Senior Community Worker - Fair Oaks Health Center- Spanish Speaking Required(Open & Promo)

San Mateo County Health – San Mateo Medical Center’s Fair Oaks Health Center (FOHC) is seeking a highly qualified candidate for the Senior Community Worker - Spanish Speaking Required position. This is a full-time, regular vacancy.
 
Under general supervision, the Senior Community Worker will provide a range of advanced community services to socially, economically, or mentally disadvantaged individuals. Responsibilities include group and individual instruction, counseling, needs assessment and plan development, outreach, case management, and direct patient care services.

Key responsibilities of the Senior Community Worker include:

• Conduct outreach to patients experiencing delays in care and guide them through their next steps. This includes preparing teens for the transition to adult clinics, engaging newly assigned patients, and improving healthcare metrics (e.g., depression screenings, immunizations, and well-child checks).
• Provide education on critical health resources, including breastfeeding programs, WIC referrals, resources for new immigrants and first-time parents, obesity labs, birth control counseling, and support for pregnant teens.
• Strengthen and expand FOHC/STWC’s community relationships, fostering partnerships and collaboration.
• Educate staff on available programs, screenings, and community resources to enhance patient care and support.
• Maintain and update educational materials to ensure compliance and relevance.
• Utilize PHQA, PEARLS, and literacy/school readiness materials to benefit patients and improve health outcomes.
• Organize and participate in community engagement activities such as the FOHC Community Fair, IMPACT Coalition, school outreach, and partnerships with community-based organizations.
• Facilitate Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC) referrals, track specialist appointments, and support MyChart registration and usage to enhance patient access to care.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Ability to connect with diverse populations, conduct outreach, and improve healthcare access.
• Familiarity with local programs, services, and support networks, particularly for underserved communities.
• Experience providing health education, including topics such as immunizations, screenings, and preventive care.
• Experience coordinating care, tracking appointments, and assisting patients with referrals.
• Ability to work with population of diverse backgrounds, including new immigrants and vulnerable populations.
• Ability to explain complex healthcare information clearly to patients, families, and staff.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with guidelines.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work with healthcare providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to improve patient outcomes.
• Be a self-starter and the ability to work minimal supervision.
• Experience with systems/applications such as Epic/MyChart, Microsoft Office Suites and Canvas.
• Ability to present information effectively to both orally and in writing.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on community health by bridging gaps in care, empowering patients, and strengthening partnerships.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

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

• Assess and monitor client needs and develop individual care/recovery/support plan based on the needs of the client.
• Prepare and/or coordinate the preparation of informational and outreach materials, basic correspondence and reports, and other documents regarding program activities.
• Assist staff in developing strategy for conducting and maintaining effective relationships with the community; interpret community needs and cultural patterns to professional staff members.
• Performs crisis intervention by arranging for special services to assist clients in addressing serious personal, financial, employment, and/or family issues; performs crisis intervention.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with community resources.
• Conduct home and field visits to assess and monitor client needs and ensure adherence to individual care plans.
• Provide information and refer clients to appropriate social services agencies; research community resources for clients; work closely with other County staff to coordinate various functions of outreach and referrals.
• Provide educational services to the clientele served; schedule, arrange, and assist in the facilitation of educational programs and activities to support client health/wellness, recovery, self-sufficiency, or employment goals.
• Perform outreach to provide education and information to individuals who may be at risk and unaware of services and/or prevention methods; inform clients and community members of programs and services and promote participation of groups and individuals in program activities.
• Conduct outreach activities to community organizations to provide information about the program and resources and to secure health, welfare, educational, and other social service supportive programs on behalf of clients; promote participation of groups, businesses, and individuals in program activities; and coordinate the delivery of support services to clients.
• Identify home, family, or community conditions needing improvement and develop, recommend, and implement measures to correct these conditions.
• Assist in the follow up and monitoring of cases for assigned client groups; work with client and case management team to develop and maintain individual development plans.
• Monitor action plans and periodically make contact with clients to assess progress and identify support needed to aid clients in pursuing interim goals as planned.
• Advocate with external agencies, employers, and other organizations, to help ensure that the client is represented and informed of processes and procedures, to resolve issues and disputes with third parties, as well as engage in communications on behalf of the client.
• Assist clients in a wide variety of daily living activities, such as completing applications and forms, providing transportation, budgeting, and navigating support service systems.
• Represent the division or section on internal and community committees and task forces as assigned representing the needs of needs of the community or of individual clients; attends and participates in community events.
• Act as an interpreter in contacts involving non-English speaking residents.
• Attend staff and in-service meetings.
• Develop immediate solutions to emergency problems and expedite delivery of needed services.
• Perform special assignments, projects, or other related duties as required.

