Public Health Investigator

READ THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REAPPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT.

THIS IS A REOPENING OF A CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. If you have previously applied or started an application for Public Health Investigator, Examination #20-5770-01, read this entire bulletin. There are specific instructions on how to reapply for this position.

PLEASE CONTACT THE EXAMINATION ANALYST, ANGELICA CUEVAS AT ANGELICA.CUEVAS@ACGOV.ORG TO HAVE YOUR PREVIOUS APPLICATION RELEASED BACK TO YOU.

The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you have previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, you new score/disposition will replace your current disposition.

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 Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

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.

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Traditional public health concerns such as disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and access to health care are compounded by contemporary concerns such as: economic disenfranchisement and homelessness, racism, sexual and reproductive health and rights, crime, violence, and substance abuse. Each of these poses a threat to public health and wellness and calls for innovative solutions, in close partnership with impacted communities.. For more information about our Alameda County Public Health Department, please visit the Alameda County Public Health Department Website and latest Annual Budget document found on www.acgov.org

THE POSITION

Under direction, to conduct communicable disease case finding investigations to arrange for the examination, treatment and surveillance/reporting of persons having had communicable disease contacts; to counsel communicable disease patients on their responsibilities to the public, to provide support in the delivery of communicable disease related services in a clinical setting and to encourage compliance with the provisions of Public Health laws; and to do related work as required.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for this position, the ideal candidate will possess the following critical attributes:

• Prior experience in communicable disease investigation in a local or State public health agency;
• Knowledge of symptoms, laboratory test results, risk and transmission, and prevention and treatment of HIV or STDs, and/or other communicable diseases;
• Ability to use investigative thinking/skills, including, gathering information to identify possible examples of or opportunities for disease acquisition and transmission;
• Ability to interpret and accurately document clinical information;
• Experience using computerized data systems or electronic tools in conducting surveillance;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to convey medical and procedural content to clients and/or healthcare professionals;
• Organized, detail oriented, and able to multitask both in the office and in field situations;
• Skilled in interviewing clients, including obtaining personal, detailed health and behavioral information, including sexual information;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in conducting investigations and in the provision of client services;
• Ability to establish relationships and work with medical providers;
• Ability to discuss sensitive and historically stigmatized subject matter, including details of sexual risk behavior and substance use, with clients, colleagues, and/or other individuals;
• Ability to understand and apply public health procedures and regulations;
• Ability to work well under pressure during public health emergencies or crisis;
• Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative work environment; and
• Ability to discuss sensitive subject matter with cultural competency and empathy.
• Experience working with people with unstable contact information, people who are homeless, people who use substances, or people who have been incarcerated.

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of experience in the public health investigation field or in a comparable capacity providing investigative or social services to the public.

Education:

The equivalent of a high school diploma or GED.

AND

License:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Special Requirement: Work hours may include evenings and weekends.

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:

• Basic computer functions.
• Communicable/sexually transmitted diseases.
• Functions of a local public health agency as related to the discovery and control of communicable disease.
• Principle and practices of disease investigations.

Ability to:

• Work independently.
• Conduct effective fact-gathering interviews of a highly personal nature.
• Exercise initiative and tact in tracing contacts and bringing them to seek treatment.
• Work effectively with medical providers, and exercise judgment in seeking supervisor direction.
• Organize/prioritize work.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work with diverse population group.
• Exercise independent judgment.
• Establish and maintain working relationships.
• Work effectively as a member of a team.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1. A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process.
3. 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   

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 statutes. 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.

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
• 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. Notices will be sent from Noreply@jobaps.com.  Please add @jobaps.com and Noreply@jobaps.com 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 and clicking on the link 'last notice sent' for the respective recruitment.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure 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 NoReply@jobaps.com are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. 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.

Angelica Cuevas, HR Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 271-5154 or email Angelica.Cuevas@acgov.org

www.acgov.org/hrs 

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

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.