Patient Benefits Specialist

Help us lead a team dedicated to mental health wellness and recovery!

Solano County's Mental Health Mission is to provide mental health services and supports in Solano County that are person-centered, safe, effective, efficient, timely and equitable, that are supported by friends and community, that promote wellness/recovery, and that fully incorporate shared decision making between consumers, family members and providers. 

To learn more about the Mental Health Services Division please visit: http://www.solanocounty.com/depts/mhs/default.asp 

Under general direction, interviews Mental Health clients and their families to assess financial status and determine potential eligibility for Federal, State and County assistance; performs related duties as required. 

Patient Benefits Specialist is located in the Mental Health Division of the Health and Social Services Department.  It is characterized by the responsibility to interview severely mentally ill clients to elicit financial information.  Patient Benefits Specialist is distinguished from the Eligibility Benefits Specialist series in that the latter is responsible for determining initial and continuing eligibility of applicants for public assistance programs.

The eligible list created as a result of this recruitment will be used to fill full-time and part-time regular, limited-term or extra-help positions as vacancies occur throughout the County.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Experience and/or Education

A minimum of one year of public contact experience, equivalent to an Eligibility Benefits Specialist I or Employment Resources Specialist I, which involved processing financial or personal history documents and interpreting applicable laws, rules, and regulations which demonstrates possession of and competency in requisite knowledge and abilities.

Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university preferably in general education, business, finance, social science, or a closely related field may be substituted for the one year of required experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Class C California driver's license is required.

To view the job description for this position, please visit:

http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=15941

10/25/16 – Deadline to submit application and required documents.

10/28/16 – Deadline to submit answers to supplemental questions.

10/31/16 – Tentative week for scoring supplemental questions.

11/17/16 – Tentative date for oral board exam for most qualified applicants.

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the qualified applicants may be invited for further examination and will either be pre-scheduled by the Department of Human Resources or be invited to self-schedule. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a supplemental questionnaire assessment, a written and/or practical exam, an oral board exam, or any combination listed. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

A minimum score of 70% is required to continue in the selection process, unless otherwise announced.

All potential new hires and employees considered for promotion to management, confidential positions or unrepresented positions will be subject to a background and reference check after contingent job offer is accepted.  These provisions are subject to change.

RETIREES - Solano County invites all qualified candidates to apply for positions; however pursuant to Government Code Section 21221(h) and 21224, hiring restrictions may apply to California Public Sector Pension Plan Retirees.

Please visit the County of Solano website, www.jobsatsolanocounty.com, to apply. All additional application materials as requested in the job announcement (degree/transcripts, certificates, DD-214 if applicable, ADA Accommodation Request) must be submitted with the Document Cover Sheet, available on the employment website: http://www.jobaps.com/Solano/sup/doccover.pdf or at the Department of Human Resources’ office,  and are due by the final filing date.

Previously submitted application materials (i.e. copies of diploma and/or transcripts, etc.) for prior recruitments will not be applied for this recruitment but must be re-submitted for this recruitment.

Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources at (707) 784-6170 or at 675 Texas Street, Suite 1800 Fairfield 94533. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EOE/AA.

Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university may be required for this position. All applicants are encouraged to submit either a copy of their college diploma (verifying the degree, date earned and area of specialization) or official/unofficial transcripts (verifying the date and degree conferred) by the final filing deadline. Candidates who fail to submit their diploma or transcripts by the final filing date will be disqualified from the recruitment.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:  Candidates who attended a college or university that is accredited by a foreign or non-U.S. accrediting agency must have their educational units evaluated by an educational evaluation service.  The result must be submitted to the Human Resources Department no later than the close of the recruitment.  Please contact the local college or university to learn where this service can be obtained.

How to Submit Your Documents

In addition to uploading attachments when applying online, candidates may submit documents in-person or by mail at Solano County Department of Human Resources 675 Texas Street, Suite 1800, Fairfield CA  94533, by fax to (707) 784-3424, or by email to recruitment@solanocounty.com.  When submitting documents in-person, by mail or by fax, include the recruitment title (Patient Benefits Specialist) and the recruitment number (16-433200-01).  If submitting documents by email include the recruitment title and recruitment number in the subject field.

PLEASE NOTE: If you meet the minimum qualifications you will be sent the following supplemental questions and will be required to submit them no later than 10/28/2016.

This Supplemental Questionnaire will be used to determine applicants’ qualifications for this position and assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the recruitment process; therefore, applicants are encouraged to answer all questions thoroughly and completely.  Omitted information will not be considered or assumed.  Applicants who have no experience in a specific area are recommended to state "no experience in this area" instead of leaving the space blank.

Please note that the experience in your answers must be reflected in your employment history.

1. Do you have a minimum of one year of public contact experience that involved processing financial or personal history documents and interpreting applicable laws, rules, and regulations?
2. Have you completed the equivalent of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university?
3. Describe your experience processing financial or personal history documents and interpreting applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
4. Describe your experience interviewing severely mentally ill individuals and their families to elicit financial information.

• Independent travel will be required. 
• Selectees for employment must as a condition of employment sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code relating to child abuse reporting.

To be eligible, applicant must have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.  A COPY OF THE DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE (GENERALLY COPY 4), MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BY THE FINAL FILING DATE.  Applicants who have a service connected disability must also submit a recent award letter from the VA stating they are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons. 

Veteran applicants for initial County employment with an honorable or general under conditions discharge shall receive five (5) points added to their combined score.  Disabled veterans rated at not less than 30% disability shall have ten (10) points added to their combined score.  Veteran’s preference points will only be added to passing scores in competitive open examinations.

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES:  Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need an accommodation during any phase of the recruitment/testing/examination process (as detailed in the “Selection Process”), must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form: http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23215.

This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the final filing date of the recruitment.  Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request.

Click here to take a video tour of Solano County.

The County of Solano offers a blend of agriculture, corporate business, cultural venues, festivals and events, and provides residents with many recreation and entertainment choices. The County is also home to Travis Air Force Base.

Solano County is centrally located and serves as a gateway to all that Northern California has to offer. The Napa Valley is less than 20 miles away, two world-class public universities (UC Berkeley and UC Davis) are 20 miles away, and both San Francisco and Sacramento are less than 40 minutes away. Day trips can also be made to South Lake Tahoe and Monterey.

With its strategic location, affordable housing, natural resources, responsible land use planning, and attractive quality of life, Solano County is a great place to live, learn, work and play.

County Population (January 2015): 429,522

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.  

SOLANO COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER