Job Description

Pre-Employment Requirements and/or Preferences

• While this position does not require a specific behavioral health credential or certification, the preferred candidate will have at least 2 years of experience conducting investigations and previous work with SPMI populations.
• Candidates who either previously or currently are certified by the Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Training, Investigations and Safety (OTIS) to conduct abuse investigations of any type will be highly preferred.
• Excellent writing skills, collaboration, communication, experience in navigating different conversations, and knowledge of local Jackson County resources are additional preferred skills.
• Pass a criminal background check prior to hire.
• Submit an acceptable DMV certified court print prior to hire. click on the following link to review Jackson County's requirements for an acceptable driving record (Download PDF reader).
• Pass a pre-employment drug screen, which includes screening for Marijuana. Click on the link to review Jackson County's Drug-Free Workplace Policy (Download PDF reader).
• This position is represented by union group SEIU.

Job Duties and Requirements

I. Position Summary
Performs involuntary commitment services (427s) for developmentally disabled clients; under general direction investigates allegations of abuse and neglect of adults with developmental disabilities or mental illness. Performs a full range of complex tasks and work under direction within a framework of established procedures with work normally reviewed only upon completion and for overall results.
II. Examples of Essential Position Duties (The following duties represent some of the principal job duties; however, they are not all-inclusive. Other duties may be required or assigned.)

• Provides crisis intervention, case management services and involuntary commitment services (427s only).
• Develops and/or coordinates client action plans; assesses client problems and make referrals; schedules some client appointments for various services; transports clients; assists clients with completing forms.
• Gathers physical evidence, case facts, and information in investigation cases involving developmentally disabled or mentally ill clients; interviews and obtains statements from victims, witnesses, suspects, complainants and police officers, in person or by telephone.
• Prepares investigative and other written reports including diagrams and photographs, maintaining and submitting audio recordings of interviews, and all required reports and documentation within regulatory guidelines.
• Testifies in court, grand jury or other formal settings. Prepares for trial and hearings; present physical evidence and other visual aids.
• Participates in the in-house serious event review team; participates in the county-wide multi-disciplinary abuse team.
• Provides in depth consultation, education, information and resource advocacy to agencies in the community which routinely come in contact with developmentally disabled or mentally ill individuals in crisis who have been abused or neglected.
• Prepares and maintains required records, progress notes and files; prepares reports as needed.
• May provide guidance and direction to lower level positions for clarifying, interpreting and problem solving moderately complex issues; may provide training or orientation to lower level employees.
• Adheres to regulatory requirements, collective bargaining agreements, County and departmental policies and procedures, required trainings, as well as safe work practices.
• Develops and maintains effective internal and external working relationships at all levels.
• Has regular and reliable attendance. Overtime may be required.

III. Minimum Requirements (Performance of the essential duties of this position includes the following requirements, physical demands and/or working conditions)
Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human science, social science, behavioral science, criminal science or related field and five years experience in human services, law enforcement or investigations; OR
• Any combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the job.

License, Certificate or Other
Requires possession of a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. Requires Adult Abuse Investigations Core Competencies training by Oregon Adult Abuse Prevention and Investigations at time of hire or it must be obtained within one year of appointment.
IV. Other Requirements
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Requires knowledge of the public service system for developmental disabilities and mentally ill services in Oregon. Requires knowledge of the techniques and procedures used in evaluating, modifying and motivating human behavior; case management methods; rules, laws, regulations and ethics of the developmental disability and mentally ill services field, community services and resources. Requires knowledge of law enforcement and evidence procurement; ability to read, comprehend and comply with Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules. Ability to assess status of individuals and families for services and maintain confidentiality; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Ability to listen, evaluate and analyze facts and draw conclusions promptly; ability to draw simple diagrams; ability to use computer and software; and, ability to use a digital camera.
Physical Demands (Performance of the essential duties of this position includes the following physical demands)
Ability to work in an office environment; requires the ability to exert a small amount of physical effort in sedentary to light work involving moving from one area to another; may require some moderate lifting, bending, reaching, kneeling and some climbing of stairs; sufficient hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled repetitive movements such as operating office equipment. Sensory requirements include color, sound, odor, texture and visual perception and discrimination as well as oral communications ability. Requires driving.
Working Conditions (Performance of the essential duties of this position includes the following working conditions)
Work is generally performed in an office environment and may include exposure to disruptive people and communicable diseases.
V. Additional Information
This classification description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, knowledge, skills, abilities, or requirements, as any one position in this classification may be assigned some or all of these duties, in addition to other duties not explicitly listed here. The various duties, responsibilities and/or assignments of this position may be unevenly balanced and change from time to time based upon matters such as, but not limited to, variations in the shift, work demands, seasons, service levels and management’s decisions on how to best allocate department resources. Any shift, emphasis or rebalancing of these assigned duties, responsibilities and/or assignments does not constitute a change in the job classification. The County shall schedule employees and determine FTE consistent with its determination as to efficiency of operations, financial advantages to the County, and/or effective service to the public.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Jackson County provides an excellent, generous and comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees and their dependents, as applicable.

