Rep. Payee Project

Job Description

 

Position                       Investigator

Reports To                 Senior Attorney/Unit Director

Wage Class                Non-Exempt

Union Classification  Eligible

Responsible For         Conducting investigations in the field related to rights of social security recipients with representative payees and other persons with disabilities.    Conduct objective in-depth interviews, gather and determine facts, draw factual and legal conclusions and write reports with findings and recommendations, under supervision of staff attorney or manager.  May also assist occasionally with DLC intake unit. 

Qualifications

            1.  Bachelor’s Degree.

2.  Demonstrated interest in disability issues, civil rights issues, investigatory work, and/or advocacy or law enforcement related to abuse or neglect.

 

3. Demonstrated commitment to the civil rights of all people.

 

4. Ability to think analytically and engage in objective, neutral fact gathering and fact finding according to office protocol.

 

5. Ability to research and apply agency regulations, under attorney supervision.

 

6. Demonstrated ability to write clear, organized and thorough written reports, including detailed findings and recommendations, written according to office protocol.

 

            7. Demonstrated ability to work both independently with a minimum of supervision, and as a member of a team.

 

            8. Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize complex tasks.

 

            9. Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.

 

            10. Demonstrated experience working with and/or sensitivity to people with disabilities.

 

            11. Demonstrated experience working with and/or sensitivity to persons from multi-          ethnic communities.

 

12. Effective communication skills sufficient to communicate regarding complex factual situations and provide responsive information.

 

13. Familiarity in using computers for word processing, data collection and communication.  Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.

 

Desired Attributes

                1.  Knowledge of the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security        Income programs, and especially the representative payee program highly desirable. 

            2. Understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), primarily Title I, or         similar employment discrimination laws, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and state             employment and wage laws also highly desirable.  Working knowledge of   employment/occupational and housing health and safety laws helpful.  

            3. Prior experience conducting reviews or investigations, especially involving individuals   with disabilities, and/or interviewing or working with individuals with various           disabilities, highly preferred.

            4. Demonstrated ability to speak another language in addition to English.

5. Direct experience with or general knowledge of services and issues affecting individuals with disabilities or direct experience in providing information and referral or advocacy services in the public interest.

 

Essential functions:  


1.      Ability to travel to locations around the state and conduct interviews at work sites and residences of social security recipients, and travel to other institutions or other sites of abuse and neglect investigations;

2.      Driver’s license and ownership or regular access to an automobile;

3.      Ability to engage in objective, neutral fact-finding through organized and methodical interviewing and fact gathering, according to office protocols

4.      Ability to communicate effectively on the telephone.

5.      Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

6.      Ability to record data into the agency’s database.

7.      Ability to interact with individuals who may be upset or angry.

8.      Ability to pass federal security clearance.

Responsibilities

            1) Conduct site reviews of specific organizational representative payees following             specific guidelines and protocols, which include:

                  a) Undertaking pre-site review research;

                  b) Completing various interviews or representative payees and Social Security                          beneficiaries;

                  c) Conducting on-site reviews of worksites and housing facilities;

                  d) Depending on the circumstances, reviewing payroll records of individual                             beneficiaries;

                  e) Assessing the health, safety, welfare, and protection of rights of Social                                 Security beneficiaries;

                  f) Writing and submitting a report on site reviews following a specified format in                           a timely manner.

                  g) Assuring appropriate referrals and follow-up is completed following the site                         review.

 

            2) Provide advocacy services to Social Security disability beneficiaries who report a          problem with their representative payee.

            3) Inform or provide technical assistance on representative payee issues to Social   Security beneficiaries, independent living centers, community organizations, attorneys,      state agencies, or other groups concerned with preventing fraud and mismanagement by       representative payees.

4) May also assist occasionally DLC Intake Unit, screening  initial inquiries by phone, mail and/or in person for DLC eligibility; providing with supervision of an attorney assistance in the form of information, referral, consultation and limited technical assistance; and preparing intakes for case review and participating in discussion of cases at case review.

 

 

 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  In order to receive full consideration, however, candidates are urged to submit their materials before February 5, 2010

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must submit:

Cover Letter, which must indicate: a) your personal and professional motivation for seeking this position; b) a discussion of how you meet each of the minimum and any of the desirable qualifications for this position; and c) where you saw the advertisement

Resume, including references (3);

Sample of Professional Written Work (case report, analytical report, investigation report, etc.) consisting of no more than 5 pages.

APPLY TO:

All applications should be emailed to mail@dlc-ma.org with the subject line stating: Search Committee – Investigator.  Word is the preferred format.  

Please see www.dlc-ma.org for complete benefits information.

DLC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates with disabilities, women, persons of color and others who represent distinct linguistic or cultural communities to apply.