Registered Dental Assistant

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.

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 on-line.

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 Services, Public Health, Environmental Health Services, and Office of the Agency Director. 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 
Alameda County Public Health Department has worked for over 80 years to improve the health and safety of its residents and the neighborhoods they live in. Traditional public health concerns such as disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and access to health care have been joined by contemporary concerns: bioterrorism, crime, violence, and substance abuse. Each of these poses a threat to public health and wellness and calls for short and long-term solutions that lie well outside traditional public health boundaries.  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 supervision, to assist a Dentist or Dental Hygienist in the performance of his/her duties; to make appointments, screen patients, keep records; and perform related duties as required. This class is characterized by the ability to perform a variety of dental procedures which require knowledge of dental equipment, materials, procedures and terminology. 

THE OFFICE OF DENTAL HEALTH
The Office of Dental Health promotes the oral (dental) health of Alameda County residents by assessment of oral health problems and resources to address them. This unit assures access to community-based resources and programs, and develops policies that address the oral health needs of the community. The emphasis is on prevention and education.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the idea candidate will possess professional dental assisting experience (preferably with children ages 1 to 13 years) involving assessments, cleaning, and oral health education with an emphasis on prevention; knowledge and understanding of socio-economic and psycho-social factors affecting the wellness and treatment of public health, and other high risk infants, children and adolescents.

Critical attributes to the success of the Registered Dental Assistant include:

• A keen sense of safety awareness; identifying and correcting conditions that affect employee and patient safety; understanding the importance of compliance with OSHA standards and extensive knowledge of the minimum standards for infection control as defined in the California Code of Regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize work activities; taking advantage of available resources and organizing duties according to criticality.
• Ability to accurately and carefully follow established procedures for completing work tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively apply sealants and fluoride varnish in a public health setting.
• Educating patients and promoting optimal health by supporting, explaining, and instructing patients and their families in understanding the dental procedures and equipment used, as well as promoting the lifestyle changes required of the patient to achieve optimal oral health status.
• Willingness to assimilate and apply new job-related information in a timely manner; putting new knowledge, understanding and skill to practical use on the job.

Experience:  

The equivalent of one-year full-time experience as a Dental Assistant.   

And

License:  

Possession of a valid Registered Dental Assistant License issued by the Dental Board of California, possession of a radiation safety license issued by the Dental Board of California, and completion of a pit and fissure sealants course approved by the Dental Board of California.  

Substitution:  

Successful completion of a Dental Assistant curriculum from an accredited Dental Assistant Program may be substituted for the required experience.    

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:  

• Principles and methods of sterilization of dental equipment, instruments, and supplies.
• Uses of common dental instruments, equipment and material.
• Dental hygiene and prophylaxis.
• Dental office procedure and dental record keeping.
• Dental X-Ray techniques.
• Nomenclature and terminology of dentistry.
• Computer database operation and data entry.  

Ability to:  

• Keep dental records.
• Take, develop and mount dental X-Rays.
• Prepare, transfer and clean dental instruments, equipment and accessories.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, providers, staff, internal and external partners and the general public in a variety of ethnic and cultural communities.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing wit linguistic and cultural proficiency.
• Communicate information to influence behavior and improve health.
• Follow prescribed procedures and organizational policies. 
• Incorporate ethical standards of practice into all interactions with individuals, organizations and communities.  

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

*updated on 12/1/2020

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.

Angelica Cuevas, HR Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

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

www.acgov.org/hrs 

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.