COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SPECIALIST III - County of Riverside

ABOUT THE POSITION

RUHS Public Health has a Communicable Diseases Specialist III (CDS III)opportunity with their HIV-STD Division. Under direction, the CDS III, assigns, reviews, and monitors the work of a unit of Communicable Diseases Specialists; interviews patients with the most complex communicable diseases/cases; investigates potential sources of communicable disease and obtains cooperation and gains compliance with public health laws and recommended health practices; performs educational work pertaining to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of communicable diseases; performs other related duties as required.

Ideal candidates will have:

• Knowledge of and experience working with HIV/STD programs
• Supervisory/management experience
• Training/mentoring experience

The Communicable Diseases Specialist III is the advanced journey-level classification in the Communicable Disease Specialist series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager-level position. Incumbents investigate cases of communicable diseases in the office, clinical, and field settings. Investigations include direct client interviews and counseling, coordinating medical and laboratory data from medical providers, disease control intervention and education activities, abstracting and processing complex medical data, and conducting in-depth disease surveillance activities.

The Communicable Diseases Specialist III is distinguished from the journey-level Communicable Diseases Specialist II in that the former is responsible for more complex investigations involving extensive analysis and research, program quality assurance activities, or the performance of technical guidance, training, and mentoring to other Communicable Diseases Specialists. Advancement to the next level is obtained by competitive selection through open recruitment.

• Meet the Team: https://www.ruhealth.org/ruhs-public-health

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Assign, review and monitor the work of a group of Communicable Diseases Specialists; interpret policies and goals of the communicable disease control program to subordinate staff.

• Compile statistics and maintain records on incidence of communicable diseases, physician reporting and other factors relative to the prevention and control of communicable diseases.

• Assist in overall program evaluation, recommending revisions to procedures or techniques where necessary.

• Interview patients to determine location of known contacts and to trace other persons who may be sources of acute communicable diseases.

• Conduct field investigations and trace suspected communicable disease contacts using information from patients, acquaintances, public agency authorities, and other available sources.

• Tactfully interview and counsel contacts, encouraging compliance to public health laws and observance of recommended health practices.

• Visit physicians, laboratories, medical institutions, and free clinics to provide information on most current and effective diagnostic and treatment techniques and to encourage the reporting of communicable disease cases.

• Perform phlebotomy for blood testing, rapid human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV) testing and other sexually transmitted infection testing; assist clients with self-collected specimens, provide pre- and post-testing counseling and make referrals to medical providers.

• Conduct informational and educational presentations on the prevention of communicable diseases.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal, state and local health department personnel; maintain case files and reports.

• Provide Patient Delivered Partner Therapy and Field Delivered Therapy to clients/patients and deliver other sexually transmitted infection treatment medications prescribed by clinicians.

• Make referrals to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), medical providers, substance abuse treatment services, domestic violence, mental health, and other community resources as appropriate.

• Assist with communicable disease outbreak investigations and disease control efforts, including gathering information, interviewing clients/patients and presenting the information to the communicable diseases team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

OPTION I

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in biological science, public health, psychology, sociology, social work, or a closely related field to the assignment. (Experience working in a public health or medical setting may substitute for the required education based on one year of full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units.)

Experience: Two years of performing communicable diseases investigation and control or one year as a Communicable Diseases Specialist II or comparable classification.

OPTION II

License: Possession of a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of California.

Experience: Two years as a Registered Nurse.

OPTION III

License: Possession of a valid license to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the State of California.

Experience: Four years as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

ALL OPTIONS

Knowledge of: Methods of transmission, diagnosis, development, and treatment of communicable diseases; accepted techniques of disease control; the principle public health laws and regulations relating to the control of diseases.

Ability to: Monitor the work of subordinates; prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence; deal effectively with a wide variety of personality types; obtain the cooperation of patients; communicate orally and in writing; analyze statistics and evaluate program results.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). If you are a qualified individual and need a reasonable accommodation to take this exam, contact the recruiter before taking the exam. For additional information and the accommodation form, visit the Disability Access Office web page at: http://dao.rc-hr.com

Veterans' Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here ( Download PDF reader ).

Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment).

Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

What's Next?
Open Recruitment
This recruitment is open to all applicants. Employees of the County of Riverside/Department of Public Health may be given priority consideration depending on the volume of applications received.

Application Period
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. All applicants must submit a complete application by the closing date of this recruitment. No late applications will be permitted.
Include relevant work experience details on your resume and/or application.
Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).

For questions regarding this recruitment contact the recruiter,Angela Levinson:
alevinson@rivco.org / 951-955-5562

GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com . A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.

A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY - LONG-TERM DISABILITY (LTD): Benefit pays 66.67% of earnings to a maximum of $10,000 per month; 30-day waiting period; pays to age 65. Benefit can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.