Monitoring and Investigations Specialist

Mental Health Assn of Alameda County•Berkeley, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is for someone passionate about civil rights and the humane care of mental health clients, willing to champion their rights. The team of advocates provides essential oversight of mental health facilities, preventing neglect and abuse. They ensure clients are treated with kindness through visiting facilities, interacting with clients and staff, and identifying concerns to safeguard the rights of those receiving services. The role partners with ethical providers to positively transform mental health treatment services. The Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC) is a well-established non-profit organization that assists and advocates for people with mental illness and their family members. 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.

Requirements

Associate of Arts (AA) Degree
One year of paid or volunteer experience in 24-hour mental facility OR Two years experience in mental health/social services
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
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 be able to provide proof of full Covid 19 vaccination plus CDS and/or Alameda County recommended boosters
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

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree (BA)
Experience working as an advocate, case manager, or mental health tech
Experience providing training to groups of adult learners
Knowledge of codes and regulations governing patients' rights and mental health treatment (Lanterman-Petris-Short Act)
Bilingual in an Alameda County threshold language: Arabic, Cantonese, Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese

Responsibilities

Following up on accusations of client mistreatment in Alameda County mental health facilities.
Responding to and investigating complaints of abuse, neglect, or patients' rights violations, particularly for clients who are involuntarily detained.
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.
Documenting findings from these activities.
Providing education and consultation regarding mental health laws to treatment providers, mental health clients, law enforcement, and the community.
Receiving complaints from consumers of mental health treatment, family members, and/or other concerned parties.
Responding promptly to complaints and interviewing the complainant by phone or in person at the facility.
Investigating complaints of violations in the utilization of involuntary detention, involuntary medication, seclusion and behavioral restraints.
Gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, reviewing client records and facility protocols to substantiate claims.
Drawing conclusions based on the available evidence and drafting summary reports.
Preparing investigation reports and maintaining investigation files.
Completing investigation reports within required timelines.
Conducting focused monitoring of reported and suspected abuse and neglect trends in facilities where mental health clients are detained.
Conducting interviews of staff members and patients and performing thorough chart review.
Completing detailed monitoring documentation and writing high quality investigative reports.
Working with facilities to resolve issues discovered during monitoring or investigations.
Providing education and consulting with mental health providers on issues related to patients' rights, due process for involuntary treatment and other mental health statutes.

Benefits

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