Pharmacist
Correctional Health Services
In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive a salary range increase on the following date:
Effective June 27, 2025 – 4.00% increase
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
Premium Pay
In addition to the hourly salary, eligible applicants may receive premium pay for the items listed below:
- Bilingual pay: Qualified employees who meet the criteria found (page 18) shall receive an additional forty $0.40 cents per hour for all hours paid.
- Night Shift Differential pay: Employees assigned to a night shift shall be paid a night shift differential for each hour actually worked on the assigned night shift. Pay rate is determined by assigned shift hours found here (page 15).
- Jail Supplement pay: An employee in this classification who is permanently assigned to the Central Jail/Intake/Release Center (including Correctional Medical Services), Theo Lacy Branch Jail or James Musick Facility shall receive an additional $1.50 per hour for all paid hours.
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future vacancies within the Health Care Agency. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.
This recruitment is open to the public and will remain open on a continuous basis for a minimum of five (5) business days, until the needs of the Department are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.
The County of OrangeHealth Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of six service areas – Administrative and Financial, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Regulatory & Medical Services, Public Health, and Office of Care Coordination - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.
Correctional Health Services (CHS)
The pharmacy is located in the Main Jail Facility in Santa Ana that provides medications to Adult inmates in the five County jail facilities, for juveniles housed at Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Hall Camp sites and provides medications for patients treated by the Pulmonary Disease Services within the County's Public Health Department. In addition, the pharmacy oversees the ordering of medications for the Orangewood Children and Family Center (OCFC).
THE OPPORTUNITY
The County of Orange, HCA is seeking a dynamic leader to join the Correctional Health Service (CHS) team as a Pharmacist to provide medications to patients as ordered by the prescribers in a safe and effective manner. The Pharmacist will report to the Director of Pharmacy Services.
The responsibilities of the Pharmacist include but are not limited to:
- Supervision of Pharmacy Technicians
- Review of all medication orders from prescribers utilizing two computer systems: TechCare and Correctional Institution Pharmacy Software (CIPS)
- Fill orders with correct medication and assures prescription labels are processed accurately
- Handle and maintain all controlled substances records
- Review Pharmacy Technician's prepared orders
- Prioritize prescription order filling according to urgency or in order of importance
- Clinical dosing and/or monitoring of patients on warfarin and clozapine
- Report Pharmacist interventions and Quality Management (QM) activities
- Provide consultation with prescribers regarding drug therapy of patients
- Visual checking of all medications dispensed by the automated machine for accuracy
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will have two (2) or more years of experience working in an acute care or correctional healthcare setting as a registered pharmacist and experience in supervising Pharmacy Technicians or similar classifications.
A Doctorate degree in Pharmacy is preferred.
Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess the knowledge, skills and abilities that demonstrate the following competencies:
Technical Expertise | Knowledge of:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Principle standards, laws and regulations associated with business and pharmacy operation
- Operation of a contemporary correctional and/or institutional pharmacy
- Medication Therapy Management
- Knowledge about disease and pharmacotherapeutic principles to effectively assess patients
- Proficient using computer databases such as TechCare, CIPS systems, Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Microsoft Office Suite programs
Clinical Problem Solving | Critical Thinking Skills
- Monitoring and evaluating patients' drug therapy
- Interpreting and analyzing patient specific medical data
- Ability to make competent decisions and solve problems efficiently
- Exercising professional judgment in imparting therapeutic and drug information to prescribers, especially when patient is allergic to drug prescribed or drug-drug interactions
- Identifying and determining which drug on the current formulary could be recommended to patients or purchasing Non-formulary drug
- Dispensing drugs appropriately to prevent potential harm/risk of injury to patient
- Developing improvement pharmacy processes and services to meet client's needs
Patient Centered Care
- Ensuring patient's safety
- Being a patient advocate to ensure care is rendered appropriately
- Understanding incarcerated patient's right to receive safe and high quality care
- Maintaining a high standard of care
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
- Communicating accurately to convey both substance and intent, and adeptly communicating sensitive matters
- Presenting, advocating, facts, ideas and complex material clearly, concisely, logically and persuasively both in person and in writing
- Using diplomacy when dealing with challenging situations and/or people in stressful environments
- Maintaining regular communication with Director to keep him/her apprised of staff work, status of ongoing projects, policy changes or any issues that may impart work productivity
- Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with internal departments, external agencies and community organization
- Maintaining security of the Pharmacy and safety of pharmacy staff by ensuring that staff understand and follow all safety protocols
Special Qualifications
- Incumbents are required to pass a comprehensive background investigation prior to a formal offer and acceptance of employment. Incumbents must maintain Sheriff's Department or Probation Department security clearance for the facilities where they work.
- Applicants must have no felony convictions or be on any form of probation.
- Must be able to pass and maintain background investigation to the satisfaction of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. Background screening includes; completing of a Personal History Form, interviewing with a background investigator, fingerprinting and may include a polygraph test. Some of the areas considered in the background screening include prior convictions, traffic violations, drug use and credit problems, employment history, professional references and education verification (i.e. degree, license, or official transcripts. Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).
- The Correctional facilities is a 24-hour, 7 day a week facility, incumbents may be asked to work on weekends, evenings or night shift and holidays
Minimum Qualifications
Click here to view the minimum qualifications for Pharmacist as well as the physical, mental and environmental conditions.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all applications to identify the qualified applicants for the position based on the minimum and desirable knowledge, skills and abilities. After the initial screening, the qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.
Application Screening (Refer/Non Refer):
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applications exhibiting qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.
Online Assessment (Weighted 100%):
Candidates who closely match the ideal candidate profile based on the bulletin requirements will be invited to participate in an online assessment. Candidates will be notified of their test date and access code, if applicable. The most successful candidates will be placed on an eligible list.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Eligible List:
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.
Please see below for important information regarding COVID 19 related requirements.
Effective April 3, 2023, it is strongly recommended that County employees working in health care settings and correctional facilities follow vaccination and booster guidelines provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please click here to see the latest guidance for more details.
Email Notification:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
Applicants will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Claudia Curiel at (714) 834-2335 or CCuriel@ochca.com.
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
