senior deputy public guardian/emergency appointments homelessness - Los Angeles - Los Angeles County

Description

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

EXAM NUMBER

b1497C-EA

FILING START DATE

The application filing period will begin on January 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (PT). This examination will remain open until the need of the service is met and is subject to close 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 Senior Deputy Public Guardian 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. During 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 Senior Deputy Public Guardian.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop care plans for the most complex clients in collaboration with the treatment team, and ensure that plans are properly implemented and monitored.
• Determine and authorize appropriate living arrangements; and arrange for and authorize physical, mental health, and substance use treatments, including the specific authority to require involuntary placement and treatment.
• Investigate the social, medical, and financial background of individuals referred for conservatorship or guardianship, including interviewing prospective conservatees and wards, their relatives, neighbors, landlords, treatment providers, police, and others to assess service needs and determine eligibility for public conservatorship or guardianship.
• Conduct investigations to determine whether a Lanterman-Petris Short (LPS) or Murphy conservatorship is appropriate for justice‑involved individuals in forensic cases. This includes individuals found incompetent to stand trial.
• Make regular visits to clients to assess the quality of care, identify special needs, and either provide or coordinate personal services, such as obtaining clothing and other essential items.
• Establish and monitor budgets and authorize the expenditures of funds to meet conservatees needs in accordance with Probate Code, fiduciary responsibilities, and applicable policies and procedures.
• Locate, safeguard, inventory, and arrange for appraisals of all known assets, and prepare court documents to notify the court that the assets have been properly marshaled and protected.
• Identify all financial resources to meet conserved client's needs and secure and maintain benefits and income sources to which the estate is entitled.
• Negotiate debt collection favorable to estate; secure property; procure health insurance coverage; and authorize expenditures and payment of liabilities in favor of conserved clients.
• Notify family members or concerned parties of conservatee deaths, and make funeral arrangements according to burial instructions, cultural and faith‑based requirements, and available resources.
• Prepare and negotiate pre‑need funeral and burial arrangements when no prior instructions exist, while ensuring they align with cultural and faith‑based practices and available resources.
• Prepare and assist County Counsel in the preparation of petitions for conservatorship.
• Prepare annual court reports to support the continuation of conservatorships and respond promptly to court‑ordered inquiries.
• Testify in court on issues related to the need for conservatorship, estate litigation, dependency cases, criminal matters, and civil court proceedings involving conserved clients or their dependent children.
• Ensure timely entry of documentation related to the investigation and administration of conservatorships, guardianships and trusts.
• Serve as the Court Deputy in the Mental Health Court, representing the Public Guardian.
• Serve as the Private Conservator Liaison, providing information on conservatorships, linking conservators to services, and assisting private conservators in navigating the mental health and conservatorship court systems.
• Travel out of county in personal vehicle to conduct periodic visits and annual reviews.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

• OPTION I: Two years as a Deputy Public Guardian in the County of Los Angeles.
• OPTION II: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social sciences, behavioral sciences, business administration, accounting, or a closely‑related field AND three years of experience administering conservatorships, guardianships or trusts in a public agency. A master's degree may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
• Must meet the above requirement(s) at the time of filing in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

SPECIALTY REQUIREMENTS

• Certification from the California State Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians and Public Conservators. Members of the Association are required to be in good standing status.
• Ability to use personal vehicle to travel both within the county and out of county to conduct periodic visits, annual reviews and to conduct investigations.
• Valid California Class C Driver License.
• Physical Class II – Light: Administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10‑pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

EXAMINATION CONTENT

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION

Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Social Security Number: Please include your Social Security Number for record‑control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT

Department Contact Name: Celia Yeung, Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone: 323‑705‑4249 or 213‑972‑7034

Department Contact Email: or

California Relay Services Phone: ‑2922

Teletype Phone: 800‑899‑4099

For additional information, please visit the Department of Mental Health website.