Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Do you wish to influence the quality of mental healthcare in your community?

Do you have experience serving vulnerable individuals?

If you answered yes, this position may be right for you!

We seek someone passionate about civil rights and humane care of mental health clients willing to champion their rights. Our team of advocates provides essential oversight of mental health facilities, preventing neglect/abuse. We ensure that clients are treated with kindness through visiting facilities, interacting with clients & staff, and identifying concerns to safeguard rights of those receiving services. We partner with ethical providers to positively transform mental health treatment services. If you consider this worthwhile work, we encourage you to apply to join our team.

The Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC) is a well-established non-profit organization with long term staff that assists and advocates for people with mental illness and their family members through programs including the Family Education and Resource Center, the Family Partnership Program, and Patients' Rights Advocacy. Together, these programs assist thousands of people with serious mental illness and their family members every year. We envision a world without stigma where people with mental health challenges and their family members are free to live their best lives. MHAAC's current budget is around $5 million.

The Patients' Rights Advocacy Program (PRA) works to ensure that people with mental illness receive quality treatment from facilities and providers of mental health services in compliance with the codes and regulations governing their treatment. The person serving in this position is responsible for protecting the rights of individuals receiving mental health treatment in Alameda County through informing patients about their rights; responding to complaints; conducting investigations; monitoring facilities for statutory compliance; providing hearing representation; and educating mental health staff members.

WE OFFER:

• Competitive salary
• Eligible for first pay increase after successful completion of 3-month introductory period
• Some positions eligible for Bilingual Pay Differential for fluency in an Alameda County threshold language
• 100% paid medical and dental coverage for the employee
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes free access to Tele-Doc and Psychotherapy services
• Generous time off benefits: 14 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Years Day
• Vacation leave 2 weeks per year, increases to 4 weeks by year four of employment
• Mileage reimbursement for work related travel
• Paid volunteer time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• On the job training

The Lead Patients' Rights Advocate helps to schedule, coordinate, and support the activities of the assigned Patients' Rights Advocates and Monitoring and Investigations Specialists. follow up on accusations of client mistreatment in Alameda County mental health facilities. The Lead Patients' Rights Advocate reports to the Assistant Director or Director of PRA and assists in the scheduling, coordination and training of all newly hired Patients' Rights Advocates and Monitoring and Investigations Specialists.

The Lead Patients' Rights Advocate responds to and investigates complaints of abuse, neglect, or patients' rights violations, particularly for clients who are involuntarily detained. This position will be based in the field with only minimal time spent in the office. The Lead Advocates work involves visiting facilities throughout Alameda County to investigate complaints received from clients and others, conducting planned and unplanned monitoring for compliance with mental health treatment laws and documenting findings from these activities. This position performs the responsibilities of County Patients' Rights Advocates pursuant to W&I Code 5520. The work also includes providing education and consultation regarding mental health laws to treatment providers, mental health clients, law enforcement, and the community.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Receives complaints from consumers of mental health treatment, family members, and/or other concerned parties
• Responds promptly to complaints and interviews the complainant by phone or in person at the facility
• Investigates complaints of violations in the utilization of involuntary detention, involuntary medication, seclusion and behavioral restraints
• Conducts investigations: gathers evidence, interviews witnesses, reviews client records and facility protocols to substantiate claims
• Draws conclusions based on the available evidence and drafts summary report
• Prepares investigation reports and maintains investigation files
• Completes investigation reports within required timelines
• Conducts focused monitoring of reported and suspected abuse and neglect trends in facilities where mental health clients are detained
• Conducts interviews of staff members and patients and performs thorough chart review
• Completes detailed monitoring documentation and writes high quality investigative reports
• Works with facilities to resolve issues discovered during monitoring or investigations
• Provides education and consults with mental health providers on issues related to patients' rights, due process for involuntary treatment and other mental health statutes
• Provides daily and ongoing support in the field to Patients' Rights Advocates and Monitoring Investigations Specialists
• Provides training for all newly hired Patients' Rights Advocates and Monitoring Investigations Specialists
• Provides ongoing observations and training to Patients' Rights Advocates and Monitoring and Investigations Specialists in the field.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate of Arts (AA) Degree
• Two years experience working as a Title 9, County Patients' Rights Advocate
• Demonstrated knowledge of codes and regulations governing patients' rights and mental health treatment (Lanterman-Petris-Short Act)
• Understanding of the principles of performing investigations and monitoring or performing high quality management in a mental health facility
• Experience producing high quality reports, with strong attention to detail
• Ability to provide training in a manner that meets the needs of adult learners
• Solid written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with MS Office 365 software applications including: Email (Outlook), Documents (Word), Spreadsheets (Excel), Presentations (PowerPoint), and Collaborative Work (Teams)
• Ability to gather information, analyze facts and derive conclusions based on known facts
• Experience working with diverse and vulnerable populations
• Have active deep listening skills that demonstrate responsiveness and sensitivity to complex and changing situations
• Must have a valid CA drivers license, daily access to a working motor vehicle, maintain legally required auto liability insurance, and have an acceptable motor vehicle report as determined by MHAAC's insurance broker
• Must successfully pass a fingerprint background check by CA DOJ and the FBI

ADDITIONAL DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree (BA)
• Prior experience as a Lead Patients' Rights Advocate or Monitoring and Investigations Specialist
• Bilingual in an Alameda County threshold language: Cantonese, Farsi, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese

HOURS OF WORK: Full-time, Tuesday and Wednesday 8 am - 5:30 pm; Thursday and Friday 11 am - 8:30 pm. The Lead Specialist will routinely be required to work on legal holidays

WORK LOCATION: 2855 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705. The Lead Specialist will be based in the field with only minimal time spent in the office. This position is not eligible to telecommute except in an emergency and/or with limited approval.

COVID CONSIDERATIONS: Air purifiers in the office.

SALARY: $31.85 per hour (approx. $59,620 annually) Position is eligible for 4.5% Bilingual Pay Differential if fluent in a county threshold language. Employee benefits include generous vacation, sick leave, and health/dental insurance. Required travel for clients and meetings is reimbursed at the federal reimbursement rate

The Mental Health Association of Alameda County is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and/or physical), those who exercise the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender identity/expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

We are also committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to foster and inclusive and accountable workplace where everyone has the opportunity to be successful. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position or participate in the interview process, then please connect with us and describe the specific accommodation request for your disability-related limitation.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $31.85 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Tuesday and Wednesday 8 am - 5:30 pm; Thursday and Friday 11 am - 8:30 pm

COVID-19 considerations: Air purifiers in the office.

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Berkeley, CA 94705: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education/ Experience:

• Associate of Arts (AA) degree (Required)
• 2 years Experience as a Title 9 Patients' Rights Advocate (Required)

Work Location: Multiple location

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