Patients' Rights Advocate position available in Alameda County to advocate for the rights of mental health consumers while they are receiving treatment in mental health facilities/programs in the county of Alameda.
The Patients' Rights Advocacy/Patient Representation program deploys staff members to monitor psychiatric facilities in Alameda County and investigate complaints by mental health patients and residents when their rights may have been violated. Patients' Rights Advocates also provide patient representation at 1) Certification Review Hearings to determine the appropriateness of involuntary detention and hospitalization of mental health patients and 2) Capacity Hearings to determine whether a patient may be administered medication involuntarily (where the court is asked to decide whether a patient has the legal capacity to refuse or give informed consent to treatment with anti-psychotic medications). More extensive detail described at the bottom of this listing.
SALARY: $2,594.00 mo./100% FTE per month. (Required local travel is reimbursed at 55 cents per mile.) (Employee benefits include vacation, sick leave and health/dental/acupuncture/chiropractic insurance-details available.)
TO APPLY: To obtain a job description with full details, visit our website at "
http://www.mhaac.org" and click on "Employment". You may request an application be mailed to you by contacting Mental Health Association of Alameda County by telephone: (510) 835-5010
9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 30, 2009 at 5:00pm . Applications may be submitted in person, or by postal mail to;
Mental Health Association of Alameda County
Patients' Rights Advocate Application
954-60th St., Ste 10
Oakland, CA 94608
No applications may be submitted online or by fax.
EOE M/F/H/V
Additional detail:
The Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC) is an independent, nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. MHAAC assists and advocates on behalf of persons who have a mental illness and their families.
The Patients' Rights Advocacy/Patient Representation program deploys staff members to investigate complaints by mental health patients and residents that their rights have been violated. This program also provides patient representation at certification review hearings (where the issue is whether there is probable cause to certify a patient for up to 14 days of intensive, involuntary mental health treatment) and at capacity hearings (where the issue is whether the patient has the capacity to give informed consent to treatment with anti-psychotic medications).
THE POSITION
The occupant of this position will carry out the work of the Patients' Rights Advocacy/Patient Representation Program in Alameda County. Patients' Rights Advocacy includes: investigating and attempting to resolve complaints; monitoring facilities for compliance with patients' rights; and, training mental health staff members and informing patients about patient's rights. Patient Representation involves meeting with patients who have been certified for up to 14 days of intensive involuntary treatment or who are alleged to be incapable of giving informed consent, then providing appropriate assistance, including representation at Certification Review Hearings.
TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
* Ensure that notices which set forth the rights of mental health patients/residents are posted in
mental health facilities and residential programs.
* Respond to inquiries regarding patients' rights and laws and procedures on voluntary and
involuntary mental health treatment.
* Investigate complaints of patients' rights violations in a timely manner.
* Monitor mental health facilities, services, and programs for compliance with statutory and
regulatory patients' rights provisions.
* Provide training and education about mental health laws regarding patients' rights to mental
health providers.
* Act as an advocate on behalf of patients/residents who are unable to register a complaint
because of their own mental and/or physical conditions.
* Conduct interviews with involuntary patients who have been certified to: help each patient
understand the certification review process and the reasons given as to why he/she has been
certified; assist the patient in obtaining the presence of any other person(s) he/she may wish to
have at his/her hearing; explore with the patient any feasible alternatives to his/her continued
involuntary hospitalization; and, ascertain whether the patient wishes the Hearing
Representative to assist or to represent him/her at the Hearing. Also, arrange for an
interpreter, if needed.
* Provide assistance to and representation for involuntary patients whose treating psychiatrist
has petitioned the Superior Court for a ruling on the capacity of the patient to give informed
consent to anti-psychotic medication. This entails: interviewing the patient to assist him/her
in understanding informed consent and the capacity hearing process, and to determine what other
assistance the patient wants or needs in preparation for the hearing; carefully examining the
patient's medical record to monitor for compliance with the law regarding informed consent,
and interviewing facility staff when the record is incomplete; and, consulting with psychiatrists
or other treating staff prior to hearings when appropriate.
* Perform any other pre-hearing investigation which appears warranted, including review of the
patient's chart and other relevant documents.
* Attend Certification review and/or capacity hearings, providing whatever level of assistance or
representation each patient has requested.
* Maintain accurate and organized case records for patients who have Certification review or
capacity hearings or whose complaints regarding patients' rights violations have been
investigated.
* Prepare periodic reports and summaries regarding Hearing and investigation cases and the
outcomes.
* Work efficiently and effectively with patients, Hearing Officers, and mental health facility staff
members to provide high-quality advocacy for patients under certification.
* Other duties as assigned by the Program Director.
- Location: Alameda County
- Compensation: $2,594.00/mo. + benefits
- This is at a non-profit organization.
- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
- Please, no phone calls about this job!
- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.