[blindlaw] Disability Rights Washington hiring two positions - investigator and attorney

Fri Jan 3 21:44:28 UTC 2014

The following describes two positions open in Seattle with Disability Rights Washington for an investigator and an attorney.

Link:
http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/drw-hiring-two-positions-now-open

Text:
DRW is hiring, with two positions now open.
DRW is hiring for two new positions, an Investigative Advocate, and a Resource Attorney.  Please read more here and find out about these exciting opportunities.

Investigative Advocate link:
http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/drw-hiring-investigative-advocate-0

Text:
DRW is Hiring : Investigative Advocate
Investigative Advocate Position

INVESTIGATIVE ADVOCATE

Disability Rights Washington (DRW), a private non-profit organization advocating for the rights of people with disabilities seeks an investigative advocate to protect the rights of people with disabilities in community and institutional settings across Washington. All candidates should have significant interest and experience in working with people with disabilities. The position is entry level and includes a generous benefits package.

The investigative advocate will conduct factual investigations into issues affecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and engage in related advocacy. The assignments of the investigative advocate will range from investigations into specific allegations of abuse and neglect to implementing multi-year monitoring plans supporting the complex systemic advocacy projects DRW undertakes.

Factual research will include in-person interviews of people with disabilities and the professionals with whom they interact, written requests for records, review of clinical, legal, and business records, and written and multimedia presentation of the investigative advocate's factual findings. The investigative advocate should be an organized, self-motivated professional who is excited about working collaboratively with other DRW staff, co-counsel, and advocacy partners to engage in creative, multimodal advocacy strategies to achieve social justice for Washingtonians with psychiatric, developmental, sensory, and physical disabilities.

DRW is designated by the governor as the independent federally-mandated protection and advocacy system for Washington State. As such, DRW promotes, expands, and protects the human and civil rights of people with disabilities. For more information about DRW, visit www.disabilityrightswa.org<http://www.disabilityrightswa.org>.

Excellent research and writing skills, academic performance, and references are required.  Applicants with disabilities and those with bilingual fluency are strongly encouraged to apply. Due to the focus on factual research of conditions in institutions and communities across the state, significant statewide travel is required.

Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three reference contacts to the attention of Jodi Rose at Disability Rights Washington,

315 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850, Seattle, WA98104or email JodiR (at) dr-wa.org.

Deadline for submissions is January 12, 2014.

Position Title: Investigative Advocate

*Company Name: Disability Rights Washington
*Location: Seattle (International District)

*Posted: December 6, 2013

*Job Function: investigator and advocate

*Entry Level: yes

*Education and Experience Required: Bachelor's degree or equivalent education. Three years related work experience in an appropriate field (i.e., legal, social services, medical, or law enforcement)

*Job Type: Full-time

Part 1: General Information

Job / Position Title
Investigative Advocate

Overview
An Investigative Advocate contributes to the DRW mission by helping to identify, investigate, and document violations of the human and legal rights of people with disabilities and advocating to address rights violations and to protect people with disabilities from abuse and/or neglect.

Position Category
Program

Exempt/Nonexempt Status
The Investigative Advocate is a non-exempt employee with regard to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Supervisor
The Investigative Advocate reports to the Director of Legal Advocacy.

Work Conditions

*The Investigative Advocate works in an office environment and has extensive local and statewide work-related travel.
*The Investigative Advocate works a standard work week 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (unless an alternative schedule is approved) but must be willing to work evenings, weekends, or extended hours when necessary.

Minimum Application Requirements
Cover letter, current resume, writing sample, and three references

Part 2: Primary Responsibilities

Advocacy

*Advocates to address rights violations and to protect people with disabilities from abuse and/or neglect
*Provides support to the legal teams assigned to major litigation
*Works with expert witnesses as assigned
*Represents DRW and its clients and constituents at meetings with support and service providers
Investigation

*Conducts investigations into abuse and neglect
*Performs other fact-finding duties related to the legal work of DRW
*Collects accurate and sufficient information regarding complaint allegations, as well as relevant written policies, regulations, directives, and client record information
*Interviews witnesses and other involved parties as necessary to ascertain facts
*Prepares correspondence, witness reports, investigative reports, declarations, and other written materials as appropriate
*Appears as a fact witness when appropriate

Monitoring

*Monitors the conditions of facilities where individuals with disabilities live to discover problems that may be appropriate for DRW action
*Completes written monitoring reports and submits them to the Director of Legal Advocacy

Part 3: Other Responsibilities

Coalition Involvement
*Performs tasks related to coalition involvement if assigned.

