JOB

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

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

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to emergency Deputy Public Guardian Trainee.

DEFINITION:
Under close supervision, learns to perform and performs routine administration of conservatorships, guardianships and trusts that are referred to and fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Public Guardian.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
This is the entry-level/trainee in the Deputy Public Guardian Series. Positions allocable to this classification are allocated to the Department of Mental Health's Office of the Public Guardian and receive structured training and technical guidance in the performance of routine case administration of conservatorships, guardianships and trusts.

Positions allocated to this class report to a Supervising Deputy Public Guardian and may also receive technical guidance and mentorship from a Senior Deputy Public Guardian or higher.

Factors affecting allocation of positions in the Deputy Public Guardian Series include, but are not limited to, scope and complexity of assignments in the areas of investigations, training, case auditing, casework administration including management of estates, assets, trusts, associated fiduciary responsibilities, and decision-making authority. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES Learns common mental health, physical health and substance use terminology, diagnoses, and medications including ability to read and understand electronic health records.

Receives training on relevant legal codes, legal authority granted and legal requirements of conservatorships, guardianships and trusts including the appropriate use of surrogate decision making for conserved clients.

Identifies, coordinates, and authorizes supportive services to meet the needs of conserved clients including housing, medical and mental health, substance use, education, and social and vocational needs.

Prepares court reports for annual reevaluation of Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorships.

Learns to manage and manages basic conservatorship cases such as Person Only or Person and Estate with public assistance as only source of income and stabilized placement such as skilled nursing facilities.

Learns how to investigate the social, medical and financial background of persons referred for conservatorship or guardianship including interviewing prospective conservatees and wards, their relatives, neighbors, landlords, treatment providers, police, and others to determine and evaluate the need for services and determine whether eligible for public conservatorship or guardianship.
Learns to investigate and manage trusts including the review of trust documentation to determine if appointment as trustee is appropriate and within the jurisdiction of the Public Guardian.

Learns to and assists in establishing and monitoring of conservatees' and wards' budgets for care and treatment; pay bills, and other personal expenses.

Learns to prepare or assists County Counsel or outside attorneys in the preparation of petitions for conservatorship and guardianship or petitions for probate and administration, and other court documents.

Assists in making funeral arrangements according to burial instructions, provisions of the will, or departmental and court policy; and notifies relatives and other interested parties.

Enters and retrieves information relating to the administration of conservatorships, guardianships, or trusts.

Assists in the development of care plans, makes periodic visits to evaluate and monitor the delivery and quality of care given by treatment providers, determines special needs, and performs personal services such as obtaining clothing or other personal items.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

• Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination and selection process.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT.
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from the Class Specification, Minimum Requirements, and/or Special Requirement Information serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. In doing so, your application will be REJECTED as INCOMPLETE.

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).