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 or their loved ones receiving behavioral health services by providers or facilities.
Assist and advocate on behalf of service recipients or their loved ones 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 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 OBHA.
Build relationships with staff, members, and community stakeholders to provide services that best serve the needs of those seeking OBHA services.
Facilitate monthly Regional Behavioral Health Forums.
Report quarterly to the OBHA Advisory Council 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 in a timely manner.
Daily documentation for all encounters
Must be available to address extreme issues that occur outside of normal business 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 Program Director for your region and/or the OBHA 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 Washington 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.
Demonstrated proficiency with computer software: Microsoft Office Products, database/CRM systems such as EmpowerDB and Smartsheet
Ability to work both independently and under supervision.
Ability to maintain healthy boundaries with peers.
Excellent time management
Ability to research and gather information from the internet.
The ability to work a regular schedule.
Must work within assigned region.

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 regional Program Director or OBHA Director.

Additional Compensation

Starting Wage: $31.94 - $34.65 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 February 8th, one Personal Day if hired on or after February 8th, 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%.

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