School Health Aide

Job Announcement

Fairfax County Health Department is seeking individuals to serve as School Health Aides providing direct school health services in Fairfax County Public Schools. School Health Aides provide care for students who are ill or injured, including first aid, emergency care, and administration of medications or treatments in routine and non-routine situations at the school of assignment within Fairfax County.

Performs an array of care related administrative work such as maintaining student health records, documenting health room visits, compiling health room statistics, and ensuring accuracy of information. School Health Aides are provided training and supervised by a Public Health Nurse.

Other duties include:

• Provides care according to established guidelines; notifies parents/guardians and school staff as necessary.
• Administers first aid, according to established guidelines, to students who are either injured or sick, within a variety of locations within the school and school grounds.
• Arranges and conducts health screening (vision and hearing) and assists Public health Nurse in notifying parents/guardians of abnormal screening results and recommended follow-up. Documents health room visits daily ensuring documentation is clear and accurate.
• Organizes and maintains health room.
• Compiles submits health room statistics and reports using computer data entry and information systems.
• Responds to emergencies and administers emergency medications such as Epinephrine (EpiPen) or other emergency medications in response to health needs.
• Responds to health emergencies by calling 911, as appropriate, and ensures care protocols are followed.
• Participates in communicable disease surveillance in schools.
• Attends required trainings.
• May participate in community activities related to public health emergency responses.

Note: Multiple positions may be filled from this job announcement. The hourly salary rate will not exceed the midpoint of $27.6463.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

• Determines student's health needs and applies established health room protocols and procedures i.e., checking temperatures, recording complaints, and rendering limited first aid;
• Responds to health emergencies by initiating Emergency Medical System (EMS) and providing emergency care according to protocol;
• Administers medications according to Fairfax County Public Schools guidelines;
• Contacts parents and school personnel as necessary related to students' health needs;
• Monitors daily student absences and illness in the school for community trends;
• Makes referrals to and seeks guidance from supervising public health nurse for students with non-routine health needs;
• Makes referrals to Fairfax County Public School personnel and other community resources to meet student and parent/guardian needs;
• Coordinates the screening procedures of the school health program, e.g. vision and hearing screenings; performs follow up screenings, follows up with parent/guardian, and assists the public health nurse in making referrals for students with hearing/vision deficits;
• Documents care provided according to Fairfax County Public School guidelines;
• Maintains and updates electronic school health records and statistics;
• Organizes and maintains cleanliness of health room and its supplies;
• Provides health information and education to students and parents.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Ability to identify signs of common childhood illnesses;
• Ability to identify a health emergency and activate the emergency response;
• Ability to perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED);
• Ability to prioritize care of students, provide care for sick and injured students, and manage the health room in a dynamic environment;
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with students, teachers and parents;
• Ability to effectively document care provided according to record management guidelines;
• Ability to maintain and update electronic student health records and to prepare routine reports;
• Ability to compile clinical statistics;
• Ability to use sound judgment and to work independently within established policies, procedures and guidelines;
• Ability to provide care to students in a variety of locations within the school and school grounds.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Completion of high school; plus any combination of education, experience and training equivalent to two years of post-secondary education in a field related to early childhood education or human services; plus two years of experience working with children and families.
Click here to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to"

CERTIFICATIONS:

Driver's license
AED-Required within 30 days
CPR -Required within 30 days

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a driving records check, and a Child Protective Services Registry to the satisfaction of the employer. Tuberculosis test.

• Successful completion of department-sponsored Fairfax County Health Department School Health Aide orientation prior to assignment in a school for continued employment; Part of the orientation is virtual, accessibility to the internet will be required.
• Evaluated as competent in the care of sick and injured children;
• A TB risk assessment and immunization review will be required for employees assigned to this class.

All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Preferred candidate will have education, or training beyond high school in a relevant course of study. Will have a desire to work with school age children to promote health and wellbeing. Proven ability to interact in a friendly, service-oriented and professional manner with students, parents/guardians, school staff. Interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Position requires the candidate to be proactive, exercise good judgment, use critical thinking skills, be organized and have excellent customer service skills. Clear oral and written communication skills. Ability to adapt to changes in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in recordkeeping and in use of Microsoft Office software applications.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employee is required to walk, stand, bend, sit, kneel, reach, use hands to grasp, handle, or feel. Ability climb stairs, push a wheel chair or walk briskly to respond to student/staff health needs or emergencies. Able to carry equipment, supplies, young children or lift up to 25 pounds. Visual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor and operate keyboard driven equipment. Have the ability to read and write in complete English sentences. Ability to frequently communicate and exchange accurate information with others verbally and in writing. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.