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Position/Program Information
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL EXAMINER-CORONER
EXAM NUMBER:
P4887E-R
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:
Open Competitive Job Opportunity
FILING START DATE:
Applications will be accepted starting on October 17, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (PT).
Applications will be accepted starting on October 17, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (PT).
This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.
REPOSTING INFORMATION:
This announcement is a reposting to reopen the filing period and update Additional Information.
This announcement is a reposting to reopen the filing period and update Additional Information.
___________________________________________________________________________________
The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner investigates and determines the circumstances, manner and cause of all violent, sudden or unusual deaths occurring within the County.
Each year approximately 18,000 cases are reported to the Department, of which about half fall within its jurisdiction. The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner conducts about 5,700 autopsies per year, making it one of the largest coroner’s offices in the world. It has also become one of the most technologically advanced offices in the world, due to the complexity of cases investigated, including numerous high profile cases.
What you will do:
As a Forensic Technician I you will assist pathologists in performing autopsies at the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. This position requires incumbents to lift and move heavy equipment and decedents while preparing for, and assisting in, autopsies and other job-related duties.
Essential Job Functions
Prepares decedents for post-mortem examinations by removing specified decedent or specimen from crypt storage area and placing it on the autopsy table, verifying decedent’s identity from a toe and ankle tag, setting up the necessary equipment instruments and solutions in order to ensure compliance with Federal and State laws, County ordinances, safety guidelines, and departmental policies.
Assists the pathologist in performing autopsies by opening the cranium, thoracic and abdominal cavities using tools; excising and dissecting organs and specimens using instruments; obtaining blood samples and other body fluids for toxicological examinations; recording weights of organs and body fluids; preparing specimens for cultures; filing pathologic specimens; suturing and cleaning bodies; and returning decedents to crypt storage area under close supervision.
Assists in performing minor laboratory work by preparing specimens for examination and assuming responsibilities for the proper storage of specimens.
Assists the pathologist in identifying, gathering, and properly storing physical evidence by maintaining a proper chain of custody to ensure the integrity of the collected evidence in compliance with the Federal and State rules regarding evidence collection, safety guidelines, and departmental policies and procedures.
Cleans and maintains the autopsy room, equipment, and tools by sterilizing instruments, removing soiled linens, stocking clean linens and other necessary supplies to ensure proper and safe functioning of the autopsy room and equipment.
Takes custody of the decedent’s personal effects (e.g., money and valuables) by creating a written inventory of decedent’s collected property in the presence of a witness, storing them at the Department or securing them at the death scene in order to safeguard or properly transfer the possession of said property to the decedent’s next of kin.
Interacts with a variety of individuals to collaborate with other Coroner staff and law enforcement agencies and provide general information to families and members of the public in order to represent the Department in a professional, sensitive, and empathetic manner and facilitate communication and cooperation between the Department and interested parties.
Prepares a variety of written documents by compiling and organizing the necessary information and composing the text in a logical manner using appropriate computer software programs in order to facilitate accurate and effective communication, reporting, and record keeping within the Department.
Complies with all applicable health and safety standards by following the applicable guidelines and reporting defects or problems so they can be appropriately addressed or repaired in order to maintain a clean, safe, and professional work environment.
Provides testimony in judicial proceedings by conveying procedural and/or technical information related to procurement of evidence and/or property during the autopsy with professionalism and clarity in order to accurately represent the findings determined by the Department, as needed.
Requirements
We are looking for dedicated individuals who have either:
OPTION I:
One year* of experience handling, transporting, and preparing deceased persons for post-mortem examinations and subsequent release at the level of Forensic Attendant**.
OPTION II:
An Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree***, or higher, in Mortuary Science.
LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
PHYSICAL EXPECTATIONS:
This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working on irregular surfaces; and occasionally requires extraordinary physical activity.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*One year is defined as full-time work of forty (40) hours per week for twelve (12) months for a total of 2080 hours or more. Performance of the required duties on a part-time basis will be prorated to equivalent full-time basis.
**Experience at the level of Forensic Attendant in the County of Los Angeles is defined as transporting and preparing decedents for post-mortem examinations and for release to mortuary subsequent to examination.
***In order to receive credit for an Associate’s degree or higher, you MUST include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or an official letter from the accredited institution, which shows degree has been conferred with the area of specialization at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission by either uploading the required documents as attachments or submitting via email to ******@hr.lacounty.gov. These documents should clearly indicate the degree received in the English language, the date when the degree was conferred, and should be in either Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, or JPEG file format and must be less than 5.0 MB in size per document.
Please note if applicants do not submit a copy of their official diploma, transcript, or official letter from the accredited institution at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from submission of their application, their application will be considered as incomplete.
