Forensic Autopsy Technician

sjgov•Stockton, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This examination is being given to fill 1 vacancy in the Office of the Medical Examiner department and to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline. Forensic Autopsy Technician by Employment Services Team NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail. TYPICAL DUTIES Receives, moves, stores, and releases deceased persons within morgue and autopsy areas. Collects, preserves, and records identifying and other information of decedent body characteristics and condition through photography, radiography, fingerprinting, and other external measures and observations, including those which may be of value to the forensic investigation. Collects, packages, preserves, and documents medico-legal evidence, including personal property from decedent, in accordance with established procedures. Assists forensic pathologists in performing autopsies to determine cause and manner of unusual, unnatural, or medically unattended death. Prepares equipment, instruments, solutions, opens and closes bodies, collects blood and fluid samples, removes and weighs organs and specimens, and labels and stores specimens for required retention and/or laboratory testing. Maintains the safety and sanitation of the facility; cleans the autopsy suite, refrigeration, and storage spaces; sterilizes instruments, tools, and equipment; performs preventative maintenance and minor repairs to equipment. Ensures sufficient inventory of autopsy, morgue, and clerical supplies. Coordinates, tracks and ensures the proper receipt, storage, documentation, retention, and release of bodies and specimens with appropriate internal and external personnel and professionals, such as law enforcement, medical professionals, hospitals, and mortuaries. Maintains hard copy and electronic records in accordance with established practices and procedures; performs other related general clerical duties. Assists with training and orientation of new staff within the scope of work. May provide witness testimony in court.

Requirements

EITHER PATTERN I Education or Training: Completion of 15 semester (or equivalent) units from an accredited college or university or technical education/training program in human anatomy/physiology, biology, forensics, mortuary science, emergency medical technician training, or a closely related field.
OR PATTERN II Experience: Six months handling human remains in a morgue, hospital, mortuary, funeral home, or related facility.
AND FOR BOTH PATTERNS License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
KNOWLEDGE Handling and working with deceased bodies; appearance and general characteristics of a wide variety of human organs, tissue, and secretions; modern care, cleaning, and disinfection methods and practices of sanitizing floors, walls, fixtures, surgical instruments and equipment, to include universal precautions and aseptic techniques; principles and techniques for effectively working with and providing customer service to individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds; general office procedures and record keeping, including computers and software programs used to conduct, compile, maintain, and/or generate data and documentation; and general principles of work organization and prioritization.
ABILITY Constantly work around and with deceased persons and biological specimens; tolerate unpleasant aspects associated with traumatic death of all ages, bodies of deceased persons in various stages of decomposition, odors, and larva; use physical ability and agility to frequently move and manipulate bodies by oneself and with assistance; take direction and apply and retain detailed instructions and procedures in a high-stress, time-sensitive environment; work independently under minimal supervision; effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax; learn and accurately apply rules of evidence regarding chain of custody and methods to collect, preserve, and safeguard evidence; and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

Receives, moves, stores, and releases deceased persons within morgue and autopsy areas.
Collects, preserves, and records identifying and other information of decedent body characteristics and condition through photography, radiography, fingerprinting, and other external measures and observations, including those which may be of value to the forensic investigation.
Collects, packages, preserves, and documents medico-legal evidence, including personal property from decedent, in accordance with established procedures.
Assists forensic pathologists in performing autopsies to determine cause and manner of unusual, unnatural, or medically unattended death.
Prepares equipment, instruments, solutions, opens and closes bodies, collects blood and fluid samples, removes and weighs organs and specimens, and labels and stores specimens for required retention and/or laboratory testing.
Maintains the safety and sanitation of the facility; cleans the autopsy suite, refrigeration, and storage spaces; sterilizes instruments, tools, and equipment; performs preventative maintenance and minor repairs to equipment.
Ensures sufficient inventory of autopsy, morgue, and clerical supplies.
Coordinates, tracks and ensures the proper receipt, storage, documentation, retention, and release of bodies and specimens with appropriate internal and external personnel and professionals, such as law enforcement, medical professionals, hospitals, and mortuaries.
Maintains hard copy and electronic records in accordance with established practices and procedures; performs other related general clerical duties.
Assists with training and orientation of new staff within the scope of work.
May provide witness testimony in court.

Benefits

Employees hired into this classification are members of a bargaining unit which is represented by SEIU Local 1021 .
Health Insurance : San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.
Dental Insurance : The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
Vision Insurance : The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Employee Benefits.
Life Insurance : The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000 3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000 5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000 10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000 Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.
125 Flexible Benefits Plan : This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).
Retirement Plan : Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937. Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information. NOTE: If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.
Deferred Compensation : The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $22,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $30,000. The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available.
Vacation : Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.
Holidays : Effective July 1, 2017, all civil service status employees earn 14 paid holidays each year. Please see the appopriate MOU for details regarding holidays, accruals, use, and cashability of accrued time.
Sick Leave : 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.
Sick leave incentive : An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.
Bereavement Leave : 3 days of paid leave for the death of qualifying family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.
Merit Salary Increase : New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range. After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.
Educational Reimbursement Program : Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year. Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.
Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton: The County contributes up to $20 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.
School Activities : Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.