Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

THIS IS A REOPENING OF AN EXISTING EXAMINATION.

The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you have previously submitted an application for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Examination #18-5384-01, and choose to reapply, you must contact the analyst at Nicole.Lewis-Bolton@acgov.org to have your previous application released back to you.  If you reapply, your new score/disposition will replace your current score/disposition. If you do not wish to change your score/disposition, you are not required to reapply. Please note that if you previously applied and qualified, you may not participate within six (6) months of your disposition notice. If you did not qualify, you may reapply sixty (60) days from your disposition notice.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Qualified bilingual persons who speak English and are also fluent in: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Korean, Mien, Tagalog, Amharic, Farsi, Dari, Tigrigna, Russian, Romanian or Sign Languages are especially encouraged to apply. There is an additional bi weekly compensation for persons in positions designated bilingual. Qualified candidates may be tested to demonstrate language proficiency.

THE COUNTY

Alameda County, located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is California's seventh-largest county.  The County employs 9,700 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $3.4 billion.  Oakland, the County seat, is California's eighth largest city.  One and a half million people call Alameda County home and live in a variety of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities and rural areas.  As a major urban county, Alameda provides a full range of services to its citizens.  The County is a blend of culturally and ethnically diverse communities, and its mixture of cosmopolitan and suburban areas provides the perfect environment for families and their active lifestyles.  The County offers extensive cultural resources, countless recreational opportunities and an array of fine public and private colleges and universities.  

THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY

Alameda County's Health Services Program is administered by the Health Care Services Agency and includes the following program areas: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health. The ultimate mission of the Health Care Services Agency is to provide fully integrated health care services through a comprehensive network of public and private partnerships that ensure optimal health and well-being and respect the diversity of all residents. Health Care Services Agency currently has multiple career opportunities for experienced professionals to become part of a service delivery team dedicated to the optimal health and well-being of Alameda County residents.  For more information about the department of Behavioral Health Care Services, please visit www.acgov.org/health/

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE

It is the mission of Behavioral Health Care Services to maximize the recovery, resilience and wellness of all eligible Alameda County residents who are developing or experiencing serious mental health, alcohol, or drug concerns. We envision communities where people realize their potential, and where stigma and discrimination against those with mental health, alcohol and/or drug issues are a thing of the past.

Only through exemplifying the following Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services values will we be successful:

ACBHCS

Access - where every door is the right door for welcoming people with complex needs;

Consumer and Family Empowerment - through shared decision‐making best practices, that clinically produce effective outcomes;

Best Practices - business excellence that uses public resources cost‐effectively;

Health and Wellness - by integrating emotional, spiritual and physical health care;

Culturally Responsive - appropriate services built on the strengths and life experiences of culturally diverse consumers and their families;

Social Inclusion - utilizing advocacy and education to eliminate stigma, discrimination, isolation, and misunderstanding of persons with mental illness and substance abuse.

For more information about the department of Behavioral Health Care Services, please visit www.acbhcs.org/

THE POSITION

Under physician supervision and within the parameters set forth in a Scope of Practice and Standardized Procedure Agreement, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner provides professional psychiatric evaluation, nursing assessment and diagnostic services to clients of the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency; prescribes psychotropic (and other) medications in compliance with agency/department standards; provides technical assistance in program development and both nursing and medical consultation; assists in policy and protocol development, quality assurance and implementation of program standards; and performs related duties as required.

This class is located in the Health Care Services Agency and will report to a Medical Director for direct clinical and administrative supervision. Clinical physician supervision (as required) may also be provided at a local program level. Incumbents will exercise significant autonomy in providing specialized medical or psychiatric services to patients/clients, families and/or groups within the parameters of a Scope of Practice and Standardized Procedure Agreement. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is distinguished from the general nursing series and the Mid-Level Practitioner in that incumbents must possess in-depth knowledge and training in the fields of nursing, psychiatry, and expertise required to perform the detailed casework and consultative duties in a psychiatric setting and may be required to furnish medications. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is distinguished from the physician series in that incumbents must practice with a physician supervisor and within the parameters of a Scope of Practice and Standardized Procedure Agreement.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications and knowledge and skills below, the ideal candidate will be familiar with MediCal billing and documentation requirements, and will:

·         Prioritize and handle multiple tasks in high pressure environments.

·         Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

·         Remain knowledgeable and proficient in mental health practices through readings, research,

        professional organizations, academic training, and participation in direct patient services.

·         Safely administer medications including psychotropic drugs; monitor and record patient's medication

        usage and results.

·         Identify medical problems and psychiatric disorders; develop and implement treatment plans.

·         Work effectively with a multi-disciplinary team and community partners in the delivery of mental health

        care services; performs collaborative consultation with staff psychiatrists for more complicated

        psychiatric problems.

·         Perform mental health assessments including ordering, interpreting and evaluating diagnostic tests and

        examinations.

For a detailed listing of the essential responsibilities and core competency requirements for this position, please click here for the job description.

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in this classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Provides mental health services including psychiatric evaluations, differential diagnosis, individual and group psychotherapy, clinical case management, crisis intervention and psychiatric medication evaluation, management and monitoring.