This overview provides highlights of the comprehensive benefits package Jackson County SEIU employees receive. If any statement conflicts with the applicable plan documents, Codified Ordinance, Jackson County policies, and/or collective bargaining agreement, the applicable documents will govern.

Insurance

Health Insurance – As of July 1, 2024 Regular full-time employees and their eligible dependents receive medical insurance, including prescription and chiropractic, dental, and vision coverage at a cost to the employee of $22.82 per paycheck ($49.45 per month) toward the monthly composite premium. Regular full-time employees may not waive coverage. Regular part-time employees may enroll in the full plan, with a prorated composite premium depending on their full-time equivalent (FTE), or may elect to waive benefits. Coverage begins on the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.

Hinge – Provided through Regence, Hinge is an online virtual Physical Therapy benefit for all employees and their dependents enrolled in the health insurance plan. This online virtual service will work around your schedule in the comfort of your own home, and there is no cost to the employee.

Wellness Center by Care ATC – In addition to health insurance, certain primary care medical services, lab services, and prescription medications are offered at no out-of-pocket cost for the employee who is enrolled in the County’s health insurance plan, and their eligible dependents at the wellness center.

Group Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment – Fully funded for regular full-time employees (prorated for regular part-time employees), employees are eligible the first of the month coinciding with 30 days from date of hire. The benefit is equal to two times the employee’s annual salary rounded to the next higher $1,000, to a maximum of $500,000. Insurance in excess of $50,000 is a taxable benefit.

Long-Term Disability – Fully funded for regular full-time employees (prorated for regular part-time employees), employees are eligible the first of the month following date of hire. The benefits are payable after a waiting period of 60 days at a rate of 66 2/3 percent of base salary, up to a maximum monthly benefit of $12,000.

Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment – Regular employees may choose to participate in additional AD&D coverage through payroll deduction, and have the choice of plan and coverage amounts.

Voluntary Life Insurance - Regular employees may choose to participate in additional Life Insurance coverage through payroll deduction, and have the choice of coverage amounts.

Leaves

Vacation – Regular full-time employees earn vacation leave at a rate of 15 to 27 days annually depending upon years of County service. Regular part-time employees earn vacation leave on a prorated basis. Employees can carry forward up to two times the annual vacation accrual (prorated for part-time employees). Vacation leave cannot be used during the first six full months of regular employment. Twice per fiscal year, employees may request to be paid for vacation accruals, provided specific requirements are met.

Years of ServiceAnnual Vacation Accrual
0 to 5 years 15 days (4.62 hours/pay period)
Over 5 through 10 years18 days (5.54 hours/pay period)
Over 10 through 15 years21 days (6.47 hours/pay period)
Over 15 through 20 years24 days (7.39 hours/pay period)
Over 20 years 27 days (8.31 hours/pay period)

Sick Leave – Regular full-time employees earn sick leave at the rate of 3.70 hours per pay period (12 days annually), which starts to accrue during the first pay period. Regular part-time employees accrue sick leave on a prorated basis. Accrued sick leave may be used as soon as it is accrued.

Holidays – Regular full-time employees receive ten paid holidays annually (prorated for regular part-time employees), New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr’s Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Holidays that fall on a Saturday will be observed on the previous Friday and holidays that fall on a Sunday will be observed on the following Monday.

Personal Leave – Each fiscal year on July 1, full-time regular employees receive one personal leave day (eight hours; prorated for regular part-time employees based on the position’s FTE as of July 1). Employees must be employed on July 1 to be eligible to receive the personal leave day. Personal leave is used in 15-minute increments. If it is not used, it does not roll over to the following year.

Retirement

Oregon Public Employees’ Retirement System – Jackson County participates in the State of Oregon Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). PERS has Tier One, Tier Two, and the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP) pension programs, as well as the Individual Account Program (IAP). Tier One covers members hired before January 1, 1996; Tier Two covers members hired between January 1, 1996 and August 28, 2003; and OPSRP covers members hired on or after August 29, 2003.

IAP contains all member contributions (6% of covered salary, currently County-paid) made on or after January 1, 2004. The legislature created the IAP in 2003 to provide an individual account-based retirement benefit for new workers hired on or after August 29, 2003, and for Tier One/Tier Two members active on or after January 1, 2004. The IAP benefit is in addition to the member’s other retirement program benefit (i.e., Tier One, Tier Two, or OPSRP). Employees are automatically vested in their IAP account when their account is established.

IAP Redirect - Per Senate Bill 1049 (2019) contributions remain at the rate of 6% however, a portion of that 6% is redirected to the Employee Pension Stability Account (EPSA). 2.5% is redirected for the Tier 1 and Tier 2 members and 0.75% is redirected for OPSRP members. The rest of the county-paid contribution is directed to the employee’s IAP. Employee’s may choose to make voluntary contributions for the amount of the redirect through the Oregon PERS Online Member Services (OMS) at www.oregon.gov/PERS.

Salary Limit - Beginning January 1, 2020, SB 1049 changed the definition of “salary” for PERS purposes and created new limitations on annual and monthly “subject salaries.” Your salary is used to determined member Individual Account Program (IAP) contributions, employer contributions to fund the pension program, and the final average salary used in calculating retirement benefits under formula methods. The 2022 limit $210,582 per year. The limit is prorated when members work fewer than 12 months in a calendar year.

OPSRP is designed to provide approximately 45 percent of an employee’s final average salary at retirement (for a general service member with a 30-year career or a police and firefighter member with a 25-year career).

OPSRP General Service: Unless employees are in a police or firefighter position, they are considered a general service member. In addition to other retirement programs or any social security benefit, when employees retire, if vested, PERS will calculate monthly benefit using the following formula:

1.5 percent x years of retirement credit x final average salary. Normal retirement age for general service members is age 65, or age 58 with 30 years of retirement credit.

General Service Benefit Calculation Example (employees can estimate benefits using any number of years and any final average salary):

Final average salary: $45,000
Retirement credit: 30 years as an OPSRP member
30 (years) x 1.5 percent = 45 percent
45 percent x $3,750 (final average monthly salary) = $1,687.50
Single Life Option monthly benefit = $1,687.50 ($20,250 annual benefit)

Other Benefits

Voluntary Deferred Compensation Program – Jackson County offers regular employees the option to enroll in IRS Section 457 Deferred Compensation Retirement Plans. The employee defers compensation through voluntary payroll deductions into this supplemental retirement plan. The 457 plan is a separate retirement plan from PERS.

Voluntary Direct Deposit – An employee may choose to have their payroll check automatically deposited into their bank account. Employees can choose up to four accounts to receive direct deposit funds. Most banks allow participation of this program.

Voluntary Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Section 125 Plan – The FSA is a tax-free regular employee-funded account. Regular employees may choose to participate in pre-tax health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket unreimbursed eligible health care expenses, dependent care expenses, and qualified transportation expenses, in order to have “before-tax” dollars deducted from their paychecks.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – The County has a fully-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to offer. The EAP is a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL benefit that can assist you and your eligible family members with personal problems, large or small. The EAP provides confidential services to help people privately resolve problems that may interfere with work, family, and life. The EAP is offered to regular employees, their dependents, and any household members. Services include up to four face-to-face counseling sessions per year, 24/7/365 access to crisis counselors, and convenient access to on-line consultations with licensed counselors.