Health Services Specialist (Safety)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
At developmental centers, State hospitals, or correctional facilities contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services, under administrative direction of a Program Director and professional direction of the Coordinator of Nursing Services in a forensic facility, is responsible for the ongoing monitoring, assessing, and making of recommendations for the maintenance of quality nursing services with primary emphasis on the physical care needs of forensic clients, patients, or inmates in a program on an assigned shift; assures education and training in nursing care is provided to unit personnel; and performs other related duties.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This class is distinguished from Health Services Specialist by the custody requirements imposed by the criminal nature of the forensic client, patient, or inmate population and the security features of the facility.
Typical Tasks
Evaluates health problems and nursing care needs of developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; makes nursing assessments of forensic clients, patients, or inmates; monitors the delivery of nursing services in the program and makes recommendations to the Coordinator of Nursing Services and Program Director as needed to maintain quality nursing services, particularly in the area of physical care; evaluates the professional proficiency in which nursing observation and care is provided; assures that any unusual behavior or symptom of any forensic client, patient, or inmate is reported to the Unit Supervisor and physician and recommends a plan of treatment; evaluates forensic client's, patient's, or inmate's response to medication; advises in the prevention, detection, and control of communicable diseases and the reporting thereof through the Public Health Office; monitors the use of restraint and seclusion with respect to the forensic client's, patient's, or inmate's physical condition; performs nursing audits in accordance with facility policies and procedures as directed by the Coordinator of Nursing Services and the Program Director; provides nursing care during emergencies; may participate in the selection of nursing staff; may act as liaison between home unit and acute hospital facility to monitor the progress of forensic clients, patients, or inmates who are temporarily transferred for acute hospital care; observes and intervenes in instances of disruptive or assaultive behavior. The incumbent assists staff in: the counting, distribution, and accounting for all utensils to prevent their use as weapons; inspecting forensic clients', patients', or inmates' mail and living areas for hazardous contraband; inspecting facility to identify security breaches that could lead to forensic client, patient, or inmate escape; observing and intervening in forensic client, patient, or inmate behavior that may signal an impending escape attempt; and escorting forensic clients, patients, or inmates to other areas of the facility. The Health Services Specialist (Safety) consults with the Coordinator of Nursing Services and the Program Director in the review of duty statements for nursing personnel; and serves as a nursing resource person and consultant to the Program Director.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of the legal requirements to practice as a professional Registered Nurse in California as determined by the California Board of Registered Nursing. (Applicants who are in the process of securing approval of their qualifications by the California Board of Registered Nursing will be admitted to the examination, but they must possess all legal requirements as determined by that Board before they will be eligible for appointment.) and Either I Education/Experience: Bachelor of science degree with a major in a health-related field and one year of nursing experience working with developmentally or mentally disabled persons.
Or II
Experience: One year of experience performing the duties of a nursing classification comparable in level of responsibility to a Registered Nurse, Range B, in a California developmental center or State hospital working with developmentally or mentally disabled persons.
Or III
Experience: One year of experience directing the nursing services of a developmental center or State hospital level-of-care unit during an eight-hour shift working with developmentally or mentally disabled persons.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: California healing arts licensure laws and regulations; regulations pertaining to hospital licensing, certification, and accreditation; principles and practices used in training nursing services staff of a treatment program; professional nursing principles and techniques; concepts and methods of consultation; principles of specialized treatment and training techniques as they relate to developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; program organization in California forensic facilities.
Ability to: Evaluate and monitor the quality of nursing services with specific emphasis on physical care; plan, conduct, and evaluate training for the nursing services staff of a treatment program; work effectively with a multidisciplinary clinical staff; perform evaluations and write reports; communicate effectively.
Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to work at developmental centers, State hospitals, or correctional facilities contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services; demonstrated leadership ability; sympathetic and objective understanding of the problems of developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; tact; patience; and emotional stability.
Special Physical Characteristics
Incumbents must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job without endangering their own health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, forensic clients, patients, inmates, or the public.
