SENIOR DEPUTY PUBLIC GUARDIAN/EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS HOMELESSNESS

About the role

The Department of Mental Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Senior Deputy Public Guardian 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

• Develops care plans for the most complex clients in collaboration with the treatment team, and ensures that plans are properly implemented and monitored.
• Determines and authorizes appropriate living arrangements; and arranges for and authorizes physical, mental health, and substance use treatments, including the specific authority to require involuntary placement and treatment.
• Investigates the social, medical, and financial background of individuals referred for conservatorship or guardianship, including interviewing prospective conservatees and wards, their relatives, neighbors, landlords, treatment providers, police, and others to assess service needs and determine eligibility for public conservatorship or guardianship.
• Conducts investigations to determine whether a Lanterman-Petris Short (LPS) or Murphy conservatorship is appropriate for justice-involved individuals in forensic cases.
• Makes regular visits to clients to assess the quality of care, identify special needs, and either provide or coordinate personal services, such as obtaining clothing and other essential items.
• Establishes and monitors budgets and authorizes the expenditures of funds to meet conservatees needs in accordance with Probate Code, fiduciary responsibilities, and applicable policies and procedures.
• Locates, safeguards, inventories, and arranges for appraisals of all known assets, and prepares court documents to notify the court that the assets have been properly marshaled and protected.
• Identifies all financial resources to meet conserved client's needs and secures and maintains benefits and income sources to which the estate is entitled.
• Negotiates debt collection favorable to estate; secures property; procures health insurance coverage; and authorizes expenditures and payment of liabilities in favor of conserved clients.
• Notifies family members or concerned parties of conservatee deaths, and makes funeral arrangements according to burial instructions, cultural and faith-based requirements, and available resources.
• Prepares and negotiates pre-need funeral and burial arrangements when no prior instructions exist, while ensuring they align with cultural and faith-based practices and available resources.
• Prepares and assists County Counsel in the preparation of petitions for conservatorship.
• Prepares annual court reports to support the continuation of conservatorships and responds to promptly to court-ordered inquiries.
• Serves as the Court Deputy in the Mental Health Court, representing the Public Guardian.
• Serves as the Private Conservator Liaison, providing information on conservatorships, linking conservators to services, and assisting private conservators in navigating the mental health and conservatorship court systems.
• Travels out of county in personal vehicle to conduct periodic visits and annual reviews.

  Requirements

  • Two years as a Deputy Public Guardian in the County of Los Angeles.
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social sciences, behavioral sciences, business administration, or accounting or a closely-related field - AND - three years of experience administering conservatorships, guardianships or trusts in a public agency.
  • A Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social sciences, behavioral sciences, business administration, or accounting may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
  • Certification from the California State Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians and Public Conservators.
  • Ability to use personal vehicle to travel both within the county and out of county to conduct periodic visits, annual reviews and to conduct investigations.
  • A valid California Class C Driver License.

  Specialty Requirements

  Certification from the California State Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians and Public Conservators.

  Physical Class

  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.

  Additional Information

  During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.