Patients Rights Advocate

THE CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE SHASTA COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH ORAL EXAM IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 2026 SEE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SECTION REGARDING POSSESSION OF A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED FINAL FILING DATE

JUNE 03, 2026, AT 5:00 PM

SALARY INFORMATION

$4,963

• $6,335 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY
• / $28.63
• $36.55 APPROXIMATE HOURLY
• This position is in the United Public Employees of California
• General bargaining unit.

Please refer to the applicable bargaining unit labor agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) for potential future salary increases: Shasta County Labor Agreements

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with the community to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of Shasta County residents. HHSA is organized into four branches: Behavioral Health & Social Services, Public Health, Economic Mobility, and a centralized Administration Services. HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill, and those without resources look to HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, and to protect their health and safety. The Behavioral Health & Social Services Branch is dedicated to improving the well-being of our community through comprehensive mental health services and essential social services to adults, children, and families. By integrating both behavioral health and social support services, we strive to build a healthier community by ensuring individuals have the resources they need to achieve stability and wholeness. Children's Services encompass the services that help ensure children's mental and physical well-being are protected and safe. The Child Welfare division of the branch investigates alleged abuse and neglect of children, and it licenses foster and adoptive homes for children who are experiencing traumatic events in their lives such as the removal from their caregiver due to alleged abuse and neglect. This division also works within the confines of the Dependency Court to reunify families when and where they can demonstrate appropriate change to meet the safety needs of their children. The branch also encompasses children's mental health teams which work in conjunction with the Child Welfare division along with community providers to ensure that the youth that are being served are having their mental health and substance use challenges addressed. This branch also works with juvenile justice and education to coordinate services for clients. Adult Services focuses on services to support people eighteen and older. Adult mental health services include outpatient mental health care, 24-hour crisis stabilization services for people at risk of hospitalization, 24-hour crisis line, social rehabilitation residential services, long-term placement services and referrals to local non-profit organizations that provide additional services. This branch also provides Adult Protective Services to follow-up on elder abuse reports. In-Home Supportive Services help those who need assistance with daily activities in order to remain safely in their own homes, and the Public Authority keeps a registry that helps In-Home Supportive Services recipients find a screened caregiver to provide those services. The Public Guardian helps citizens who are unable to manage their personal and financial affairs and may require guardianship or conservatorship. Mental Health Services Act administration is also housed in the Adult Services Branch.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under direction, advocates for and protects the statutory and constitutional rights of individuals receiving mental health services, including representation at certification review hearings for patients receiving involuntary treatment; monitoring mental health facilities for compliance with patients' rights laws; providing patients' rights training and education; and performing other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This single position classification is utilized in the Mental Health department and works under the direction of the Director of Mental Health. This classification performs duties in accordance with the Patients' Rights Advocacy Program.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will have a background and experience in working specifically with, and advocating for, individuals who experience both acute and long term serious mental health issues and/or substance use disorders; have the ability to understand and navigate legal issues concerning involuntary treatment in both long term and acute secured treatment facilities; demonstrate an ability to interact effectively and professionally with a wide range of individuals, including patients/clients, treatment staff, and community members; possess strong public speaking, presentation, and training skills; demonstrate an ability to interact effectively with individuals who may be emotionally labile and/or present with a degree of disorganized thinking; be reliable, organized, and responsive in managing a fixed hearing schedule; demonstrate a commitment to client autonomy and the protection of patients' rights; and be generally a "detail oriented" person who possesses the ability to move through, and document, steps taken in accordance with a set of established protocols/policies. An Associate Arts (AA) degree, or higher, in the area of health and human services, or a related field is desirable. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Monitors mental health facilities, services and programs for compliance with statutory and regulatory patients' rights provisions; ensures that recipients of mental health services are notified of their rights; receives and investigates complaints from those residing in licensed health or community care facilities regarding abuse, unreasonable denial or punitive withholding of rights guaranteed under the provisions of Division 5 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code; reports violations of rights directly to the State Department of Mental Health; provides training and education on mental health laws and patients' rights to mental health providers; exchanges information and cooperates with the State Patients' Rights Office; advocates for involuntarily detained mental health service recipients at conservatory hearings and trials; interviews and counsels service recipients; may drive a vehicle in the course of business and may transport others. Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Knowledge of:

Basic civil commitment statutes and procedures; basic patients' rights in institutional and community facilities; basic administrative and judicial due process proceedings; basic service system financial entitlements and rights of persons receiving mental health services; interviewing techniques; advocacy ethics and principles.

Ability to:

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with recipients, providers, public administrators, community groups, and the judicial system; learn and apply appropriate state and federal laws; maintain confidential client information; investigate and assess complaints and screen for legal problems; make appropriate referrals; communicate well both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below. Education or experience equivalent to two (2) years of paid or volunteer experience in a human service agency. Mental health and/or paralegal background is preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possession of a valid California driver's license.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application Please describe what life experiences, both work and/or personal, you have had that you believe prepares you to work as a Patients' Rights Advocate in the field of mental health? What is your understanding of a person's right to make their own decisions about their healthcare services and treatment? Do you have an Associates Arts (AA) degree or higher? I acknowledge this position may require a valid California driver's license. I understand that if I do not answer supplemental questions, that my application may be considered incomplete and screened out?

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is frequently required to operate a motor vehicle and may occasionally drive for long distances. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account. Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position. As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application . Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit DOJ Right to Work Poster . If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flyer. In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly. Positions in this classification are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the United Public Employees of California

• General bargaining unit.

Employees in this classification are covered under the CalPERS retirement program. Depending on the provisions of the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and other applicable laws, an employee in this classification will be covered under one of the following CalPERS retirement formulas: (1) 2% at 55, (2) 2% at 60, or (3) 2% at 62. An employee in this classification will also contribute up to 9.5% of their pay to this plan or will contribute such other amount to the plan as authorized by PEPRA and other applicable laws. Please visit our employees benefit page at Shasta County Employee Benefits for additional information regarding benefits and CalPERS coverage information. The provisions in this flyer and on the County website are for information purposes only. To the extent the provisions of the flyer or the County website are inconsistent with PEPRA and other applicable laws, PEPRA and other applicable laws shall govern. Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 5:00 p.m., on June 03, 2026. A resume and/or cover letter will be accepted in addition to the application but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as "Refer to resume and/or cover letter," or "See attached resume and/or cover letter." The application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will not be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion in the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof.

Veterans' Credit:

Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran must provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) with the employment application on or before the final filing date. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at www.

ShastaCountyCareers.com or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office. Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345. Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting Fair Chance Act |

CRD . SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Shasta County Personnel 1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) 225-5515