Mental Health Patients

Mental Health Assn of Alameda County•Berkeley, CA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC) is a nonprofit organization that assists and advocates for people with mental illness and their family members. Its Patients' Rights Advocacy Program works to ensure that people receiving mental health treatment receive quality care in compliance with applicable codes and regulations. Advocates inform patients about their rights, respond to complaints, investigate alleged violations, monitor facilities for compliance, represent patients during hearings, and educate facility employees, family members, and the public about patients' rights. This role represents patients in Alameda County facilities and hearings, supports adolescents in the Independent Clinical Review process, investigates possible rights violations including abuse or neglect, and responds to questions about voluntary and involuntary mental health treatment. The position is based in Berkeley and involves local travel of up to 300 miles per month. It offers a flexible Monday-to-Friday schedule, with an eight-hour shift generally scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A hybrid schedule may be available after successful completion of the three-month introductory period. Compensation is $27.51 per hour. The organization describes a supportive and collaborative work environment, on-the-job training, and employee benefits including paid medical and dental insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement. Required travel for meetings is reimbursed at the federal mileage rate.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalency.
Ability to work professionally and effectively with people with mental illness and champion patients' ability to be self-determining.
Ability to conduct efficient informal investigations and quickly determine relevant facts.
Ability to maintain patient confidentiality and follow MHAAC document transport and storage guidelines.
Must pass a background check, including review of State and Federal exclusion lists and Livescan fingerprinting.
Valid California driver's license, a motor vehicle available for daily use, required auto insurance, and an acceptable driving record as determined by MHAAC's insurance broker.
Ability to travel locally up to 300 miles per month.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook and Word.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree.
Prior work as a Patients' Rights Advocate and/or Certification Review Hearing Representative.
Knowledge of California mental health law, especially provisions governing involuntary treatment.
Experience representing clients at non-judicial hearings, such as Social Security Disability Appeals hearings.
Familiarity with the Alameda County mental health service system.
Bilingual English and Spanish skills.
Experience delivering services using video-based platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Responsibilities

Represent patients residing in LPS-designated facilities throughout Alameda County.
Represent patients and residents in certification review hearings involving potential involuntary detention of up to 14 days, and in capacity hearings involving potential involuntary psychotropic medication treatment.
Support adolescents in the Independent Clinical Review process.
Conduct interviews in preparation for hearings.
Complete thorough and timely documentation of assigned hearings.
Investigate allegations of patients' rights violations, including possible abuse or neglect.
Monitor facilities, services, and programs for compliance with patients' rights statutes and mental health treatment regulations.
Respond to complaints from mental health consumers, facility residents, family members, and other concerned individuals.
Educate patients and residents about their rights and the hearing process.
Respond to inquiries about laws and procedures concerning voluntary and involuntary mental health treatment.

Benefits

Competitive salary of $27.51 per hour.
Eligible for a first pay increase after successful completion of the three-month introductory period.
Some positions are eligible for a 4.5% bilingual pay differential for proficiency in an Alameda County threshold language.
100% paid medical and dental insurance for the employee.
401(k) retirement program.
Employee Assistance Program with free telehealth access to doctors and licensed therapists.
14 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's.
Vacation leave of two weeks per year, increasing to four weeks by the fourth year of employment.
Sick leave and paid time off.
Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel at the federal reimbursement rate, currently $0.725 per mile.
Paid volunteer time off.
Tuition reimbursement.
Flexible spending account.
Life insurance.
Vision insurance.
On-the-job training.
Supportive and collaborative work environment.