Cerro Gordo County Mental Health Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

Cerro Gordo County Mental Health Advocate :   Part-time position available with Cerro Gordo County. The mental health advocate is appointed by order of the district court to represent the interests of juvenile and adult Cerro Gordo County residents who have been found to be seriously mentally impaired. Previous experience as a Mental Health Advocate preferred.

Applications will be accepted until 12 : 00 PM on October 3, 2025. Pre-employment physical, drug screen and criminal background check required.  Cerro Gordo County is an EOE. Applications can be completed online by visiting our website at :   www.cerrogordo.gov

Posted September 22, 2025

CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title : Cerro Gordo County Mental Health Advocate

Appointed by : Board of Supervisors

Employment Status : Part-time (approx. 24 hours per week)

Pay Range : Negotiable

FSLA : Non-exempt

Location : Cerro Gordo County

Date : September 22, 2025

Summary :

Pursuant to Iowa Code Section 229.19(1)(a), this is a position appointed by the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors. The compensation shall be set by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with personnel policies and the mental health advocate is considered a county employee.

The mental health advocate is appointed by order of the district court to represent the interests of juvenile and adult Cerro Gordo County residents who have been found to be seriously mentally impaired.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

The Advocate may attend hospitalization hearings when notified by the clerk of court pursuant to section 229.9A of the Iowa Code.

When appointed by the court, the Advocate shall contact each person found to be seriously mentally impaired within 5 days to exchange contact information and answer any questions. Within 15 days of the hearing, the Advocate shall have contact in person. The Advocate will review the client’s rights and describe the advocate’s duties. The Advocate will have periodic contact thereafter.

The Advocate shall adhere to strict confidentiality requirements of the Federal Government and Iowa Code regarding patient records. Necessary release of information forms shall be obtained when needed.

The Advocate shall maintain adequate records and statistics to ensure an accurate documentation profile of the involuntarily committed client and ensure the safe custody of these records.

The Advocate shall review all reports to the court submitted by medical providers pursuant to Chapter 229.14 and Chapter 229.15 and all court orders.

The Advocate shall advise the Court at any time it appears that an attorney is necessary to properly safeguard the client’s interests.

The Advocate shall communicate with medical personnel treating the client as necessary and review the client’s medical records.

The Advocate shall maintain appropriate records regarding travel mileage and expenditures for county reimbursement while performing the duties as advocate.

The Advocate will submit to the Cerro Gordo County Social Services Office by the 15th of each month a list of all individuals who received mental health advocate services during the previous month (Advocate Report). The report will include client name and contact information, place of committal, and date of last contact.

The advocate shall record client statistics and submit them annually to the Department of Human Services in the required format.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an individual in the advocate position and are not an exhaustive list of all job duties performed.

The advocate must comply with requirements in the Central Iowa Community Services (“CICS”) Advocate Services Agreement and Iowa Code Section 229.19.

Qualification Requirements :

Qualifications :

• Each Advocate shall meet the following qualifications :

Possess a bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours in a human services field (including, but not limited to, psychology, social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, education, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy) and at least one year of experience in the delivery of services to persons with mental illness; or

Hold an Iowa license to practice as a registered nurse and have at least three years of experience in delivery of services to persons with mental illness.

Statutory Requirements : Section 229.19(1)(a) states that the advocate shall not be an officer or employee of the department of human services, of a mental health region, of a county performing duties for a region, or of any agency or facility providing care or treatment to persons with mental illness.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed as follows are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required.

Knowledge of all statutory procedures and changes made from time-to-time by the Iowa Legislature and / or administrative agencies.

Ability to be readily available to confer with the Chief Judge / Hospitalization Referee / Magistrate of the Judicial District regarding the client’s progress.

Ability to maintain communication with various agencies where the client has been committed.

Ability to effectively communicate with others, to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to interact positively with the Judges of the District, persons with mental illnesses, attorneys of the district, community support groups, case managers, District Court Clerks, County Attorney’s office, mental health professionals, County Social Services, County Human Resources staff, consumer groups, professionals of the various facilities and agencies where the client receives treatment and others as necessary.

In order to be reimbursed for miles driven on county business, the Advocate shall possess a valid operator’s license, maintain an acceptable driving record, and provide a certificate of insurance with the following minimum limits :

$100,000 bodily injury for each person

$300,000 bodily injury for each occurrence

$100,000 property damage OR

$300,000 single limit for all liability.

Required Knowledge and Experience :

The candidate must have the ability to deal with medical and psychiatric situations, staff, patients, and a wide variety of professions and other participants.

The candidate must have the ability to handle confidential work with tact and discretion, to communicate effectively with all of the various agencies and parties involved, and to maintain effective working relationships with all of the individuals involved in the involuntary commitment process.

Previous experience as a Mental Health Advocate preferred.

Language Skills :

The ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and the general public.

Ability to deal with the general public in a tactful and courteous manner.

Ability to properly and effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

Reasoning Ability :

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions in written, oral, or diagram form.

Ability to apply common sense to solve problems or achieve work objectives. Ability to recognize work situations that require special attention.

Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, stand, sit and operate a motor vehicle.

The employee must have corrected 20 / 40 vision.

The employee must have a hearing ability not to exceed hearing loss greater than 50 decibels at any frequency.

Work Environment :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to physical harm caused by an emotional consumer or the general public.

The employee may work and / or drive in extreme hot, cold, rainy, snowy and windy weather conditions.

Comments :

Applicant will be subject to Criminal Background Check as well as Adult and Child Abuse record check.

Applicant will be subject to post offer, pre-employment drug and physical testing.

Cerro Gordo County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Cerro Gordo County is subject to and has adopted a policy in compliance with the 2008 Smokefree Air Act.

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