HEALTH SUPPORT SPECIALIST - 64000001

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Open Competitive

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County (FDOH-SJC) is part of a statewide public health system.

Our Mission – To protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and   community efforts.

Our Vision – To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Our Values – Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness, Excellence (ICARE)

This is an independent position that works in the FDOH-SJC Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) department and is designated as the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.

Responsible for promoting and supporting breastfeeding and providing basic education to WIC participants to include but not limited to:

• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone at scheduled intervals determined by the local WIC program. 
• Receives a caseload of WIC clients and makes routine periodic contacts with all clients assigned.
• Makes appropriate contacts with clients and documents accordingly
• Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including telling them about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and getting off to a good start with breastfeeding. Helps mothers prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns.
• Refers mothers, according to clinic-established protocols, to the:  WIC Nutritionist or Breastfeeding Coordinator, Lactation Consultant, Certified Lactation Counselor and/or Designated Breastfeeding Expert.
• Connects clients to programs in the community and/or social service agencies.
• Cannot give medical advice.
• Keeps accurate records of all contacts made with WIC clients and documents encounters the same day.
• Attends, assists, and/or facilitates prenatal classes and breastfeeding support groups and documents the same day.
• Attends scheduled staff meetings and breastfeeding conferences/workshops as assigned.
• Reads assigned books and materials on breastfeeding that are provided by the supervisor.
• Acts as the backup clerk in determining eligibility or coordinating the eligibility for the WIC program in both the main office and offsite locations as needed.
• Assists WIC staff in promoting breastfeeding peer counseling through special projects, health fairs or outreach events.

Completes anthropometric and hematological processes:

• Obtains anthropometric data for clients utilizing the correct equipment and procedures
• Obtains hematological data for clients utilizing the correct equipment and procedures
• Documents results per procedures
• Calibrates equipment and documents monthly
• Cleans and sterilizes equipment in between clients following established protocols

Completes the processes related to WIC following the WIC Procedure Manual.  Duties include but are not limited to:

• Determining eligibility or coordinating the eligibility for the WIC program.
• Coordinating issuance or completing the issuance process for WIC benefits.
• Providing explanation of benefits to new WIC clients as well as reviewing contents of the New People Packet
• Issuing Farmers Market Vouchers and updating logs per protocol
• Interviewing clients to obtain nutrition history and entering into appropriate system
• Scheduling appointments and making appointment reminder calls
• Mailing postcards to unreachable clients.

Prepares and reviews reports.

• Reviews breastfeeding client call back list report for participants who require monthly contacts.
• Reviews Peer Counselor client contact report for participants who require daily, weekly, and monthly contacts
• Reviews pregnant women expected delivery date report for participant contacts by delivery month.

Participates in outreach activities for the FDOH-SJC.

• Coordinates the Head Start Round Up events
• Completes referrals to community programs and/or resources
• Creates client friendly and informative bulletin boards in waiting areas
• Maintains program required posters in waiting areas
• Refers to SJC Designated Breastfeeding Expert as needed for breastfeeding issues

Performs other duties as assigned. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Knowledge of community resources. 
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic. 
• Skilled in communicating effectively and providing excellent customer service.
• Ability to work with infants and children
• Ability to perform hematological tests
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work activities. 
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum:

Licensure/registration/certification requirements (If applicable, list the appropriate Florida Statute or federal regulation cite): Valid Florida Driver’s License

Must be willing to physically come in the office daily and or perform field work.

Other job-related requirements for this position: This position is required to work outreach events, which may include after-hours and/or Saturday and Sunday. Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.  Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.

Working hours: (A) Daily from 8:00 to 5:00 (B) Total hours in workweek 40(C) Explain any variation in work (split shift, rotation, etc.) This position may work weekends and after hours for any WIC related needs.  This position requires daily in-office or field work.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

ST Johns County Health Department

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered. 

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.