MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS HOMELESSNESS

About the role

The Department of Mental Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Mental Health Advocate vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Responsibilities

• Communicates, represents, and promotes the mental health services consumer's perspective within the continuum of care.
• Orients consumers' family members, significant others, and caregivers of mental health consumers to the mental health system in order to assist these parties to navigate the system and receive necessary services.
• Facilitates consumer, family member, and caregiver access to departmental and community resources and services provided by other community and public agencies by assisting with scheduling appointments and transportation; or by accompanying the consumer to meetings that affect their receipt of services in order to provide advocacy and support in meeting consumers' needs.
• Affords assistance to clients in developing independent living skills in activities such as housekeeping, cooking, shopping, budgeting, using public transportation, and attending to personal grooming and hygiene, etc. through demonstration and coaching.
• Affords assistance to clients with housing needs by facilitating access to residential care or permanent housing.
• Affords assistance to clients in participating with multi-disciplinary teams by assisting in formulating service goals and plans for achieving such goals.
• Conveys community and client cultural patterns and attitudes to mental health professional staff.
• Affords assistance to clients with obtaining and completing appropriate application forms for various benefits and services.
• Leads recovery dialogues and discusses common transitional experiences.
• Affords assistance as an interpreter for the client population.
• Recruits and trains volunteer mentors for clients transitioning into community living settings.
• Participates in conferences/meetings within the Department of Mental Health.
• Accompanies clients to appointments and self-help activities.
• Attends seminars and in-service trainings in connection with related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Training And Experience: Six (6) months of full-time paid or volunteer experience in mental health advocacy, performing duties such as interacting with clients or patients concerning mental health or social service matters, answering questions and providing information about mental health/social services and disability benefits, and coordinating group facilitations.
• Option II: Completion of a recognized peer, parent, or family advocate training program.
• License: A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Class

II – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Exam Content

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment.

Application and Filing Information

Applications must be submitted online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Additional Information

To qualify for Option II, a copy of the Training Certificate must be submitted with the application at the time of filing or email to Exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within 7 calendar days from date of application submission. Mental Health advocate training programs are offered by various Peer Run Organizations, Family Run Organizations, and Nationally accredited associations for delivering Mental Health Advocacy.