ENDORSEMENT OF COUNTY QUALIFICATIONS:
County employees who wish to meet the Option I requirements using out-of-class experience must provide official documentation such as additional responsibility bonus, out-of-class bonus, temporary assignment bonus, or reclassification study from CEO Classification with your application at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission. Employees do not need to submit such verification if they hold or have held the Forensic Attendant position or a position deemed to be at equivalent level.
Out-of-class duties should be accurately described in the application work history, and questionable experience will be verified through the departmental HR Manager when necessary.
WITHHOLD INFORMATION:
No withholds will be allowed for this examination. All required education or experience must be possessed at the time of filing.
Additional Information
EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of a multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 100%, assessing:
- Achievement
- Responsibility
- Safety Orientation
- Teamwork
- Following Instructions
- Deductive Reasoning
MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.
APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON THE EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES.
Notices of Non-acceptance and Final Result Letters will be sent via E-mail. Multiple choice and simulation assessment scores cannot be given over the telephone.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Please add ******@hr.lacounty.gov, ****@governmentjobs.com, *************@shl.com, and ***********@amcatmail.com to your email address book and/or list of approved senders to prevent email notifications, including exam notices and invitations, from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.
Los Angeles County will not accept claims of not receiving assessment invitations as a reason for a reschedule.
TRANSFER OF EXAM COMPONENTS:
- Applicants that have taken identical components recently for other exams will have their responses automatically transferred to this examination.
- This examination contains components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your responses may be transferred.
TEST PREPARATION:
Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.
- An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on “Find A Job” and then “Job Search Toolkit”. Test preparation information is located under the “Employment Test Assistance” section.
- You can also access test preparation for the computerized portion of the test by going to https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests/.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the list of eligible candidates in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of promulgation.
Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the list of eligible candidates accordingly.
VACANCY INFORMATION:
The list of eligible candidates resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner as they occur.
AVAILABLE SHIFT: Any
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be filed online only. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” green button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.
Plan to submit your online application well in advance of 5:00 p.m. PT on the last day of filing as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
Important:
Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to verification at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made per Civil Service Rule 6.04. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. Utilizing verbiage from the Class Specification and requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements.
Doing so may result in an incomplete application and you may be disqualified.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member’s or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.
TESTING ACCOMMODATION:
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, that you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s).
If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077
Department Contact Name: Channon Sears
Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-2912
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
Your Responsibilities:
1. Completing Your Application:
a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.
c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.
2. Requirements on Job Posting:
a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.
b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual over age 40.
c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.
3. Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.
4. Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile on www.governmentjobs.com and make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.
5. Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:
a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation may be subject to verification as allowable with
State and Federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.
Disclaimer: The County of Los Angeles is not responsible or in any way liable for any computer hardware or software malfunction which may affect the employment application or the application selection process.
You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of this system and the Internet generally. This system and the information provided on it are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. No advice or information given by the County of Los Angeles or its respective employees shall modify the foregoing or create any warranty.
The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.
The County of Los Angeles shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this system or with the delay or inability to use it (or any linked sites), or for any information obtained through this system, or otherwise arising out of the use of this system, the Internet generally or on any other basis.
NOTE: Your application is submitted using Secure Encryption to ensure the privacy of all information you transmit over the Internet.
By accepting the Use Disclaimer set forth here, you agree to all of the above terms and further agree to use this Online Job Employment Application System only for the submission of bona fide employment applications to the County of Los Angeles. Any other use of this Online Job Employment Application System, including without limitation any copying, downloading, translating, decompiling, or reverse engineering of the system, data, or related software, shall be a violation of the Use Disclaimer.
Test Preparation: Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/. Additional resources may be listed on the job posting. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Employment Information Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
Veteran’s Credit
: In all open competitive examinations, a veteran’s credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or
- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or
- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or
- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or
- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or
- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded.
Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.
A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.
This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran’s credit.
More information available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/
Accreditation Information
: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United
States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information available at: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf (Download PDF reader) and http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_AC E_Resource_Guide.pdf
Background Check
: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s).
I
f asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
Career Planning: Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at https://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov/#/.
Benefit Information
: Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a “new member” of the County’s defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) – unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting.
The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.
Equal Employment Opportunity
: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program
: In an effort to improve compliance with courtordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations.
Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.
Social Security Act of 2004
: Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System.
All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website www.socialsecurity.gov, or call toll free 1-800-772- 1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.
Employment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act
(Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) and the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) prohibits employment discrimination based on race or color; religion; national origin or ancestry, physical disability; mental disability or medical condition; marital status; sex or sexual orientation; age, with respect to persons over the age of 40; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
COVID-19 VACCINATION: Some County workforce members may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Successful candidates for those positions/classifications may be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.
Updated April 2023