Duties of the positions in this option may also include:

• Assist in planning, organizing, and conducting health education programs.
• Observe and recommend health education needs and resources.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of educational methods, techniques, and materials and recommends modifications.
• Work with community groups including parents, schools, and health organizations to create health education programs.
• Assist in the planning and preparation of educational materials such as flyers, pamphlets, exhibits, and displays.

Note:  The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as defined under Distinguishing Characteristics.

Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations and County program policies and guidelines.
• Problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of disadvantaged individuals and of the total community served.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• Social and community resources.
• Basic techniques and dynamics of assessment and engagement.
• Techniques for group and individual counseling.
• Basic case management techniques and processes.
• Perform effectively in stressful, emotional, and confrontational situations.
• Recognize factors causing reaction or changes in a client’s condition or behavior.
• Evaluate information received and make appropriate recommendations and referrals.
• Identification, development, and utilization of social and community resources.
• Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with the general public, other agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, and regulatory organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, clientele, and staff.

Skill/Ability to:

• Effectively market and represent a program, its clients, and services to external agencies.
• Interpret, explain, and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
• Organize, maintain, and update office database and records systems.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Interpret agency programs and policies to members of the community served.
• Write clear and comprehensive reports.
• Analyze problems, formulate plans and put them into effect with a minimum of supervision.
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time and lift and carry equipment and supplies used in the course of the work.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skills is:

• Two years of experience providing community services of a remedial and educational nature which includes experience counseling and conducting outreach to the client population served.

Licensure/Certification:

Physical Demands:
Must possess mobility to work in the field as well as an office environment; to operate a motor vehicle for home visits, jail visits, to attend meetings, and visit various County sites; to inspect sites including client homes; vision and smell to assess environmental situations, identify conditions, and to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking on uneven terrain and climbing and descending structures to access client homes and interact with members of the community. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above-mentioned tools and equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work. Employees must possess the ability to lift and carry materials, objects, and children weighing up to 60 pounds, with the use of proper equipment.

Environmental Elements:
Employees frequently work outdoors and are exposed to varying weather conditions, loud or excessive noise levels, unpleasant odors, dust, fumes, allergens, vermin, parasites, or insects, toxic substances; infectious agents, and cold and/or hot temperatures. Incumbents may be exposed to blood and body fluids performing duties. Protective clothing such as gloves, masks, or gown may be necessary when performing client assessments or when supporting client job training. Employees may interact with members of the public or with staff in a highly emotional setting while interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination will consist of an interview (weight: 100%) which may include the evaluation of a written or performance exercise given immediately preceding the interview. The interview may be comprised of a combined Civil Service and departmental panel process. Depending on the number of applications, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position based solely on the information provided in the application materials. Because of this screening process, all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight (unless otherwise stated) on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE:
Tentative Final Filing Date:  Wednesday. March 5, 2025 at 11:59 P.M. PST
Tentative Application Screening Date: Week of March 5, 2025
Tentative Combined Civil Service Panel Interview: Week of March 17, 2025
 
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

 Analyst:  Debbie Kong (Senior Community Worker - G117)

Salary : $6,100 - $7,627