Staff Ombudsman I-(CSON/CENTER ON AGING)

We are looking for a passionate and community-focused advocate dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents in Texas long-term care facilities. This role serves as a trusted resource for residents, families, and facility staff by providing education, outreach, and advocacy in accordance with the Older Americans Act. The ideal candidate will build meaningful relationships through regular facility visits, lead engaging educational presentations and staff trainings, and champion resident rights through individualized advocacy and casework. This position plays a vital role in promoting dignity, informed care, and positive outcomes across nursing homes and assisted living communities.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!
  
  

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!
  
  

Position Summary:

Provides advocacy, education and outreach in order to help residents, families and staff achieve the best quality of life in Texas long-term care facilities as mandated by the Older Americans Act. Supports planning and implementation of program activities which includes:

• Educational outreach in the form of individual consultations and community presentations;
• Facility staff training through consultations and in-service presentations;
• Advocacy on behalf of the residents of long-term care facilities through individual casework;
• Regular visitation to assigned nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
  
  

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Advocates on behalf of residents in nursing and assisted living facilities through regular visits, individual casework, participation in care plan meetings, input on systems changes, and attendance at resident and family council meetings.
• Assists with recruitment, training, and placement of state certified ombudsmen in long-term care facilities.
• Educates residents, family members, staff members, and the general public on resident rights, the ombudsman program, and other topics related to long-term care through individual consultations and group presentations.
• Practices effective time management in order to meet deadlines for visitation and achieve established standards for productivity (visits, consults, casework, etc.).
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Certification/Skills:

• None
  
  

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree or relevant experience in lieu of degree required Minimum Experience: 1 year of customer service experience in social work, community-based programming, and/or advocacy for vulnerable populations required Experience in aging programs and services preferred Physical Requirements: Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects. Security Sensitive: This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code

• 51.215 and Texas Government Code
• 411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code
• 117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R.
• 791.4. Residency Requirement:
  
  

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.