2. Works collaboratively with other clinical staff to coordinate and integrate multidisciplinary services for clients with complex psychiatric problems.

3. Collaborates with multidisciplinary team to deliver coordinated patient care.

4. Plans a program of care, in collaboration with physicians, other medical professionals, clients and families; coordinates and facilitates referrals; assumes ongoing responsibility for follow-up care.

5. Furnishes psychotropic medications under the supervision of a staff psychiatrist and in accordance with standardized procedures; monitors individuals’ response(s) to medication; and educates individuals and members of their support team.

6. Reviews charts; record, document and maintain accurate records of assessments, evaluations, nursing/medical care administered, patient response and follow-ups.

7. Provides psychiatric consultation and develops working relationships with other community agencies, collateral persons and others involved with clients served.

8. Maintains and compiles electronic health records, billing, and other necessary paperwork in a timely manner to keep cases in compliance with all administrative regulations.

9. May provide lead direction to nursing staff and clinical staff.

10. May assist in training and provide direction to other nursing staff.

11. May assist in updating clinic protocols or standardized procedures.

12. Serves in departmental and related committees as requested; attend meetings.

EDUCATION: Possession of a master’s degree or higher in Nursing or a clinical field related to Nursing from an accredited college or university.

AND

EXPERIENCE: The equivalent of five years of full-time experience working in a clinical psychiatric-mental health setting.

SUBSTITUTION: Certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by a national certifying body such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nursing Credentialing Center may be substituted for up to three year of the required experience.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATE:
• Current certification as a Nurse Practitioner by the Board of Registered Nursing in the State of California.
• Some positions may require a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• In compliance with the Administrative Simplification provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 196 (HIPAA), employees in this classification are required to possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number prior to their first day on the job.
• In compliance with Medicare regulations, employees in this classification are required to complete the “Medicare Enrollment Process for Physicians and non-Physician Practitioners” through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, prior to their first day on the job. Active enrollment in Medicare is a condition of employment. Failure to attain or maintain active enrollment will result in termination.
• Possession of a current DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) Registration Certificate/Number.  

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Principles and methods of psychiatry.
• Laws and regulations governing Nurse Practitioner scope of practice.
• Advanced principles, practices and techniques of professional nursing and psychiatry; assessment, diagnosis, treatment, documentation and follow-up of common mental disorders.
• Causes and treatment of mental and emotional illness.
• Medical aspects of psychological problems; psychosocial behaviors in illness.
• Routine diagnostic and treatment techniques used in practicing psychiatry.
• Medicare and Medi-Cal regulations.
• Reporting laws on domestic violence, child and elder abuse, and neglect.
• Current developments in the field of psychiatry.
• Principles and applications of clinical psychology, psychiatric work and various rehabilitative services.
• Medication and drugs commonly prescribed, including medications therapeutic effect, side effects, reactions and contraindications.
• Medical laws and regulations and the ethics of patient care.
• Basic interviewing and counseling techniques.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to:

• Perform mental health assessments including ordering, interpreting and evaluating diagnostic tests and examinations.
• Work effectively with a multi-disciplinary team and community partners in the delivery of mental health care services; perform collaborative consultation with staff psychiatrists for more complicated psychiatric problems.
• Identify medical problems and psychiatric disorders; develop and implement treatment plans.
• Safely administer medications including psychotropic drugs; monitor and record patient’s medication usage and results.
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions, analyze crisis situations accurately and take effective action.
• Educate individuals and family members about mental health and medical conditions, preventive health measure, medications or treatment plans.
• Remain knowledgeable and proficient in mental health practices through readings, research, professional organizations, academic training, and participation in direct patient services.
• Develop and maintain effective workings relationships with individuals, staff, other health care professionals and community groups and organizations.
• Adapt quickly and appropriately to a variety of situations and personalities.
• Demonstrate tact, diplomacy and compassion to individuals and groups.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks in a high pressure environment.

The examination will consist of the following steps: 1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. 2) Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process which is a review of candidates' Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process. 3) Those candidates selected as best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process, an oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:  

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN: 

**The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs/divisions/ps/application.htm

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

·         Medical – HMO & PPO Plans

·         Dental – HMO & PPO Plans

·         Vision or Vision Reimbursement

·         Share the Savings

·         Basic Life Insurance 

·         Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 

·         County Allowance Credit

·         Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance

·         Short-Term Disability Insurance

·         Long-Term Disability Insurance

·         Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services

·         Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

·         Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)

·         Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

·         11 paid holidays

·         Floating Holidays

·         Vacation and sick leave accrual

·         Vacation purchase program

·         Catastrophic Sick Leave

·         Employee Mortgage Loan Program

·         Group Auto/Home Insurance

·         Pet Insurance

·         Commuter Benefits Program

·         Guaranteed Ride Home

·         Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)

·         Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)

·         Child Care Resources

·         1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Nicole Lewis-Bolton, Human Resources Analyst II

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 272-6468 • nicole.lewis-bolton@acgov.org

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.