Public Health Infastructure Strategist

Boone County Health Department

1204 Logan Avenue, Belvidere, Illinois 61008

Main Office 815.544.2951 Clinic 815.544.9730 Fax 815.544.2050

www.boonehealth.org

The mission of the Boone County Health Department is to serve our community by preventing the spread of disease, promoting optimal wellness & protecting the public’s health.

JOB DESCRIPTION

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Job Title Public Health Infrastructure Strategist

Working Job Title (if different) none

Department Strategic Operations

Revised Date June 2023

Reports To Director of Departmental Operations

FLSA Status Exempt

General Schedule (GS) Pay Designation GS-10

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Managing a team of subject matter experts on strategic planning and Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) accreditation. Ensuring Boone County Health Department is in compliance of PHAB accreditation, federal, and state requirements. Maintaining and updating Departmental Workforce plans that are required for re-accreditation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under general supervision and/or as part of various workgroups and teams, the Accreditation Supervisor performs the following essential functions within the framework of Boone County Health Department’s provision of the core functions and essential services of Public Health:

• Leads a team who is responsible for PHAB Accreditation and re-accreditation.
• Provides guidance and support to staff on complex accreditation questions.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with PHAB standards.
• Provides regular updates to upper management on re-accreditation progress and any identified areas of improvement.
• Monitors industry trends and best practices related to accreditation.
• Facilitates, provides assistance and support for Community Health Assessments (CHA) and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)/Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN).
• Maintains and updates BCHD’s Workforce Development Plan, including but not limited to public health competency, employee appreciation/employee satisfaction survey.
• Maintains list of onboarding and training of staff.
• Maintains and updates BCHD’s Strategic Plan, including but not limited to facilitating the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and supporting the progress of the four strategic goal groups.
• Maintains and updates BCHD’s Quality Improvement Plan.
• Collaborates with community stakeholders in development of local strategies to improve health equity and health policy.
• Participates in data collection, quality improvement projects, program evaluation, and preparation of reports pertinent to objectives of the Strategic Plan, Workforce Development Plan, and re-accreditation.
• Facilitates and plans trainings, workshops, and presentations for staff.

Public Health Sciences:

• Develops and coordinates a department-wide Quality Improvement program.
• Develops and coordinates a department-wide Performance Management System (PMS).
• Develops and coordinates a department-wide Strategic Plan.
• Coordinates community health assessments.
• Develops Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)/Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN).
• Promotes and ensures Department compliance with applicable federal and state regulations and accreditation requirements related to quality improvement, performance management, workforce development, and strategic planning.

Community Divisions of Practice:

• Collaborates in BCHD’s community health assessment and health improvement planning and intervention activities and collaborates with other community agencies to address community health priorities and determine new ways to address health issues.
• Advocates on behalf of vulnerable individuals and populations; participates in assessing and evaluating health care services to inform individuals of available health department and community programs/services.
• Contributes to a work environment that fosters ongoing educational experiences regarding Public Health nursing for colleagues, nursing and other health-related students, health care professionals and members of the community.

Analysis and Assessment:

• Distinguishes between quantitative and qualitative community assessment data; knows how to access and interpret basic community epidemiological data.
• Participates in the analysis of data to identify trends, health problems, environmental health hazards, and social and economic conditions that adversely affect the public’s health.
• Tracks daily and weekly progress for the team against target goals.
• Performs quality assurance through maintenance of plans and procedures as outlined by PHAB.
• Employees at the supervisory level are expected to collect data related to staff output and program outcomes to assist agency management in making program decisions.

Leadership and Systems Thinking:

• Adheres to applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, such as those concerning exposure to blood borne pathogens, toxic substances, airborne pathogens or exposure to other hazards during routine assignments or public health emergencies.
• Responds to public health emergencies and/or take weekend calls for public health emergencies. This may require working a non-traditional work schedule or working outside normally assigned duties during a public health incident or emergency.
• Responsible for professional growth and development in pursuing education, participate in committees, conferences, workshops, in-services and contribute to a work environment where continual improvements in public health core competencies are practiced and pursued.
• Responsible for using quality improvement (QI) and performance management (PM) processes and/or techniques to improve the effectiveness of the respective public health program. This includes, but is not limited to: creating, implementing, and evaluating performance standards and identifying, implementing, and assessing program quality improvement processes.
• Assists Director of Departmental Operations and Public Health Administrator in interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Sets work standards by establishing, reviewing, and revising special program, nursing, and agency policies and guidelines.
• Evaluates Accreditation team in a systematic and standardized manner by annual evaluation dates.
• Makes recommendations, processes necessary paperwork for personnel transactions and takes appropriate performance management actions as needed. Attends to related Human Resources matters as necessary (i.e., timesheet, payroll, leave actions).
• Assesses staff training needs and provides regular training for staff; both new and existing staff.
• Engages with Accreditation staff daily to help Accreditation Staff and monitor progress.
• Under the direction of the departmental director, assigns special tasks to Accreditation Staff as needed.
• Leads weekly operations meetings to discuss project status/updates and address Accreditation Staff issues, concerns, and suggestions.

