LAST DATE TO APPLY: Continuous - Applications are accepted continuously. All applications on file in the Personnel Department as of any given Friday may be reviewed and scheduled for testing to accommodate future hiring.

THE JOB: Under direction, to provide professional level primary health care to patients with complex chronic and acute health conditions in a variety of outpatient clinics and detention facilities; to perform physical examinations and to diagnose and treat patients; and to do other work as required. The current vacancies are in the Mental Health Division of the Health Services Agency to work with older adults, young adults and severely mentally ill. The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies during the life of the list.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be to possess one of the following certificates or licenses:

Pursuant to Section 3503 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a California license to practice as a Physicians Assistant.

Pursuant to Section 2835 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a California certificate to practice as a Nurse Practitioner.

Pursuant to Article 2.5 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a certificate to practice as a Nurse-Midwife.

Special Requirements: In addition to the core requirements for this class, incumbents may be required to possess credentials demonstrating specialties in any one of the following areas for certain positions. Nurse Practitioners: Family Practice NP, OB-GYN NP, Family Planning NP, Pediatric NP, Geriatric NP or Certified Nurse Midwife. Physicians Assistants: Women's Health Care Specialist.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures used to detect, diagnose and treat common health problems; medication and drugs commonly prescribed, including medications therapeutic effect, side effects, reactions and contraindications; scope of responsibilities, diagnosis and treatment techniques and procedures applicable within specific licensure and assignments (note: licensure and certification requirements may vary depending on assignments); control and care of chronic and communicable disease, illness and handicapping conditions; normal and abnormal values of laboratory tests and their clinical significance; medical laws and regulations and the ethics of patient care and basic interviewing and counseling techniques. Some knowledge of community resources and referral systems and services provided by local health agencies.

Ability to: Assess health status of patient; take complete medical history, perform physical examinations, evaluate results and identify abnormal health conditions; identify and manage health problems; develop and implement treatment plans for patients according to standardized procedures and protocols; analyze and interpret health information and data including laboratory test results; order laboratory procedures and appropriate prescriptions under standardized procedures and policies; use specialized equipment such as doptone and microscope; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; write clear and concise medical reports; instruct and counsel patients on matters pertaining to health; recognize and evaluate situations which call for the immediate attention of a physician; work effectively under pressure in stressful and emergency situations; deal effectively with manipulative, hostile and sociopathic behavior and learn to access, input and analyze data using a computer terminal.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced exam, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 or Personnel Department, 1430 Freedom Blvd, Suite 101, Watsonville, CA, 95076.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER PROGRAM: The County provides a program to assist first-time homebuyers in the purchase of a mobile home by providing a down payment subsidy. Contact the County of Santa Cruz Planning Department at (831) 454-2336 for program information and qualifications.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE – 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years. Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a large majority of the premiums for employees and dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY – PERS 2% @ 55 retirement plan, integrated with Social Security. County pays a portion of retirement contribution.
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
LONG TERM DISABILITY PLAN – County paid plan. Plan will pay 60% of the first $692 or $415 max per week.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (FSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
EMPLOYEE/FAMILY CREDIT UNION – Offers systematic savings and low interest loans.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.