Patients´ Rights Monitoring & Investigations Specialist

Do you have experience working in mental health facilities?

Do you want to see quality mental health care in your community?

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

Have you worked in a mental health facility and want to support competent & compassionate treatment? Consider this position if you are passionate about supporting the civil rights for people receiving mental healthcare. We seek an extraordinary individual to join our team to provide essential oversight of mental health facilities in Alameda County. Our goal is to prevent neglect or abuse and ensure that clients are treated with kindness. This team of patients' rights advocates support clients and partners with ethical providers to foster positive transformation of our mental health treatment community. We investigate and resolve concerns of abuse, neglect or rights violations. We provide education & consultation to treatment providers in their effort to maintain compliance with legal requirements. If you consider this worthwhile work, then 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.

WE OFFER:

• Competitive salary
• Eligible for first pay increase after successful completion of 3-month introductory period
• Some positions eligible for 4.5% Bilingual Pay Differential for fluency in an Alameda County threshold language
• 100% paid medical and dental coverage for the employee
• Generous time off benefits: 14 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Years
• Vacation leave 2 weeks per year, increases to 4 weeks by year four of employment
• Paid lunch break
• Reimbursement for work related travel
• Paid volunteer time off
• Supportive and collaborative work environment
• Tuition reimbursement
• On the job training

The Patients' Rights Monitoring & Investigations Specialist reports to the Director of Training and Advocacy and is responsible for following up on accusations of client mistreatment in Alameda County mental health facilities.

The Monitoring & Investigations Specialist is a Title 9, County Patients' Rights Advocate charged with investigating complaints of abuse, neglect, or violations of patients' rights statues, particularly for clients who are on involuntary mental health holds. This position also conducts planned and unplanned monitoring for compliance with statues governing mental health treatment in facilities throughout Alameda County. The Specialist covers the responsibilities of County Patients' Rights Advocates as described in W&I Code, §5520 which also includes providing education and consultation regarding mental health laws and treatment providers, mental health consumers, law enforcement and members of the community.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Conducts focused monitoring of reported and suspected abuse and/or neglect in mental health treatment facilities and tracks trends
• Receives complaints from consumers of mental health treatment, family members and other concerned parties
• Conducts investigations of complaints, utilizing collections of evidence and drawing conclusions based on knowable facts
• Monitors treatment facilities for compliance with state, CMS, and the Joint Commission requirements in the use of seclusion and/or behavioral restraints
• Works with facilities to resolve issues discovered during monitoring or investigation
• Conducts interviews of staff members and patients and performs chart reviews
• Provides educational training to mental health facility workers about mental health law and patients' rights

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate of Arts (AA) Degree
• One year of voluntary or paid experience working in 24-hour mental health facilities - OR - Two years experience working in mental health/ social services
• Experience in documentation and writing high-quality reports
• Highly developed understanding of the principles of performing investigations and monitoring - OR - performing quality management in a mental health facility
• 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)
• 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 be able to provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination and proof of Omicron-FLiRT booster shots, if eligible
• Must successfully pass a fingerprint background check by CA DOJ and the FBI

ADDITIONAL DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree (BA)
• Bilingual in an Alameda County threshold language: Cantonese, Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese
• Knowledge of codes and regulations governing the treatment of mental health disorders
• Experience working as an advocate or case manager
• Experience providing training
• Experience delivering services using video-based platforms such as Zoom

HOURS OF WORK: Full-time, Tuesday through Friday 12 noon to 8 pm and Saturday 9 am to 5 pm

WORK LOCATION: 2855 Telegraph Ave, Suite 501, Berkeley, CA 94705

COVID CONSIDERATIONS: All staff are required to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination and Omicron-FLiRT booster shots.

SALARY: $27.30 per hour (approx. $56,780 annually) plus 4.5% Bilingual Pay Differential - if fluent in a county threshold language. Employee benefits include generous vacation, sick leave, health/dental insurance, and 401K retirement plan. 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.