Lead Patient Advocate, Patient Advocacy

Position Title : Patient Advocate Lead

Organization : Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Patient Advocacy Program

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

Work Setting: Fully Onsite

Reports To: Program Director

Pay Range: $32.00 to $34.00/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:

JFS is looking for a compassionate, mission-driven individual to join the Patient Advocacy team as a Patient Advocate Lead. In this role, you have the opportunity to use your leadership skills and advocacy experience to make a meaningful difference in your community and help change lives across San Diego. The Patient Advocate Lead plays an integral role on the team and supports the entire agency by adhering to the Jewish values. This position reports directly to the Program Director and works closely with the other Patient Advocate lead and the rest of the Patient Advocacy team.

Provide advocacy services to consumers with mental illness and substance use disorders who are receiving services in psychiatric hospitals, crisis centers, residential substance use disorder treatment facilities, board and care and skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, and licensed residential facilities. Duties include conducting educational training for consumers and professionals, investigating claims of client rights violations, and representing behavioral health clients at Certification Review Hearings for involuntary psychiatric holds.

Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day leadership and coordination of the Patient Advocacy Program
• Participate in hiring, training, and supporting qualified staff and volunteers, and continually assist with the development of a team focused on collaboration, productivity, efficiency, and passion
• Follow up with new hires to ensure timely completion of requirements
• Assist Director/Program Manager with the completion of quarterly and annual status reports
• Build and maintain relationships and collaborate effectively with a wide range of community partners, including: professionals, facility administrators, law enforcement, fellow advocates across the state, as well as advocacy groups such as NAMI, CCHEA, DRC, etc.
• Assist with the review of goals and objectives of program on a quarterly basis and revise programming according to evaluation findings mid quarter
• Leverage individual staff strengths to continually improve program needs and objectives
• Attend and participate in community meetings, committees, and events relevant to the provision of behavioral health services in private and publicly funded treatment and residential facilities
• Maintain an awareness of current community resources relevant to the populations served
• Respond to questions from the behavioral health community

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

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License, reliable transportation, insurance and be able to travel throughout the county
• BA/BS or equivalent experience
• One year of leadership experience consisted of guiding, supporting and developing mentees to achieve professional growth
• Review, edit, and finalize internal and external correspondence, including grievance and appeal letters and emails, to ensure accuracy, professionalism, and compliance with company standards
• Experienced in facing verbal abuse or hostile interactions from clients, family members, or facility staff
• Ability to work with a wide range of community groups including professionals, facility administrators, clients with behavioral health diagnoses, as well as advocacy groups such as NAMI, DRC, Ombudsman, etc.
• Strong sense of ethics
• Willingness to be exposed to contagious illnesses when entering health facilities. Safety precautions are provided
• Experience working in high-stress environments and emotionally charged situations that can lead to mental and emotional burnout. Emphasis on one’s wellness should be prioritized
• Willingness to visit facilities like correctional institutions, where individuals are in crisis, which may pose physical safety risks
• Must be able to pass a background check
• Experience working with clients diagnosed with a serious mental health or substance use disorder
• Knowledge of patients’ rights law and/or willingness and ability to learn California State laws and San Diego County Policies and Procedures as they pertain to patients’ rights in treatment and residential facilities
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong sense of ethics
• Ability and willingness to regularly use office equipment such as computers, fax machines, telephones and cell phones
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Flexible and able to handle emotionally intense situations
• Bilingual a plus

Physical Requirements:

• Sit, talk and listen
• Stand, walk, and use hands and arms to use a keyboard, handle papers, and reach for the phone
• Occasionally climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Concentration and good hearing are required

Important Notice:

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer


This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.