SENIOR HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER SENIOR HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITVE JOB OPPORTUNITY

EXAM NUMBER: 

Y1151A

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REPOSTING TO UPDATE MINIMUM/SELECTION REQUIREMENTS. APPLICANTS WHO HAVE ALREADY APPLIED TO THE INITIAL POSTING NEED NOT REAPPLY.

First Day of Filing: July 12, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) – Until needs of the department are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

ABOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its integrated system of 25 health centers and four hospitals – and expanded network of community partner clinics – DHS annually provides direct care for 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6.9 billion. For additional information regarding DHS please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov.

Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County’s 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings to supportive housing.

MISSION: 

To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.

DEFINITION:

Serves in a lead capacity by assisting with the coordination and monitoring of the daily operations of a language access program and provides the more difficult and complex interpretation/translation services to patients, physicians, nurses, and other health professional in one or more foreign languages.

Essential Job Functions

Serves as lead Healthcare Interpreter and addresses complex and specialized language access needs within sub-specialty services by providing direct interpretation and written translation language access services to patients, physicians, nurses and other health professionals. 

Assigns, coordinates, and reviews the work of lower-level personnel and ensures that proper work methods are followed; assists with triaging site interpretation requests and scheduling in-person services (i.e., reviews and prioritizes cases based on urgency and complexity). 

Provides orientation and training to lower-level healthcare interpreter staff including training new employees in departmental procedures, providing instructions on work procedures, and facilitating and participating in in-service training activities.

Translates and types a wide variety of complex and sensitive materials, including consent forms, flyers, patient education materials, medical questionnaires, and other materials. 

Receives and prioritizes requests for written translation services; accesses a variety of reference materials to ensure the use of accurate medical terminology to appropriately convey the meaning of the materials.

Assists in preparing and analyzing data on language access needs and services and makes recommendations for process/quality improvement for management’s review.

Provides consultative language access services to allied health professionals or administrative staff.

Advises on the technical equipment needed for language access services; maintains supplies and office equipment to ensures that equipment is properly labeled and functioning optimally. 

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Option I: 

Two years (2) of experience at the level of a Healthcare Interpreter providing interpretation services in a healthcare setting in one or more foreign languages -AND- Successful completion of a Healthcare Interpreter Training Program, which includes a section covering Medical Terminology.

Option II:

Two (2) years of experience at the level of a Healthcare Interpreter providing interpretation services in a healthcare setting in one or more foreign languages -AND- Certification or credential issued by a recognized Healthcare Interpreter credentialing organization, such as, but not limited to, The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) and The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI).

Experience at the level of the County of Los Angeles class of Healthcare Interpreter is defined as: Provides a full range of interpretation/translation services to patients, physicians, nurses, and other health professionals in one or more foreign languages.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS II – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Additional credit will be given to applicants that possess the following desirable qualifications: 

• Additional experience in excess of the Selection Requirements for the qualifying option
• Experience providing interpretation services in an acute care setting

Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

To qualify and receive credit, applicants MUST include a legible photocopy of your certification, credentials or certificate of completion which shows the language for which certified, official degree, official transcripts, or official letter with your online application, at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach required/supporting documents during the application submission, you may email the documents to Tanisha Buggs at tbuggs@dhs.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days of filing your online application or you will not receive credit. Please include your name (as it appears on your online application), the exam title and exam number in the email message.

Agencies that provide acceptable proof of Language Proficiency include but are not limited to Language Line Solutions, Pacific Interpreters, CyraCom, and State of California Medical Interpreters examination administered by the California State Personnel Board on behalf of the Judicial Council for California Court. Also acceptable is any recognized test of healthcare interpreter skills conducted by an independent third-party entity such as, but not limited to Language Testing International.

Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification, with or without a reasonable accommodation. 

Withholds will not be accepted for this examination.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Prime Variance Reports (PVRs), also known as Master Time Records, are not accepted, or required as part of the application process; this includes the selection interview and the background-check.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of an evaluation of your experience and desirable qualifications based on your application information weighted 100%.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher this examination in order to be added to the eligible register.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

Applications will be processed on an “as-received” basis and those receiving a passing score will be added to the eligible register accordingly.

The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be added to the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation.

No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve (12) months.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

VACANCY INFORMATION:

The resulting eligible register will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Health Services (DHS) throughout Los Angeles County as they occur.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online only. Applications submitted by U.S Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 p.m. (PT) deadline on the last day of filing, as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Apply online by clicking on the green “APPLY” button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Requirements. Fill out your application completely and correctly to receive full credit for related education, and/or experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the position. Please do not group your experience. For each position held, give the name and address of your employer, your position title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• All information and documents provided by applicants is subject to verification.
• We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after appointment has been made.
• Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.
• Utilizing verbiage from Class Specification and/or Minimum/Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the Requirements. Comments such as “See Résumé” or referencing other unsolicited materials/documents will not be considered as a response; in doing so, your application will be rejected.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL, AND PASSWORD:

All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member’s or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

For Candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. 

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION COORDINATOR CONTACT:

If you need accommodation to take the assessment, let us know by contacting the ADA/Testing Coordinator at (323) 914-6365. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond to your request and keep you moving through the process. 

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:

Tanisha Buggs, Exam Analyst

(213) 288-7000

tbuggs@dhs.lacounty.gov

CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONE:

(800) 735-2922 

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

Your Responsibilities:

1. Completing Your Application:

a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.

c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.

2. Requirements on Job Posting:

a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.

b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual age 40 or older.

c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.

3. Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.

4. Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile on www.governmentjobs.com and make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.

5. Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:

a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation(s) may be subject to verification, consistent with state and federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.

Disclaimer: The County of Los Angeles is not responsible or in any way liable for any computer hardware or software malfunction that may affect the employment application or the application selection process.

You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of this system and the Internet generally. This system and the information provided on it are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. No advice or information given by the County of Los Angeles or its respective employees shall modify the foregoing or create any warranty.

The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.

The County of Los Angeles shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this system or with the delay or inability to use it (or any linked sites), or for any information obtained through this system, or otherwise arising out of the use of this system, the Internet generally or on any other basis.

NOTE: Your application is submitted using Secure Encryption to ensure the privacy of all information you transmit over the Internet.

By accepting the Use Disclaimer set forth herein, you agree to all of the above terms and further agree to use this Online Job Employment Application System only for the submission of bona fide employment applications to the County of Los Angeles. Any other use of this Online Job Employment Application System, including without limitation any copying, downloading, translating, decompiling, or reverse engineering of the system, data, or related software, shall be a violation of the Use Disclaimer.

Test Preparation: Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/. Additional resources may be listed on the job posting. 

Veteran’s Credit: In all open competitive examinations, a veteran’s credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.

A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.

This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran’s credit. More information available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/

Accreditation Information: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf (Download PDF reader) and http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_AC E_Resource_Guide.pdf (Download PDF reader)

Background Check: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Career Planning: Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at https://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov/#/.

Benefit Information: Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a “new member” of the County’s defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) – unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.

Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants. 

Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program: In an effort to improve compliance with court ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.

Social Security Act of 2004: Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website www.socialsecurity.gov, or call toll free 1-800-772- 1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.

Employment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) and other applicable laws prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant’s protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, childbirth, and other characteristics.

COVID-19 VACCINATION: Some County workforce members may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Successful candidates for those positions/classifications may be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.

Updated February 2024

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