Policy Development and Program Planning:

• Coordinates Public Health activities with environmental and Public Health professionals and investigators from other agencies and jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Collaborates in the development of evidence-based Public Health practices and programs, long and short-range policies, and Public Health programs in Boone County.
• Collaborates in and contributes to individual, team and departmental performance management, quality improvement and evaluation activities.
• Re-trains Accreditation Staff to maintain and improve proficiency of existing staff.

Communication and Cultural Competency:

• Facilitates the Health Equity Assessment, assessing the health equity training needs of staff, and facilitating health equity trainings.
• Delivers targeted, culturally appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand local environmental Public Health policies, regulations and code.
• Utilizes appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with persons of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities.
• Adheres to ethical principles and Boone County Health Department policy in the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of data and information with mandated chart documentation requirements, medical record forms, State and Federal laws and patient consent.

Financial Planning and Management:

• Collaborates in activities such as time studies that contribute to the development of budgets and the efficient use of resources.
• Assists with preparation of grant proposals and monitors secured grants (research, implementation, data collection, written reports, and fiscal planning/management) as needed.

Other Duties Include:

Coordinating Day to Day Operations by:

• Assists the Director of Departmental Operations and the Public Health Administrator with programmatic changes, program development and grant writing as needed.
• Participates in Department and community emergency response training consistent with job classification in support of Public Health emergency and disaster preparedness, such as National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS) certification.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing continuous improvements in education and training.
• Maintains and secures equipment and supplies.
• Work evening and weekend hours when required and flexes time appropriately.
• Performs other duties as assigned consistent with job classification.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS:

• Treats others with courtesy and respect in all interactions.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Minimum Experience:

• Knowledge of quality control procedures, supervisory knowledge, project management.
• Knowledge of PHAB standards and requirements.
• Experience in workforce development, strategic planning, performance management, quality improvement, and accreditation.
• Ability to identify specific training needs and provide training for staff within the parameters of an established accredited public health department.
• Must have prior experience supervising and managing diverse work teams.
• Experience with developing and delivering training.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be detail-oriented and have excellent organizational skills.
• Strong ability to problem-solve and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to work independently and as member of a team.
• Must be flexible and able to multitask and prioritize work.

Education, Licensure, Certifications, Experience:

• A Masters’ Degree in Public Health or related field or a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health or related field and 3-5 years of related professional experience.
• Bilingual candidates in Spanish/English preferred.
• CPR certification within three (3) months of employment.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license, current certificate of vehicle insurance, and access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of the core functions and essential services of Public Health.
• Knowledge of population-based health status indicators, determinants of health and illness, factors contributing to health promotion and disease prevention, and factors influencing the use of health services.
• Knowledge of health care systems structure and function.
• Knowledge of PHAB, federal, and state standards.
• Demonstrates ability to use mathematical functions (such as addition, multiplication, computation of ratios and percentages with whole numbers and fractions/decimals).
• Demonstrates ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Due to the need for all Health Department personnel to respond to Public Health emergencies, the employee must be assessed for his/her ability to meet the physical demands of performing the following activities:

• Must be able to be fitted and wear NIOSH 95 mask.
• Engage in the following movements: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, writing and repetitive motions.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Hearing ability sufficient enough to communicate with others effectively in person and over the phone. Visual ability sufficient enough to read documents, screens, and to drive a car.

If unable to demonstrate these abilities based upon a standardized, objective assessment performed by external occupational health professionals, all reasonable accommodations will be made, in compliance with the Americans with

Disabilities Act and other applicable Federal and Illinois law.

WORKING CONDITIONS WHILE PERFORMING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

General office setting in health department facilities, as well as community sites in clients’ homes and workplaces.

The Accreditation Supervisor will work in a general office setting in health department facilities, as well as community sites in clients’ homes and workplaces. Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise (usually moderate), wetness/humidity, vibration and poor illumination at the job site or while traveling. Travel to and from locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards, and the employee may be required to travel to attend job-related conferences, training, or to other departments. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, chemicals and animals. The employee must be able to perform and complete duties under stress, deadlines and while attending to multiple duties at once. The employee must follow all county and department policies, goals and objectives.

In all settings, employees in this classification may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical or hostile behaviors and/or communication.

EQUIPMENT USED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Computer, fax, copier, personal or county vehicle, Public Health and medical equipment, and supplies related to duties.

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

Title of Immediate Supervisor: Departmental Director

Titles of any others this position reports to: Public Health Administrator

Titles of those who directly report to this position: This job is supervisory in nature. May provide guidance and training to new staff and/or interns.

Blood borne Pathogen Risk Code: None __ Low _X_ Medium __ High__

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $32.26 - $41.93 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Belvidere, IL 61008: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $32 - $42