Disease Research and Intervention Specialist - Sexual Health Clinic
King County
Seattle, WA
Full-time
Health Care Provider
Posted on September 26, 2024
Salary
$72,155.20 - $91,457.60 Annually
Location
Seattle, WA
Job Type
Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Job Number
2024SMD22704
Department
DPH - Public Health
Division
Prevention
Opening Date
09/25/2024
Closing Date
10/9/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
D1 : WSCCCE L21HD-DPH
Full- or Part-Time
Full Time
Department of Public Health - Seattle & King County is recruiting for a Partner Disease Research & Intervention Specialist (DRIS) to join its team. This position will work out of the Sexual Health Clinic. The DRIS will perform outreach, conduct point of care testing for HIV, HCV and syphilis and administer injections while in the field in an effort to control the spread of STIs.
The DRIS provides client-focused HIV/STD partner services, and patient counseling for risk behaviors for acquiring/transmitting HIV, hepatitis and other STDs and explores harm reduction methods to promote and support client sexual health. The DRIS conducts all phases of disease investigation centered on syphilis including: disease surveillance, patient and partner locating and notification, linkage to testing or treatment, in-clinic interviewing and support, partner counseling and referrals and timely documentation of investigation findings into surveillance systems.
Temporary opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary positions are "at-will" positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last until December 31, 2025. However, funding sources for this work remain uncertain and dependent upon decisions actively being made at both the federal and local levels. As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. The County and the Department continue to work to secure long term funding sources.
This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity. For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.
Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.
Commitment To Equity and Social Justice
Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all - in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.
To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx
Work Schedule
Must be available to work during Sexual Health Clinic hours. Typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Hours are subject to change based on the needs of the community and HIV/STD Program. This position will require some evening and weekend hours.
Work Location
The primary location for this position is at the Harborview Medical Center, located at 908 Jefferson St. Seattle, WA 98104.
Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Who May Apply
Open to internal and external candidates.
Application Process
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:
Necessary Special Requirements
Union Membership
This position is represented by Local 21.
Contact
For questions about this recruitment, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at sduckworth@kingcounty.gov .
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
$72,155.20 - $91,457.60 Annually
Location
Seattle, WA
Job Type
Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Job Number
2024SMD22704
Department
DPH - Public Health
Division
Prevention
Opening Date
09/25/2024
Closing Date
10/9/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
D1 : WSCCCE L21HD-DPH
Full- or Part-Time
Full Time
Summary
Department of Public Health - Seattle & King County is recruiting for a Partner Disease Research & Intervention Specialist (DRIS) to join its team. This position will work out of the Sexual Health Clinic. The DRIS will perform outreach, conduct point of care testing for HIV, HCV and syphilis and administer injections while in the field in an effort to control the spread of STIs.
The DRIS provides client-focused HIV/STD partner services, and patient counseling for risk behaviors for acquiring/transmitting HIV, hepatitis and other STDs and explores harm reduction methods to promote and support client sexual health. The DRIS conducts all phases of disease investigation centered on syphilis including: disease surveillance, patient and partner locating and notification, linkage to testing or treatment, in-clinic interviewing and support, partner counseling and referrals and timely documentation of investigation findings into surveillance systems.
Temporary opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary positions are "at-will" positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last until December 31, 2025. However, funding sources for this work remain uncertain and dependent upon decisions actively being made at both the federal and local levels. As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. The County and the Department continue to work to secure long term funding sources.
This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity. For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.
Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.
Commitment To Equity and Social Justice
Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all - in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.
To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx
Work Schedule
Must be available to work during Sexual Health Clinic hours. Typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Hours are subject to change based on the needs of the community and HIV/STD Program. This position will require some evening and weekend hours.
Work Location
The primary location for this position is at the Harborview Medical Center, located at 908 Jefferson St. Seattle, WA 98104.
Job Duties
- Research case reports of persons diagnosed with an STD in King County with an emphasis on syphilis.
- Interacting with providers at medical clinics, hospitals, laboratories, and correctional facilities.
- Conduct outreach to encampments, correctional facilities, food banks, shelters and other identified locations for case identification.
- Conduct field visits on behalf of the DRIS team to locate individuals who have been exposed or tested positive for STDs.
- Work on-clinic shifts weekly as scheduled to interview patients in Sexual Health Clinic for sex partners and provide counseling, education, and referrals as appropriate based on risk factors.
- Support Sexual Health Clinic providers during on-clinic shifts with patient medical history including treatment information.
- Review diagnostic testing results, inform patients of results and link positive patients to treatment.
- Notify patients diagnosed with STDs and conduct interviews with the goal of eliciting partner names and locating information.
- Notify exposed partners to arrange for exam, testing and/or treatment.
- Conduct HIV/Syphilis/HCV pre- and post-testing and counseling.
- Perform venipuncture to collect STD specimens.
- Provide patients with information about potential health risks related to STDs/HIV and assist in developing a client-centered plan to reduce future risk for STDs/HIV.
- Maintain detailed records regarding interactions with patients and needle-sharing/sex partners.
- Assure confidentiality of all records, data, and information as required by section, department, state and/or federal regulation.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):
- Demonstrated experience interviewing and eliciting information regarding sensitive, individual personal behaviors.
- Experience with community engagement and outreach activities.
- Experience interacting with high-needs, vulnerable populations- particularly those who are street involved, are drug using and/or have mental health issues.
- Basic knowledge about HIV/STD epidemiology and clinical issues, specifically syphilis.
- Experience in medical chart abstraction using electronic health records and/or other client level data repositories.
- Comfortable working in the field to provide care to patients.
- Demonstrated ability to provide medical information in a clear and concise manner.
- Knowledge and demonstrated application of motivational interviewing skills.
- Knowledge and demonstrated application of behavior change theory and risk reduction strategies.
- Knowledge of HIV pre- and post-test guidelines and demonstrated education/counseling skills.
- Understanding of public health systems and goals.
- Experience with data entry.
- Demonstrated ability to protect PHI and other confidential information.
- Demonstrated ability to follow procedures/protocols and apply them to unpredictable situations.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively and connect with people of diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to function with minimal direct supervision.
- Team player with a willingness to be flexible to meet the needs for DRIS on-clinic.
- Possess a valid WA State driver's license or ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire.
- Ability and willingness to drive a King County vehicle during day and nighttime hours.
- Current BLS CPR certification with AED training (CPR/AED Heartsaver courses do not meet this requirement). This certification is required before hire.
- Must be available to work during Sexual Health Clinic hours (Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6:00pm). Hours are subject to change based on the needs of the community and HIV/STD Program. This position will require some evening and weekend hours.
- Bilingual Spanish or other commonly used languages in King County.
Supplemental Information
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Who May Apply
Open to internal and external candidates.
Application Process
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:
- NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
- Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
- Cover Letter (Expressing interest in this position)
Necessary Special Requirements
- The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
- The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR.
- The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
- For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring . For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en .
- Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
- Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
- Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
- Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
- When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
- If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.
Union Membership
This position is represented by Local 21.
Contact
For questions about this recruitment, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at sduckworth@kingcounty.gov .
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
