LONG TERM CARE INVESTIGATOR HEALTH SERVICES

Definition

Under the direction of the NJ State Long Term Care Ombudsman (SLTCO) or other supervisory official in the SLTO, investigates allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of individuals residing in long-term care facilities, advocates for long-term care residents' human and civil rights, monitors quality of care and quality of life of residents of long-term care facilities and provides clinical assessment and direction to consumers and long-term care facility staff; does other related work.

Examples of work

• Works to uphold the civil and human rights of residents living in long-term care facilities and facilitate self-advocacy among residents of long-term care facilities.
• Investigates complaints from a wide variety of sources.
• Interviews residents, family members, staff and other interested parties/witnesses and accesses relevant records including medical records during a complaint investigation.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings as the resident's advocate providing recommendations for appropriate interventions in an attempt to mediate solutions where conflict exists.
• Reviews care plans and discharge/alternate placement plans to ensure they are thorough, clinically appropriate, safe, resident-directed and consistent with federal guidelines.
• Supports the resident's right to the least restrictive clinical environment both within the institutional environment and in the community. Provides residents, health plan care managers, and facility staff with information about community-based alternatives.
• Provides consultations to residents, family members and facility staff on medical/ethical decision-making including, but not limited to, withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment and end-of-life and palliative care options. Works in consultation with Regional Ethics Committees as directed by the Ombudsman.
• Prepares final reports and letters upon completion of complaint investigation and resident advocacy. Ensures that complainant is advised of findings. Prepares referrals to appropriate governmental agencies including, but not limited to, the NJ Department of Health, the NJ Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office and local or county prosecutors, for follow-up prosecution and/or regulatory action.
• Identifies trends and systemic issues in the long-term care community and brings those issues to the Ombudsman for resolution or remediation.
• Participates in training sessions, in-services or task forces for health care providers, long-term care staff and other professionals in the senior-serving community. Provides information about Elder Abuse and the unique, resident-centered advocacy and investigation services offered by the SLTCO.
• Investigates complaints from a wide variety of sources.
• May participate on a review team monitoring conditions in a facility that has been identified as having multiple deficiencies, including violations of residents' rights, or is scheduled to close.
• Identifies deficiencies in the quality of care and safety hazards in long term care facilities observed and/or encountered during the investigation or advocacy process.
• Provides consultation services to facilities to correct deficiencies and improve services to meet program standards and support residents' rights.
• Works to empower long-term care facility residents by facilitating self-advocacy by individuals and/or Resident Councils.
• Participates in the evaluation and planning of educational needs for continuing elder-care staff development.
• Prepares reports and correspondence.
• Maintains records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Experience

Six (6) years of nursing or long term care experience

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

License

Applicant must possess a license as a Professional Nurse (RN) in the State of New Jersey.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the systems that support long-term care in New Jersey including Medicaid and Medicare.
• Knowledge of state and federal long-term care facility laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of the methods used to evaluate the quality of health care.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered by the long-term care facility residents and services and resources that are available to elderly individuals both in an institutional environment and in the community.
• Ability to interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
• Ability to work as a member of a team on special investigations or advocacy projects, studies, and projects designed to improve nursing and other psychological or health care services provided for patients.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with nursing, medical, social workers, consumer organizations, family groups, law enforcement entities and other staff of the agency and community health and welfare agencies.
• Ability to interview people of various backgrounds.
• Ability to provide guidance to long-term care facility staff on ways to: de-escalate conflict; redirect residents who exhibit destructive or disruptive behaviors; encourage healthy family or caregiver interaction; and identify other resources that may benefit residents' overall health and well-being.
• Ability to prepare correspondence and reports.
• Ability to identify deficiencies in the quality of care and other safety hazards and to identify violations of long-term care residents' rights and failures by facilities to treat residents with dignity and respect.
• Ability to keep contemporaneous notes in an electronic case management system as needed and maintain records and files.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.