requires a valid Colorado Driver’s License.
• This position shall be free from conflicts of interest pursuant to Section 712 (f) of the Older Americans Act, 45 CFR §1324.21 and Section 4.1 of the Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman 
   Program Policies and Procedures. This position must take reasonable steps to avoid conflicts of interest and must identify and disclose actual or potential conflicts to the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. This position must complete an Individual Conflict of Interest Form prior to employment and once employed, this position must complete the form and submit to the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman within five (5) business days upon learning of a potential conflict of interest and on an annual basis.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
  • Disclose that information on the application.
  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment.  Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Appeal Rights: 

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated.  You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form (Adobe PDF), signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ([email protected]), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to four Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements. 

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

  • Relevant years of state service experience.

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application.  Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process.  Part-time work experience will be prorated.

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing. 

Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications. 

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.     

Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers  based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated.  You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.  

• You can find the official appeal form here. 

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

  • By email ([email protected]), or

  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or 

  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or

  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or

Other Qualifications

• How to apply to the State of Colorado(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)

• The Assessment Process

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment. 

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.  The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).  Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.