JOB TITLE: CHIEF, DIVISION OF SCHOOL HEALTH, DOH

JOB CODE: 31975

DEFINITION: This is professional and administrative work directing the operations of the Division of School Health in the Bureau of Community Health Systems.

The employee in this job plans, implements, and directs a statewide reimbursement and consultation program for health services performed in schools. Work involves developing program policies and goals; serving as liaison with school districts, private organizations, and community groups regarding program goals; consulting with internal and external environmental staff to address identified environmental hazards in schools; and integrating the school preventive health program into the Commonwealth's school system. Work includes serving as liaison with the Department of Education and the State Board of Education regarding standards for school personnel and recommending student health assessment policies to the Advisory Health Board. Supervision is exercised over professional nursing staff. Work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed by an administrative supervisor through conferences and reports for attainment of goals and objectives and overall program effectiveness.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Directs nursing staff who provide consultation and technical assistance to school administrators, school health personnel, intermediate units, parents, community and governmental agencies, and others regarding school health issues.

• Directs the provision and interpretation of information about school health statutes, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures to health district staff, schools, parents, governmental agencies, and communities.

• Administers state reimbursement for health services performed in schools, including medical, dental, and nursing services.

• Consults with the Pennsylvania Department of Education regarding rules, regulations, and standards for school personnel, documentation requirements, and educational impact of the school preventive health program.

• Develops program policies, goals, and administrative guidelines to evaluate school health programs.

• Establishes and oversees compliance monitoring protocols to ensure the provisions of the Public School Code of 1949 and departmental regulations are met.

• Recommends qualification standards for school nurses to the State Board of Education.

• Recommends policies regarding student health assessment, screening, and testing to the Advisory Health Board.

• Provides guidance to school nurses providing school health services in accordance with nursing theory, standards of practice, best practice, and federal and state laws and regulations.

• Collaborates with department staff and external stakeholders to provide professional development opportunities for school health services personnel, including registered professional school nurses, skilled nurses, and assistive personnel to ensure a competent school health and school nurse workforce.

• Approves contracts for school health services between school districts and county health units, municipalities, and the Department of Health.

• Develops data collection methods to report on statewide school preventive health program activities, make recommendations, and suggest program alternatives.

• Plans, develops, and monitors school health programs to address specific diseases in collaboration with applicable departmental program offices.

• Analyzes proposed legislation for impact on the school preventive health program and writes legislative proposals based on program developments.

• Serves on committees, task forces, and work groups to resolve problems with school health services, assess legislative impact, and participate in promotional activities for school health.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates' work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories, principles, practices, and developments in the field of public health pertaining to the development of school preventive health programs.

• Knowledge of the theories, practices, and methodologies of professional nursing.

• Knowledge of the prevention, detection, and treatment of disease conditions.

• Knowledge of the principles and methods applied to collecting, reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting statistical data.

• Knowledge of health, social, and economic problems and resources of the school age population.

• Knowledge of public health funding sources in the federal, state, and private sectors.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to analyze the impact of legislation on school health programs and recommend changes to departmental policies and procedures.

• Ability to interpret and apply legislation, rules, regulations, and policies affecting the school preventive health program.

• Ability to analyze and interpret written information.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Four years of professional public health experience that includes three years of experience in a school health program, and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes three years of professional public health experience in a school health program.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position requires active authorization to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.

• An employee possessing an active temporary practice permit must obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse within the one (1) year period defined by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.