Specialist Clerk I - Oakland - Alameda County

Description

Introduction

This is a reinstatement, transfer or voluntary demotion opportunity for current and former regularly appointed employees of Alameda County.

Reinstatement: Pursuant to Civil Service Rule 1744: On the request of a department head and approval of the Commission, a regularly appointed employee who resigned in good standing may, within three years after the effective date of his/her resignation, be reinstated in a position in the class from which he/she resigned or in a position in another class for which he/she may be eligible as determined by the Commission. Appointments by reinstatement following resignation are subject to the probationary period established for the class. You must have been a classified County employee in the same job code or in a job code at the same salary maximum and left the County in good standing. In addition, you must meet the minimum and special qualifications of the specific position.

Transfer: You must be a current County classified employee in the same job code or in a job code with the same salary maximum for which you are applying. In addition, you must meet the minimum and special qualifications of the specific position.

Voluntary Demotion: You must be a current County classified employee in a job code which is at a higher salary maximum than the vacancy for which you are applying. In addition, you must meet the minimum and special qualifications of the specific position.

THE AGENCY

Alameda County's Health Services Program is administered by the Alameda County Health and includes the following program areas: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health. The ultimate mission of the Health Care Services Agency is to provide fully integrated health care services through a comprehensive network of public and private partnerships that ensure optimal health and well?being and respect the diversity of all residents.

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, to do difficult clerical work, requiring the exercise of considerable initiative and judgment, within the framework of County or department policies and procedures; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

• Positions responsible for regularly eliciting information from or giving information to people in various stressful situations. The stressful situations mainly occur in direct (face?to?face) contact. Positions also fall into this category when the actual threat of bodily harm exists on a regularly recurring basis. Such positions may be found in the Health Care Services Agency, Probation Department, Public Defender's Office, Social Services Agency, and the Sheriff's Office.
• Positions responsible for independently resolving problems for which there is no immediate policy or clear precedent. Such positions may function in an isolated location or field office, or function as Office Coordinators for units with no ongoing, on?site clerical supervision.
• Positions which require a specialized knowledge of broad and complex procedures, systems, rules, codes, and policies in order to perform their assigned duties. Such positions normally require a minimum of six months to one year of training to make independent decisions and determinations based on this specialized department and program knowledge.
• Positions that require, as a major portion of the job, independent liaison activities (typically oral) with other agencies or other County Departments as a representative of the County. Incumbents regularly initiate action and have the authority to deviate from usual methods when independently performing duties. Often in these situations, supervision is not immediately available.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• The equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Clerk II or in an equivalent or higher level clerical class in the Alameda County classified service. (Non?classified includes District Attorneys Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)
• The equivalent of two years of full?time clerical experience.
• License: Some positions may require a valid California Drivers license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the Examples of Duties section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Modern office practices and procedures, including business correspondence, filing, and standard office equipment operations.
• Specialized program knowledge of work requiring the application of a variety of rules, procedures, codes, calculations, and systems is required in some positions.
• Techniques and practices for dealing with individuals from various socio?economic and ethnic groups, in person, via telephone, and through correspondence (may include contacts with irate and hostile individuals).

Ability to:

• Analyze and problem solve.
• Communicate orally and in writing.
• Make decisions and take initiative.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Adapt to challenging situations.
• Plan, organize and coordinate work.
• Work independently.

SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION CRITERIA

• For positions requiring the ability to type at a speed of not less than 40 net words per minute from clear copy. Typing must occupy more than 10 percent of working time. Typing may be on a typewriter, or a personal computer.
• For positions requiring the ability to type at a speed of not less than 40 net words per minute from clear copy, and to take shorthand at a speed of not less than 80 words per minute and transcribe it accurately. Taking and transcribing shorthand must occupy more than 10 percent of working time.
• For positions requiring the ability to type at a speed of not less than 40 net words per minute from clear copy, and to transcribe dictation from dictating equipment. Transcription must occupy more than 10 percent of working time. Candidates indicating a willingness to use dictating equipment will be certified to those positions where using the equipment is required, without having to take a performance test.

ALTERNATE RANGE CRITERIA

• For positions requiring incumbents to take and transcribe dictation via shorthand or dictating machine recording; these duties must occupy more than 10 percent of working time.

DEFINITIONS USED IN CRITERIA #3 OF