LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 609.03 Employee Recognition Program
 
  PROCEDURES
  1. The Manager, along with the ERT, will plan for, develop, implement and execute a program and provide opportunities to recognize and reward exceptional individual and team achievement for directly operated staff and programs. Recognition may be accomplished both formally and informally. A formal recognition event, Employees of the Year Awards, will be conducted annually.
     
    1. The Employee of the Year award categories include:
       
      1. Program Support - for those employees who work in client service settings and provide support to those programs and service delivery staff.
         
      2. Headquarters Support - for those employees who work within the Headquarters Bureaus to support the general operations of the entire Department.
         
      3. Service to Consumers - for those employees who provide direct treatment/ rehabilitative/consultative services to clients in an outpatient, hospital, jail, juvenile or field setting.
         
      4. Supervisor - for those employees who work in any supervisory capacity to other employees including supervisors of program support staff, headquarters support staff and service to consumers staff.
         
      5. Management - for those employees who work in middle or upper management positions.
         
      6. Program Category - for a Bureau, Unit or Program within a Bureau that has demonstrated program qualities of excellence.
         
    2. In addition, a Service Innovations Festival will be conducted annually to recognize DMH and contract provider agencies to include programs for all special-age groups in the areas of:
       
      1. Treatment Team Approach - a team approach that integrates and client with family members, partner agencies, community services and resources.
         
      2. Client/Family Focused Interventions - a program that emphasizes a client and family friendly environment and/or provides early intervention efforts for families.
         
      3. Co-Occurring Disorders - a program that integrates and provides seamless mental health and substance abuse services emphasizing a course of action, creative solutions and negotiation tactics resulting in a successful, collaborative treatment.
         
      4. Anne Barone, M.D. Quality Improvement Award - a Service Area Quality Improvement Team that has demonstrated quality improvement distinction by monitoring performance activities focusing on the system of care, program and client services throughout the Department.
         
  2. NOMINATION PROCESS
     
    1. The Nomination Application for Employee of the Year form shall be completed by the supervisor and submitted to the ERP Manager.
       
    2. The Nomination Application for Program of the Year form shall be completed by the Program or Bureau manager and submitted to the ERP Manager.
       
    3. Nomination Applications for Employee of the Year and/or Program of the Year may be submitted by an employee with the endorsement of the Program Head/District Chief.
       
    4. The Nomination Application for the Service Innovations Festival shall be completed by the contract agency or DMH program and submitted to the ERP Manager.
       
  3. SELECTION PROCESS
     
    1. Nomination applications will be evaluated by the ERT on the basis of the documentation of the individual’s accomplishments, dedication and service. Consideration will also be given to the employee’s contributions to productivity improvements and superior individual job performance.
       
    2. The selection of winners in the various Employee of the Year categories as well as the recipients of Service Innovations Festival awards will be determined by the ERT. Predetermined scoring and rating tools will be used. The Director will have final approval of the ERT selections.
       
  4. OTHER AWARDS/RECOGNITION
     
    1. County Employee of the Month Nominee The nominee will be selected by the ERT from among the Employees of the Year (line personnel) eligible award recipients. The nomination will be forwarded to the County Department of Human Resources for consideration as the County Employee of the Month for May.
       
    2. Other County, State and National award application shall be completed by the individual or program supervisor and submitted to the ERP Manager. The Director must endorse the entry prior to the submission of the application to the appropriate organization.
       
    3. On-The-Spot Recognition of Excellence in County Service forms are available to recognize individuals “on-the-spot” to express appreciation for a job well done. The original certificate will be presented to the individual with a copy submitted to the ERP Manager. “On-The-Spot” narratives will be forwarded to the editor of the DMH newsletter, Minds and Matters, for incorporation in the Kudos column.