DRW Committees
*Serves on committees and performs related tasks as assigned.

Internal Controls
*Performs internal controls functions to the extents assigned.  See Accounting Procedures and Practices Manual.

Outreach
*Performs tasks related to outreach and communications if assigned.

Staff Development
*Participates in the creation and implementation of a plan to develop his/her work-related knowledge and/or skills.

Training
*Performs tasks related to training if assigned.

Other
*Maintains confidentiality
*Submits all required reports, timesheets, and other documentation in an accurate, legible, and timely manner
*Maintains familiarity with the latest DAD2 instructions and tracks time and projects in the DAD2 database
*Performs other duties as assigned

Workload
*Maintains a reasonably ambitious workload

External Communication
*Performs communication assignments in a timely and high quality manner;
*Follows protocol for granting or arranging interviews with mass media; and
*Documents all media contacts in DAD2 according to instruction
Part 4:  Qualifications

All DRW employees are expected to have a deep commitment to the civil rights of all people, including traditionally underserved groups such as people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Education

The Investigative Advocate is required to have: A bachelor's degree or equivalent education.

Experience Specific to the Position

The Investigative Advocate is required to have: Three years related work experience in an appropriate field (i.e., legal, social services, medical, or law enforcement)

Abilities Specific to the Position

An Investigative Advocate must have:

*Demonstrated knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies, and certification requirements that relate to the provision of institutional and residential supports and services;
*Demonstrated knowledge of the medical issues related to abuse and neglect in institutional and residential settings;
*Demonstrated skills in the areas of investigation, interviewing, and research
*Demonstrated ability to discuss a range of current issues facing the disability community including issues related to the disability delivery systems and disability law;
*Demonstrated ability to effectively present information to a wide variety of audiences using a variety of media;
*Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings and discussions;
*Demonstrated ability to maintain ethical and organizational standards, communicate a position well, respectfully consider other positions, and treat people of different positions and backgrounds with respect and dignity;
*Demonstrated knowledge of the disability service delivery systems and disability law; and
*Demonstrated ability to perform all of the responsibilities set forth in this position description.
General Abilities

The Investigative Advocate will have the ability to:

*Be an effective team member
*Communicate both orally and in writing
*Effectively relate to people with all kinds of disabilities
*Exercise initiative, ingenuity, and sound judgment
*Effectively utilize conflict resolution and advocacy skills
*Organize and manage time
*Set work goals and create work plan of activities
*Take direction and coordinate work with others
*Use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet
*Work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
*Work independently
*Perform basic math functions
It is desired that the Investigative Advocate have: Multi-lingual ability in languages common to Washington state residents

DRW is an equal opportunity employer.

Thank you for your interest in working at DRW.

Resource Attorney link:
http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/drw-hiring-resource-attorney

Text:
DRW is Hiring : Resource Attorney
Attorney Position

RESOURCE ATTORNEY

Disability Rights Washington (DRW), a private non-profit organization advocating for the rights of people with disabilities seeks an attorney to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities across Washington.

The attorney will spend a significant portion of his or her time assisting people with disabilities who call and write about legal issues to gain information about their rights and strategies to improve their self advocacy efforts. Responsibilities also include responding to allegations of abuse and neglect, developing and disseminating information and referral resources, and investigation into systemic legal violations regarding individuals with disabilities.

The attorney must have very strong oral and written communication skills.  Additionally, the attorney must be an organized, self-motivated professional who is able to work collaboratively with other DRW staff to engage in creative, multimodal advocacy strategies to achieve social justice for Washingtonians with psychiatric, developmental, sensory, and physical disabilities.

DRW is designated by the governor as the independent federally-mandated protection and advocacy system for Washington State. As such, DRW promotes, expands, and protects the human and civil rights of people with disabilities. For more information about DRW, visit www.disabilityrightswa.org<http://www.disabilityrightswa.org>.

Excellent research and writing skills, academic performance, and references are required. Attorneys with disabilities and attorneys with bilingual fluency are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three reference contacts to the attention of Jodi Rose at Disability Rights Washington, 315 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850, Seattle, WA 98104 or email JodiR (at) dr-wa.org.

Deadline for submissions is January 13, 2014

*Position Title: Attorney
*Company Name: Disability Rights Washington
*Location: Seattle (International District)
*Posted: December 20, 2013
*Job Function: resource attorney
*Entry Level: yes
*Education and Experience required: A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law and to be a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association within a year of assuming the position.
*Job Type: Full-time

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