Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Nurse/Coordinator

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees, including:

• Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year, 2 of which are floating holidays*
• Vacation leave: 10 days/year with ability to accrue 25 days/year
• Sick leave: 12 days/year*
• Cafeteria plan: 6% of employee’s salary will be contributed towards employee to use towards 401(k), dependent care, medical co-insurance, or cash
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available for employees and dependents
• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to employee
• CalPERS retirement plans
• Retiree medical insurance
• Deferred compensation
• Education allowance: up to $1,200 per year
• Bilingual incentive: incumbents may be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification of proficiency.

*Amounts will be prorated for part-time employees and employees hired after the first of the year.

The information above represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire about the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department. For a detailed listing of benefits, please click here to view Professional benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To plan, organize, and direct the activities of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) working in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office and Health and Human Services, with medical oversight from the Placer County Health Officer; and coordinate and perform forensic examinations of persons of all ages.   

Receives general supervision from an assigned manager and medical oversight from the Placer County Health Officer.  

Exercises direct supervision over technical and clerical staff, including oversight for service contracts and contractors. 

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, organize and direct the operation and activities of the SART program; schedule and maintain 24/7 on-call staffing; provide nursing/medical consultation; initiate nursing interventions and interpret serious and/or emergent situations; conduct and document SART examinations and strangulation examinations for adults, adolescents, and children. 
• Identify and obtain evidence for the sexual assault evidence kit and maintain chain of custody; order specific laboratory testing and studies per SART protocol; provide referrals for continuation of care.
• Act as a resource for pediatric and adult/adolescent sexual assault/abuse issues; remain on call for after-hours examinations and/or other duties; consult with hospital emergency room physicians for additional diagnosis and/or treatment.
• Recommend, develop, and maintain SART policies and procedures in compliance with hospital medical protocols, Placer County District Attorney’s Office (DAO), Placer County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and a variety of other licensing agencies.
• Serve as primary liaison between law enforcement, hospital emergency departments, and representatives from a variety of agencies including HHS Public Health, Child Welfare Services (CWS), DAO, and Placer County Victim Witness Division; promote collaborative relationships between all stakeholders; conduct community outreach; provide community and/or technical training to various groups and colleagues regarding sexual assault and physical abuse.
• Oversee the performance of assigned contract clinical and administrative staff; interview, recruit and make recommendations to management regarding potential forensic examiners; coordinate forensic examiners' work assignments and review their work to assure compliance with established standards, requirements, and procedures.
• Provide clinical supervision, review each medical/legal examination for completeness and appropriate follow-up, discuss and resolve areas of concern; monitor the on-call schedule to ensure 24/7 coverage; develop, implement and conduct training sessions; oversee contracts with professionals in order to meet all SART examination requirements; schedule, organize, and lead monthly Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners’ meetings.
• Facilitate and lead bi-monthly advisory board/case review meetings.
• Collaborate with physicians, community-based medical providers, the DAO, other law enforcement agencies, and HHS in implementing the County's sexual assault response program objectives; assist the assault response services; may serve as an expert prosecution witness in sexual assault and abuse cases.  
• Identify learning needs and participate in the development of nursing orientation activities and training in all clinical settings and provide sexual assault response education to hospital staff; act as a consultant to department managers on required competencies related to caring for sexual assault victims.
• Act as Custodian of Records for medical/legal examinations and interviews; ensure chain of custody on physical evidence; maintain medical documentation and testify in court as needed.
• Participate in the development and preparation of the annual SART budget; analyze and review budgetary and financial data; make recommendations for program expenditures in accordance with established procedures.
• Represent the DAO and Placer County to the public as well as other County employees and managers in a positive and productive manner.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience:  Two (2) years of post-license professional clinical experience in an acute care facility or a public health department specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit and/or Cardiac Care Unit or a closely related medical field.

OR:  Two (2) years of experience as a forensic examiner.

Training:  A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in nursing is required.

NOTE: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Knowledge of:

• Professional nursing theory, practice and techniques in the areas of sexual assault and suspected abuse, emergency medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN).
• Principles and standards of forensic medical examinations.
• State of California and local SART programs.
• Licensure, accreditation, and regulatory requirements for sexual assault response services.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
• Principles of budget monitoring.
• Legal terminology, medical and ethical responsibilities in SART examinations.
• Requirements of medical documentation and record keeping.
• Standard and accepted principles and practices of motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.
• Community resources and public relations techniques.
• Basic principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• English usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Basic office practice, procedures and equipment.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, patient charts reports and special projects; identify, recall, interpret, and explain technical and numerical information; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work under time pressure with multiple interruptions; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, climb, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch, push, pull, twist, and reach equipment surrounding desk or treatment area, or while making field visits, conducting clinics, or making educational presentations or demonstrations; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; speak, use a telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; and lift moderate weight.
• Complete highly specialized medical examinations and make recommendations for follow-up care.
• Obtain forensically relevant information including through interview; treat traumatized clients with respect and dignity and use of trauma focused care.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical problem solving and leadership skills including monitoring critical practice indicators, identifying training issues, and providing appropriate training.
• Ensure compliance with hospital, DAO and/or HHS goals, objectives, strategic plans, policies and procedures; prepare and maintain reports and clinical records.
• Maintain pharmaceuticals for SART patients and dispense medication pursuant to SART protocol.
• Quickly and calmly respond to urgent situations.
• Coordinate with HHS to order/stock SART medications.
• Manage SART documents with appropriate compliance to HIPPA and chain of custody.
• Make sound decisions using problem-solving skills.
• Accurately assess requests for services and take effective course of action.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Plan, conduct, and coordinate in-service training programs and community training outreach.
• Interpret, apply, and explain complex rules, regulations, administrative and clinical procedures and protocols.
• Identify the need for and obtain physician consultation in appropriate clinical situations.
• Work courteously with the public; handle multiple case assignments.
• Work unusual and/or prolonged work schedules.
• Use assigned office equipment necessary for successful job performance.
• Monitor Placer County SART equipment.
• Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive financial analyses, reports, and written materials.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, at

payala@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4637.