Requisition No: 313741
Agency: Department of Health
Working Title: HEALTH SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE - 64058769
Position Number: 64058769
Salary:  $32,000.00
Posting Closing Date: 02/25/2021
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - HILLSBOROUGH
Division of Disease Control - HIV/AIDS Program office
1105 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33602 (Annex)
Health Services Representative
Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health - Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough). If you're looking to build a great career in public health, you've come to the right place. Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida. We hope you decide to join this team and make DOH- Hillsborough your employer of choice.
The Department of Health’s mission is to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for the health and safety of all citizens and visitors to the state. As a public health agency, DOH must monitor the health status of Floridians, diagnose and investigate health problems, and mobilize local communities to address health-related issues. The Florida Department of Health develops policies and plans that support health goals, enforce laws and regulations that protect the health of all residents and visitors, and link people to needed health care services. DOH also provides specialized assistance to pregnant women, infants, and children with special health care needs, regulates health care practitioners, and provides medical disability determinations.
Health Services Representative
This is a professional position assigned to the Area 6 HIV/AIDS Program Office located at DOH- Hillsborough, Disease Control Division. Based in Tampa, this team member provides direct disease and public health awareness intervention activities under the auspices of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, primarily focused to newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS individuals or those who have fallen out of care. Focus is on referral and linkage to care (LTC), retention in care (RIC) services, and reengagement through the Data to Care (D2C) program. The position requires a thorough knowledge of HIV//ADS and the ability to use Microsoft 365, the ability to multi-task and handle face-to-face interactions, the ability to educate patients, the ability to work with diverse populations, and the ability to adhere to security policies and maintain confidentiality.
The Health Services Representative should have a good rapport with internal and external customers, display a positive attitude, work in a flexible manner, be approachable, and work independently under the supervision of the Human Services Program Manager (working title of Early Intervention Consultant). This position is part of a public health organization and is expected to promote cooperation, courtesy, and teamwork in a diverse environment, while adhering to policies, procedures, laws, and statutes established by DOH-Hillsborough, the State of Florida, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Responsibilities Include:
• Provides LTC, RIC, and reengagement to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The focus is on linking to care within 30 days of the positive lab report.
• Communicates with public and private facilities to obtain client demographic information and/or to arrange medical evaluations and treatments; to stimulate reporting of cases and/or positive reactive test results; and to acquaint practitioners with treatment guidelines, disease trends, and their role in reducing the rate of HIV in the community.
• Conducts field investigations to locate and provide LTC, RIC, and reengagement services.
• Performs case management activities in the process of discovering newly diagnosed patients or those who have fallen out of care.
• Completes required records and reports with current CHD and HIV/AIDS Program policies and procedures.
• Researches opportunities for professional development and stays current on matters of LTC and evidenced-based HIV practices.
• Assists the DOH-Hillsborough Linkage to and Retention in Care Coordinator in following up with unable to locate patients for their first medical appointment or if fallen out of care.
Minimum Qualifications:
• At least 2 years of customer service experience
• Thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS
• Valid Florida Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment
• Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams)
Other Desirable Qualifications:
• Completed the HIV/AIDS 500/501 course and served as a pre- and post-test counselor
• Knowledge of local HIV/AIDS providers
• Experience working as a Disease Intervention Specialist
• Bi-lingual in English and Spanish
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
• Social Perceptiveness: being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react the way they do.
• Communication: talking to others to effectively convey information; communicating effectively with others in writing, as indicated by the needs of the audience.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to persuade others to change their minds or behavior.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work activities.
• Ability to use Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, MS Teams, knowledge of Access database software is a plus).
• Ability to multi-task and handle face-to-face public interactions.
• Ability to educate patients.
• Ability to adhere to security policies and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work with a diverse population without regard to sex, gender, race/ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, physical disability, or sexual preference.
Department of Health Career Service employees enjoy the following benefits:
• State of Florida Retirement package - 3% employee contribution required
• 9 Annual paid holidays
• Ability to earn 104 hours of paid Annual Leave (annually)
• Ability to earn 104 Hours of paid Sick Leave (annually)
• Health insurance for individual or family coverage - State pays 80% of premium
• Life insurance – State pays 100% of premium
• Additional supplemental insurances available such as dental, disability, etc.
• Tax Deferred Medical and Child Care Reimbursement Accounts available
• Tuition waivers to attend State Universities/Community Colleges
• Public Service and Nurse’s Forgiveness Program
• Additional benefits information can be found under the employment section of http://hillsborough.floridahealth.gov/about-us/careers.html
Important Notices- Please be advised:
***Note: Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process. Please review your resume and application thoroughly.
When completing the online application, all gaps of employment or education greater than 90 days starting from high school must be explained (approximate date, month and year) identifying company name or if unemployed.  Incomplete applications/resumes will not be considered.
The application includes background information questions.  A “yes” answer to these questions will not automatically bar you from employment.  The nature, job-relatedness, severity, and date of the offence in relation to the position you are applying are considered.   Please make sure all questions are answered thoroughly.
Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.
Current State Employees - Salary for current employees is based on employee’s current payband/ paygrade.  Salary for promotions will be based on budget availability and Senior Management Team approval.
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, visit http://www.sss.gov .
This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit.
Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check.
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 on 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.
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
Veteran Information : Certain veterans and spouses of veterans receive preference in employment by the state (applies only to positions within the Career Service).
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 Departments 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.  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.