Senior Therapist

READ THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REAPPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT.  

THIS IS A REOPENING OF AN EXISTING EXAMINATION.  If you have previously applied or started an application for the Senior Therapist, Examination #19-5865-01, read this entire bulletin. There are specific instructions on how to reapply for this position.  

PLEASE CONTACT THE EXAMINATION ANALYST, ANGELICA CUEVAS AT ANGELICA.CUEVAS@ACGOV.ORG TO HAVE YOUR PREVIOUS APPLICATION RELEASED BACK TO YOU.    

The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants.  If you have previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, your new score/disposition will replace your current disposition.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of Alameda County Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

Click here to view the Senior Therapist recruitment flyer.

ABOUT THE 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/health

THE POSITION

There are multiple vacancies of Senior Therapist in the Public Health Department, under the Family Health Services Division, California Children's Services - Medical Therapy Program (MTP). The Senior Therapist may be assigned to the Medical Therapy Unit or act as the Therapy Case Coordinator. In the Medical Therapy Unit, the Senior Therapist provides direct therapy services to pediatric clients ages birth to 21 years in a center-based clinic setting, clinical oversight and support to licensed occupational and physical therapists and occupational and physical therapy students.

FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION

Family Health Services Division provides preventive interventions, access to health care services and advocacy in order to promote optimal health outcomes for families in Alameda County throughout the life course. The Senior Therapist is primarily assigned to the following program: California Children's Services (CCS). This position may be responsible for assisting with the coordination and lead direction to an occupational and physical therapy program in Medical Therapy Units located at public school sites. The Senior Therapist reports to the Medical Therapy Unit Supervising Therapist or the Assistant Chief Therapist and may receive direction from executive leadership staff.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be a skilled pediatric occupational or physical therapist with knowledge of California Children’s Services (CCS) regulations, policies and guidelines. In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the Senior Therapist will possess the following critical attributes:

• Demonstrated leadership through participation in program development work groups or orientation of new staff or students.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills and the ability to work with a diverse staff and client population. 
• Provide high quality, family-centered, results-based program services, and will be able to act as the Supervising Therapist in his/her absence.
• A strong knowledge of DME for clients with complex special health care concerns.
• Strong clinical skills for the pediatric population with an ability to apply current evidence-based principles and practices.
• Demonstrated organization, with the skill and ability to coordinate administrative and clinical duties on a daily basis, manage time and appropriately prioritize goals and assignments.
• Leadership qualities, including exceptional interpersonal, verbal and written communication and facilitation skills to communicate with staff, community agencies, clients and their families.
• Understanding and sensitivity towards families with complex social, economic and medical issues.

Experience:

The equivalent of two years of full-time experience as an occupational or physical therapist in a California Children’s Services or pediatric setting.

AND

Education:

Graduation from an accredited occupational or physical therapy professional program.
 

Certification/Licensure:

Licensure by the Physical Therapy Board of California or licensure by the California Board of Occupational Therapy. Some positions may require that you become a State approved California Children Services (CCS) Neuromotor Impairment Severity Score (NISS) trainer.

 

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

The most qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Therapeutic intervention for the pediatric population.
• Human anatomy.
• Physiology.
• Pathology.
• Medical terminology and documentation.
• Pathology, including cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular conditions.
• Growth and development of children; including children with disabilities.
• Disparities in health outcomes for vulnerable populations, including socio-economic and environmental factors affecting health equity.
• Ten Essential Public Health Services.  Principles and practices of public health education and teaching, and interviewing, assessment, and counseling techniques.

Ability to:

• Apply therapy principles and practices.
• Gather and analyze data.
• Problem solve and draw logical conclusions.
• Facilitate and model effective written and oral communications with attention to linguistic preferences and cultural proficiency to influence behavior and improve health.
• Prioritize work and coordinate several activities to meet critical deadlines.
• Work independently and adapt to change.
• Operate multiple software programs.
• Exercise interpersonal sensitivity and group interaction skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Incorporate departmental core values and 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 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:

**If designated a combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

*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.

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.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

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.