Complaint Investigator / Mental Health Specialist III - Community Counseling Solutions

Hermiston, OR 97838

About the Job

Civil Commitment Abuse Complaint Investigator Mental Health Specialist III

Job Details:

Job Type: Full-time

Hermiston, OR

Description:

Provides culturally competent and appropriate behavioral health treatment to people served by Community Counseling Solutions (CCS). The position provides the treatment in accordance with the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR’s) and the mission and values of CCS. This position will have three primary responsibilities: 1) provide Mental Health Civil Commitment Investigations for Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam, Grant and Umatilla Counties, 2) conduct abuse, neglect and death investigations for CCS, and 3) review and address complaints that come in. This position is based in Hermiston, Oregon and will be provided for Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam, Grant and Umatilla County. Periodically, support may be provided to Lake County.

SUPERVISION

Supervision Received

This position is supervised by the Law Enforcement Liaison Supervisor.

Supervision Exercised

This position does not supervise other employees.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Mental Health Investigator:

Conduct investigations of clients, perform mental health assessment, and interview allegedly mentally ill individuals.
Collect, organize, analyze, and evaluate medical, mental health, and social information from treatment records and medical charts; consult with medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement, family members, and friends to collect additional information.
Present findings, prepare hearing reports, and make legal recommendations to the circuit court based upon criteria outlined in ORS 426(link is external). Testify as needed.

Abuse and Death Investigator:

Investigates and Assesses Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation and conducts Death Reviews.
Gathers and assesses pertinent information about reports and makes appropriate decisions regarding priority for investigation.
Investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults with developmental disabilities. Provides information of APS/OTIS investigation procedures to clients, caregivers, family members, staff, brokerages and others.
Interviews clients, caregivers, family members, service providers and others concerning allegations of abuse. Appropriately uses diverse methods to elicit information from people with intellectual, functional or communication limitations.
Conducts an assessment of the individual situation, including environment, physical health, mental functioning and financial aspects. Identifies physical, emotional and behavioral indicators of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Assesses individual, family, and environmental contributors to abuse, neglect and exploitation. Uses relevant information in determining case finding.
Plans with victims and others for immediate safety needs and takes emergency action if necessary.
Seeks consultation from care providers on complex and/or problematic cases under investigation; provides technical assistance and recommendations to staff and community partners on potential cases of abuse and exploitation; reviews assessment and case planning when requested by agency case managers; initiates or recommends “client alerts” on high risk cases.
Coordinate and communicate with community partners, including law enforcement, the courts, District Attorney and defense counsel and other state and local agencies. This position is regional and will work with the counties of Wheeler, Gilliam, Grant, Morrow, and Umatilla and will coordinate across three (3) judicial districts and five (5) circuit courts. Periodically this position might provide coverage for the Developmental Disabilities program for investigations in all above counties and additionally Lake County.
Actively participate in joint case planning and coordination with agency employees and relevant agency contractors. Act as a liaison between clients and other agencies. Act as a client advocate when appropriate.

Complaints:

Reviews complaints when received. Follow up with complainant, interview others as needed, and gather information.
Determine steps for resolution and any findings. Convey what can legally be conveyed to complainant. Communicate results with relevant supervisors and administration and log appropriately. Follow up if requested.

All positions:

When appropriate, prepares documentation and evidence to support protective services actions such as seeking and assisting with restraining orders, a protective order, court commitments, guardianship and/or other court related activities.
Understands basic principles of personal accounting sufficient to conduct investigation for purpose of safeguarding client's funds.
Skilled in a variety of evidence gathering techniques including: photography, review of medical/financial records, interviews by phone and in person.
Effectively gathers information from clients, family members, health professionals, staff and others concerning suspected abuse/neglect/exploitation and when conducting death reviews.
Understands and utilizes information for cases involving providers, families, clients, community partners and others involved.
Upon completion of the investigation, prepares written findings, including any required actions to respond to abuse or prevent further abuse of the adult.
Demonstrates through written report the findings of inconclusive, not substantiated or substantiated using the preponderance of the evidence standard of proof.
When relevant Ability to utilize state required format for written reports.
Develops effective relationships and coordinates investigations with law enforcement and the legal system, as appropriate.
Work with other staff and community representatives to initiate new programs, reviews, evaluates and revises existing programs as necessary.
Provide behavioral health and addiction education, prevention and information to various interest groups.
Provide after hours emergency services on a 24 hour, rotating basis to adults and children. This includes telephone consultation and crisis intervention in the community.
Complete all paperwork in a way that is professional, clinically sound and timely as prescribed by the OAR’s and other pertinent guidelines. Required to ensure that all paperwork is present, and/or the client record is well maintained.
Attend trainings, meetings, conferences, etc. as directed by administration and use the information gathered to benefit the agency and the customers.
Utilize agency software/computer systems to prepare current client records of treatment and reports as necessary and required.
Transport clients as required.
Other responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and/or Experience:

A Master’s degree from an accredited college in social work, psychology or other human service related field is required.

Certifications:

Must have or be able to obtain certification from the Department of Human Services as a Certified Mental Health Investigator.
Must have or be able to be certified as an Investigator from the Office of Training, Investigations and Safety.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Must possess, or have the ability to acquire, knowledge of symptoms and challenges faced by people with mental illness, addictions and developmental disabilities. Must have, or possess the ability to acquire, knowledge about relevant OAR’s.
Must have the ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing and have the ability to work independently and complete all designated tasks and/or assignments in a thorough and timely fashion.
Must have skills to professionally work with the public and the ability to coordinate services across various agencies and community groups.
Must be able to develop cooperative and respectful relationships with clients and their families.
Must have knowledge, or the ability to acquire knowledge, about the recovery model.
Must possess the ability to represent the interest of the customer and the agency in a favorable light in the community.
Must have the ability to work well with teams and other groups of individuals.
Must be computer literate and have the ability to type and utilize word processing and other software programs/systems.
The position requires the handling of highly confidential information. Must adhere to rules and laws pertaining to client confidentiality.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS:

Must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536-181.537 and in accordance with OAR 410-007-0200 through 410-007-0380.
In addition to a pre-employment background check, each employee, volunteer and contractor shall be checked on a monthly basis against the OIG and GSA exclusion lists, as well as other federal and state agency lists. If it is discovered that an employee, volunteer or contractor is excluded or sanctioned it will be the cause for immediate termination of employment, volunteering, or the termination of the contract.

PERSONAL AUTO INSURANCE:

Must hold a valid driver’s license as well as personal auto insurance for privately owned Vehicles utilized for CCS business such as client service purposes, travel between.
business offices and the community, to attend required meetings and trainings.
Must show proof of $300,000 or more liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage, and maintain said level of coverage for the duration of employment at CCS.
The employee’s insurance is primary with CCS insurance being secondary. CCS reserves the right to deny any employee the use of a vehicle owned by CCS.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use office automation including computer and phone systems that require find manipulation, grasping, typing and reaching.
The employee is also regularly required to sit; talk and hear; use hands and fingers and handle, smell or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop; kneel and/or squat when adjusting equipment or retrieving supplies.
The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Source : Community Counseling Solutions