Patient Advocate (Mental Health)

Our Mission

Consumers Self Help Center (CSHC) is a consumer run agency providing wellness supports, advocacy, housing, peer support, and education for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. The mission of CSHC is to develop and implement consumer driven programs and services based on the self-help philosophy and provide culturally competent and integrated co-occurring mental health and substance use services that support participants in a strength-based process of wellness and recovery based on empowerment, self-responsibility, and integration into the community.

Some of the many goals CSHC strive to provide is assistance in achieving the following for our members:

• Hope
• Empowerment
• Self-Worth
• Self-Responsibility and Self-Respect

Consumers Self Help Center is seeking a Patient’s Rights Advocate

Consumers Self Help Center is seeking individuals who will represent consumer interests as defined by Consumers. Patients' Rights Advocates serve Sacramento County mental health Consumers for purposes of rights advocacy, ensures the statutory and constitutional rights of consumers, rights violation complaint review, and legal representation in matters of involuntary detention of clients for treatment purposes. Advocates are individuals with Lived Experience of receiving services in the mental health system and are able to use their experiences to provide lawful and client-centered advocacy supports.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Complete Patients' Rights Advocacy training as required (provided with initial hiring and ongoing)
• Represent the adult & adolescent clients’ expressed wishes at certification review.
• Honor and represent the client’s expressed wish in resolving complaints.
• Receive, investigate, and seek to resolve services to aid preventative, responsive, and complaints from clients or, concerning clients residing recovery oriented supports to mental health in licensed health or community care facilities.
• Monitor acute and sub-acute mental health facilities for adherence of statutory and regulatory patients' right provisions.
• Ensure that clients in licensed health and community care facilities are notified of their legal rights.
• Provide training and education to mental health providers about mental health laws and patients' rights.
• Have ongoing awareness of mental health field issues, patient’s rights issues, and agency programs.
• Maintain good public relations.
• Exchange information and cooperate with the State Patients' Rights office.
• Collaborate with a spectrum of entities involved in client continuum of care, court appointed representation, community-based services to aid preventative, responsive, and recovery oriented supports to mental health consumers.
• Overall adherence to California's Welfare & Institutions Code for Patients' Rights Advocacy.
• Participation in agency activities as requested or directed.
• Adherence to general policies and procedures of CSHC.
• Complete additional required program and organizational trainings.
• Willing to receive directives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Consumer of mental health services or a family member preferred.
• The ability to advocate on behalf of the patient and uphold California's Welfare and Institutions Codes.
• Mental Health work experience (required).
• Advocacy experience (required).
• Ability to be assertive and compassionate.
• Knowledge of and commitment to self-help values and philosophy.
• The ability to work effectively with clients, volunteers, staff and other mental health professionals.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge and awareness of the mental health care delivery system and patients’ rights.
• Ability to work in a fast pace environment.
• Reliable and accountable.
• Strong time management skills.
• Ability to professionally navigate temporally pressured situations.
• Computer skills, Microsoft Word, Excel, outlook, etc.
• Covid-19 Immunization and last 2 recommended boosters.
• Required to complete necessary documentation regarding patient care, advocacy, and various engagements.
• Willingness to travel and conduct field work.
• Maintain consistent adherence to California's Welfare & Institutions Code requirements.
• DOJ background check is required.
• Maintain a cleared DMV record and up-to- date automobile insurance.
• Have reliable transportation.
• Multilingual encouraged but not required

COVID-19 considerations:
We provide in-person services, must be willing to go to psychiatric hospitals and interview clients. Must be willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if you are not already vaccinated or have proof of an exemption. Must be willing to travel throughout Sacramento County.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Morning shift
• No weekends

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $25