COMMUNITY DISEASE CONTROL SPECIALIST 1 - 40001140

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The primary purpose of this position is to provide HIV testing and counseling services in clinical and field settings, to perform client interviews for persons testing positive for communicable diseases, partner tracking and notification, communicable disease surveillance, and to refer and connect clients into treatment and care.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The essential functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

• Informs, counsels, and interviews patients diagnosed with syphilis, HIV and AIDS and their partners and to refer them to medical and/or psychosocial services;
• Counsel patients on PrEP medication options, financial considerations, adherence, ID provider options, STIs/HIV prevention counseling to include rapid HIV test specific counseling, and to address all questions and concerns patients may have about PrEP medications.; will accompany patients to the lab to initiate the rapid HIV test, will provide HIV rapid test results and appropriate counseling, will instruct patients to wait for the DCoDPH to call with confirmatory HIV results before starting PrEP medication, will obtain the release of information and assist patients in making their PrEP follow-up appointment if they chose to start PrEP medications on the day of the visit or at a later date; will get verbal ( or written) permission to call patients to give the confirmatory HIV results and to provide appointment reminder calls/follow-up calls to patients;
• Locates, notifies and counsels sex and needle sharing partners;
• Assists with patient notification for persons testing positive for gonorrhea and chlamydia;
• Collaborates with the Raleigh Regional Office on a weekly basis through submission of reports and cases through the North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS);
• Assists Communicable Disease Program Manager and Health Director in investigation and issuing of Isolation Orders for suspected Control measures violations;
• Analyzes comprehensive and complex data to determine the source and spread of disease and plan intervention to reduce occurrence and spread of disease in the community;
• Assists and refers clients in entering or re-entering treatment and care for HIV when newly diagnosed or have become lost to care and follow-up;
• Provides pre- and post-test HIV counseling to any client encounter;
• Provides education on transmission and prevention of HIV;
• Advises clients in assessing their own risk for HIV and establishing a preventative plan for reducing their risk, including condom use;
• Documents patient encounters into the Electronic Medical Record and any other relevant source;
• Completes HIV scan forms or test requisition from NC State Lab of Public Health;
• Records patients tested in HIV log book;
• Receives, sorts and documents HIV test results from the State Lab of Public Health;
• Identify, locate, and link/re-engage out of care people living with HIV (PLWH) to HIV medical care and needed resources to decrease the number of persons living in Durham County newly diagnosed with HIV assigned to the local DIS bridge counselor program;
• Refers clients needing services outside of DCoDPH;
• Maintains confidentiality of client information;
• Reviews communicable disease reports for STD/HIV from all reporting agencies in Durham County;
• Maintains a thorough working knowledge of medical terminology necessary for disease intervention and control;
• Maintain proficiency at working independently, make strategic plans, and organize daily activities to meet programmatic priorities and deadlines;
• Follows up with providers when STD/HIV report cards indicate a lack of treatment or are otherwise incomplete;
• Completes NC State Morbidity and CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance reporting forms for patients testing HIV positive;
• Ensures all persons post-test counseled or self-reporting as HIV positive sign NC Control measures;
• Adheres to all NC and State laws regarding communicable disease;
• Initiate NC 360 Referrals;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Remains current on all required annual training;
• Remains knowledgeable of current practices and recommendations from the CDC and NC Division of Public Health in regard to STD, HIV and syphilis testing, counseling, and contact investigation;
• Remains up-to-date with STD, HIV/syphilis information by attending workshops, conferences and trainings;
• Ability to learn the cause and effect of sexually transmitted diseases, their symptoms, complications, and epidemiology;
• Ability to learn principles and practices of specific investigative methods, interviewing and supportive counseling techniques;
• Ability to establish rapport and effective communications with clients, family members, and others involved;
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local public health laws, rules, and regulations which are applicable to sexually transmitted diseases;
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely in oral or written form;
• Ability to plan and execute work.
• Maintains certifications as needed.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Graduation from a four-year college or university preferably with a degree in human services or science; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE:

Durham County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Durham County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management. 

BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENT:

This position may be subject to a background check, which could include, but is not limited to, criminal history (employment-related and/or SBI fingerprint-based), credit history, motor vehicle records, educational verification, and checks of the sexual offender registry, depending on the specific requirements of the role. A conviction record does not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment consideration, unless otherwise required by applicable state law.