Community Outreach Worker II

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended. Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  Postmarks are not accepted.  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. Postmarks are not accepted.  Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

THE AGENCY

The Community Development Agency's mission is to enhance the quality-of-life of County residents and plan for the future well-being of the County's diverse communities; to balance the physical, economic, and social needs of County residents through land use planning, environmental management, neighborhood improvement, and community development; and to promote and protect agriculture, the environment, economic vitality and human health. 
To read more about the department, please visit their website at:  http://www.acgov.org/cda/

THE POSITION

The incumbent appointed to the classification of Community Outreach Worker II, under general supervision, performs casework and a variety of community and educational outreach activities in health care/social services programs; acts as a liaison between communities, agencies, other resources and services and program staff; and performs related work as required.

EXISTING VACANCIES

While the immediate vacancy is a project position requiring bilingual skills (Spanish) within the Community Development Agency - Healthy Homes Department, please note that the eligible list resulting from this recruitment and selection process may be utilized for other future vacancies which may arise within the next year for this and the Health Care Services Agency.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate experience in the following areas:

• A satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position related areas
• Adaptability- Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities
• Customer Focus- Ensuring that customer focus is a driving force behind decisions, and activities
• Building Trust- Interacting with others in a way that promotes confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Collaboration- Working effectively and cooperatively with others; establishing and maintaining good working relationships
• Outreach Education/Health Promotion- Support, explain and instruct clients/customers in understanding of available health and community resources.  Formal Presentation- Present ideas effectively to individuals or groups
• Effective communication - Clearly convey information and ideas; and interact well with others by relating people from varied backgrounds and in different situations; and who exemplifies understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness
• Making a positive impact on others by exuding an air of confidence, creating good first impressions by professionally commanding attention, and earning the professional trust and respect of others
• For the Community Development Agency, proficient bilingual skills (Spanish)

For a detailed listing of the duties and essential competency requirements for this position, please see the complete job description for  the Community Outreach Worker II.

Either I
Experience:

The equivalent of six months of full-time satisfactory experience in the Community Outreach Worker I in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II
Experience:

The equivalent of two years’ full-time experience working in a community outreach program performing duties, such as: Intake, peer counseling, obtaining personal history data needs, non-clinical assessments, client community health education, program screening, placement and referral.

Substitution:

The equivalent of an AA degree (60 semester or 90 quarter units) from an accredited college in health services, social science health education or a related field, such as Psychology or Counseling, may be substituted for one year of full-time experience in pattern II above.

License/Certificate:

Some positions may require a certificate in Tuburculant Skin Testing, Phlebotomy and HIV Counseling.

Some positions may require a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

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

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

· Availability of community and governmental services and resources.
· Interviewing techniques and methods.
· Principles of counseling and health education.
· Basic social needs, problems, attitudes and behavioral patterns.
· Basic principles of health promotion, disease prevention, and preventive health care.
· Community structure and dynamics and method of group facilitation.
· Outreach program development, implementation and evaluation.
· Computer database operation and basic data entry skills.

Ability to:

· Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, professionals, paraprofessional and support staff in the department, outside agencies, schools and with the general public in a variety of ethnic and cultural communities.
· Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
· Follow prescribed procedures.
· Obtain and maintain accurate case information.
· Perform phlebotomy with applicable training.
· Understand and accept differences in attitudes toward health problems, resulting from medical, cultural, financial or other forms of deprivation.
· Work with persons infected with communicable disease.
· Plan and implement presentations of program objectives and guidelines.
· Analyze client activities and integrate appropriate program activities/services.
· Gain confidence and obtain personal and confidential data from clients across ethnic and cultural lines.
· Research, prepare and deliver preventive health presentations.

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 many 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 e-mail 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:

Deadline for Filing: Review of Minimum Qualifications: Review for Best Qualified: Oral Interviews:	5:00 pm, Monday, March 24, 2014  April 4, 2014 April 24, 2014 May 21-22, 2014

 *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 statues.

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 & Welfare Benefits

• Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
• Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
• Vision
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
• County Allowance
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Group Auto/Home
• 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.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.