Deputy Public Guardian Trainee​/Emergency Appointments Homelessness

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

EXAM NUMBER

b1495D-EA

FILING START DATE

3/26/2025 at 8:00 a.m. (PT)

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

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.

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

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, guardian ships 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.

• 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, guardian ships and trusts including the appropriate use of surrogate decision making for conserved clients.
• Identifies, coordinates, and authorises 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…