Behavioral Health Advocate – Pierce County Region

Title: Behavioral Health Advocate – Pierce County Region

Part Time / Full Time: Full Time

Hourly / Salary: Hourly

Pay Scale: $30.70 – $33.30

Reports to: OBHA Director

Supervisory role: No

Candidates who identify with one or more of the following are STRONGLY encouraged to apply:

• Lived experience with addiction and/or mental health challenges and in recovery for at least one year.
• BIPOC identified individuals.
• LGBTQIA identified individuals.
• Veterans.

General Summary

The Office of Behavioral Health Advocacy (OBHA) is an independent body protecting the interests of Washingtonians engaged in behavioral health services and their loved ones by providing consulting, resources, advocacy, and mediation for complaints against behavioral health services by individual providers and facilities. As such, the OBHA directly upholds the rights of individuals who are experiencing challenges in the public and private behavioral health systems in one of the ten regions established across Washington State. The responsibility of the Behavioral Health Advocate is to represent the constituents of their assigned BHASO district and provide them with the full breadth of behavioral health advocacy services.

Primary Responsibilities

• Identify, investigate, and resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, service recipients and/or their supports who are receiving behavioral health services by providers or facilities.
• Assist and advocate on behalf of service recipients or their supports or behavioral health providers or facilities before government agencies seeking administrative, legal or other remedies on their behalf, if appropriate
• Inform service recipients or their loved ones and their representatives about applicable patient and resident rights and information.
• Recruit, train, supervise and mentor an Advocacy Coordinator (if applicable) and volunteers.
• Identify annual goals and ensure direct reports can meet those goals.
• Support and/or advocate for service recipients or their loved ones in resolving grievances up to and including appeals and fair hearings.
• Build and maintain working relationships with area behavioral health service providers.
• Provide referrals to other government offices when issues presented do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Behavioral Health Advocate
• Build relationships with staff, members, and community stakeholders to provide services that best serve the needs of those seeking OBHA services.
• Facilitate monthly Regional Advisory Committee meetings.
• Report quarterly to the Behavioral Health Advisory Board for the region assigned on service area recommendations.
• Informing and educating individuals, family members, stakeholders, and area service providers on the services that OBHA provides and the rights of individuals receiving behavioral health services.
• Respond to all phone calls and emails within five business days.
• Must be available to address extreme issues that occur during agency hours
• Work with your direct reports and other staff in the planning and logistics for all OBHA specific events
• Maintain clear communication with staff and volunteers. This includes keeping the Director updated on weekly schedules and copied on all important communication.

Required Qualifications

• Must identify as a peer: someone with lived experience and in recovery for a period of at least one year.
• High School Diploma / GED
• Valid driver’s license
• Two years of experience in behavioral health advocacy or mediation or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Have a working knowledge of federal and state contract requirements, department functions, policies, practices, and methods to effectively perform duties as assigned.
• Recent or current management experience: supervision, volunteer management, project management, reporting, budgets, conflict resolution, scheduling, etc.
• Must have great organizational, documenting, communication, and program development skills.
• Must be trained and certified as a peer recovery coach through a Peer Washington led training within 6 months of hire.
• Ability to be an active listener by asking questions and reflecting on what is being said.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computer software: Microsoft Office Products, database/CRM systems and Smartsheet.
• Ability to work both independently and under supervision.
• Ability to maintain healthy boundaries with peers.
• Ability to manage time effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Conflict resolution experience
• Experience with documentation via database

Additional Responsibilities

This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities. In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the Behavioral Health Advocate will be responsible for any additional tasks that are assigned by the Director.

Additional Compensation

• Starting Wage $ 30.70 - $ 33.30 per hour DOE
• Paid Vacation Time – 3 weeks per year, accrued at 4.615hrs per biweekly pay period, 120-hour maximum annual carryover.
• Paid Sick Time – 80 Hours per year, accrued at 3.077hrs per biweekly pay period, 480-hour maximum annual carryover.
• Two Personal Days if hired prior to May 8, 2025. Three Personal Days per quarter thereafter. Personal days do not carry over from year to year, have no monetary value, and are forfeited upon employment separation.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Long-Term Disability; employee premiums covered by employer at 100% for employees.
• Simple IRA through Charles Schwab with an employer match of up to 3%
• Employee Assistance Program through Mutual of Omaha
• Work cell phone through AT&T
• Peer Washington covers the employee portion of Washington Unemployment and Paid Family Medical Leave at 100%.

If you would like to apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $30.70 - $33.30 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

• Pierce County, WA (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Pierce County, WA: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $31 - $33