Monitoring and Investigations Specialist

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. 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.

• 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

• 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 be able to provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination and proof of Omicron specific booster shots, if eligible
• Must successfully pass a fingerprint background check by CA DOJ and the FBI

• 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: Cantonese, Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese

• 8 hour shift, Hybrid work schedule

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

• Associate of Arts (AA) degree (Required)
• Mental Health/Social Services: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: One location