Request for Qualifications to Provide Certification ... - County of Kern

April 16, 2013
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATION REVIEW HEARING SERVICES
The County of Kern, through its Mental Health Department is seeking, through a competitive process,
statements of qualifications from individuals who are interested in serving as Certification Review Hearing
Officers who will be utilized by the Department to preside over certification review hearings.
Certification Review Hearing Officers conduct certification review hearings, mandated by the State of
California, for adult and minor mental health clients who have been involuntarily detained at Kern County
inpatient psychiatric facilities. These hearings are conducted at the psychiatric facilities where the mental
health clients have been detained and the hearings are utilized to determine if there is probable cause to
continue detaining these individuals.
Certification Review Hearing Officers shall be a: state qualified administrative law hearing officer, medical
doctor, licensed psychologist, registered nurse, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family
therapist or an attorney. Certification Review Hearing Officers who are licensed psychologists or licensed
clinical social workers shall have a minimum of five (5) years of mental health experience.
No employee of the Kern County Mental Health Department or of any facility designated by the County and
approved by the Department of Health Care Services, to serve as a seventy-two (72) hour psychiatric
treatment and evaluation facility. may act as a Certification Review Hearing Officer.
The qualified individual must be able to demonstrate their:
1. Ability to clearly communicate the certification review hearing process to individuals who have been
involuntarily detained at inpatient psychiatric facilities.
2. Ability to conduct certification review hearings in a fair, efficient, and effective manner.
3. Experience working with individuals who have a mental illnesses and other disabilities as they
potentially relate to mental illnesses.
4. Knowledge of the applicable legal requirements and procedures, regarding the rights of individuals
who have been involuntarily detained at inpatient psychiatric facilities.
5. Knowledge of case law pertaining to involuntary mental health treatment and relevant court
decisions.
6. Knowledge of the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act; specifically those portions of the act pertaining
to involuntary mental health treatment and the certification review hearing process.
7. Ability to act as an impartial decision-maker in contested proceedings.
8. Availability to act as a Certification Review Hearing Officer a minimum of three times per month, but
perhaps as many as seven times per month on all weekdays except Wednesdays, until the
conclusion of the hearing process.
9. Availability to participate in quarterly certification review hearing officer training sessions conducted
by Office of County Counsel in conjunction with the Office of Patients’ Rights during 8:00 A.M. to
5:00 P.M., with the participants and trainers determining the specific times.

Request for Qualifications to Provide Certification Review Hearing Services Page 2 of 2
The Kern County Mental Health Department will review all statements of qualifications received to determine if
the individual meets the required qualifications.
Individuals who meet the required qualifications will be referred to an Evaluation Committee comprised of the
Kern County Mental Health Director, Kern County Public Defender’s Office, and the Office of County Counsel
or the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. This Evaluation Committee has been designated by the Kern
County Board of Supervisors to interview and select Hearing Officers for the Department.
Individuals referred for an interview will be rated by the Evaluation Committee on the statement of
qualifications submitted and the areas listed above.
Depending on the number of responses received, the Evaluation Committee may elect to interview the most
qualified individuals or may interview all individuals.
Individuals selected by the Evaluation Committee to provide certification review hearing officer services will be
offered the opportunity to enter into a Professional Services Agreement. Once successfully negotiated, each
Agreement will be submitted to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for approval. The Board may, at that
time, approve, modify or reject the Agreement at its discretion. If approved, the Agreement will begin on July
1, 2013.
All information submitted by qualified individuals will be retained by the Kern County Mental Health
Department. 2013.
Questions may be asked via e-mail only to Jewelle Scales, at jscales@co.kern.ca.us, no later than 12:00 noon
on Monday, May 6, 2013.
Qualified individuals are required to submit a detailed statement of qualifications, resume, curriculum vitae, and
a minimum of (3) three professional references that are able to verify prior Certification Review Hearing Officer
experience. References should include the name of the organization, contact person, and phone number or
email address.
All mail and electronic responses must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 15, 2013, to:
Jewelle Scales, Contract System Supervisor
Kern County Mental Health Department
P.O. Box 1000
Bakersfield CA 93302-1000
Fax: 661-868-6661
E-mail: jscales@co.kern.ca.us
All hand delivered responses must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2013, to:
Jewelle Scales, Contract System Supervisor
Kern County Mental Health Department
3300 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 100
Bakersfield, California 93301