Emergency Communications- Call Taker
Company: Santa Barbara County, CA
Location: Santa Barbara
Posted on: June 6, 2021
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Job Description:
Description For more information about the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's
Office, visit our website at www.SBSheriff.org TO APPLY ONLINE- CLICK HERE We are accepting applications to fill current and future
vacancies in Santa Barbara with the Sheriff's Office. POSITION Under direct supervision, answers calls received in the ECC,
determines the emergency or non-emergency nature of the call and
routes it to the appropriate communications dispatcher or provides
the appropriate assistance; performs related duties as
required. This Call Taker position is distinguished from the
Communications Dispatcher I job class in that the Call Taker does
not dispatch any appropriate routine or emergency personnel or
equipment via radio or other electronic communications equipment,
nor is this an on-the-job training job class where the incumbent is
expected to move to the position of Communications Dispatcher after
completion of their on-the-job training. Work Environment: The Dispatch Center is a countywide answering point for the
9-1-1 emergency telephone system. Public safety agencies that
directly use the Dispatch Center are the County Sheriff's Office,
the County Fire Department, the County Contract ambulance company,
local cities, and federal agencies. The Dispatch Center is a
24-hour / 365-day facility and is administered by the Santa Barbara
County Sheriff's Office. The Dispatch Center receives approximately 160 calls daily for
service on the 9-1-1 emergency system. In addition to 9-1-1 calls,
the center answers approximately 840 calls daily on many other
emergency lines. This equals approximately 324,000 calls per year;
staff includes 24 Dispatchers, 5 Call Takers, 6 Dispatch
Supervisors, a civilian Operations Manager and a Sheriff's
Commander. As a new Dispatch Call Taker, you will have the
opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience. A Dispatch Call Taker plays a vital role in the delivery of
public safety and functions as a nexus between the community, law
enforcement and allied agencies, and public safety field personnel.
Their role is largely one of information processing - obtaining,
evaluating, and disseminating information regarding crimes,
emergencies, and requests for public safety services - information
that is often critical to the safety of both the public and law
enforcement personnel. The conditions under which this role is
carried out are often quite demanding with respect to both
cognitive and non-cognitive skills and qualities. Memorization: Remembering the details of a recent incident or
related incidents; remembering procedures for handling various
types of complaints and incidents; remembering various codes and
abbreviations (e.g. radio, legal); and remembering geographical
boundaries and significant common locations. Speed of closure: Evaluating initial information and quickly
determining whether an incident is an emergency; and taking several
calls reporting different parts of the same incident and quickly
combining the information to gain an overall picture of what
happened. Perceptual Speed: Quickly comparing and verifying names,
locations and descriptions received by telephone, or in written
form (e.g. checking a detainee's description against a wanted list
or data base inquiry); and quickly comparing incident information
to determine if different calls are related. Selective Attention: Taking calls within a noisy, distracting
work environment (e.g. taking a complaint from a citizen while
other phone lines are ringing, other dispatchers are receiving
emergency calls, teletype messages are printing). Multi-tasking: Handling multiple calls for assistance at the
same time; taking a complaint while monitoring teletypes. Using Resources & Equipment: Uses appropriate automated data
bases (e.g. vehicle, criminal history, driver's license, wants and
warrants, stolen property, gun, and various specialized data bases)
and reference material (codes, wanted lists, directories, manuals,
etc.) to obtain or accurately update information. Uses telephone
system and related equipment, and/or computer-aided dispatch (CAD)
system properly when receiving calls for service. Training can last anywhere from 3- 6 months, depending on many
factors including the rate at which the new employee learns and
retains information. Classroom instruction, practical application
in the form of on-the-job-training, field trips, projects, tests,
and self-study methods are all used in order to facilitate the new
employee's learning process. Throughout the Training Program, both
the Dispatch Training Officer and the Trainee are expected to
maintain a daily log of activities documenting concepts presented
successes and achievements for each day, and areas in need of
improvement. During the probationary period, the new employee will
also receive quarterly evaluations as required by the Department
and the County. Ideal Candidate possess: Disqualifiers Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) and California POST
Selection Standards: Since POST standards adhere to both state and federal laws, the
possession and/or sale of marijuana remains prohibited by federal
law under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Therefore any
candidate who uses / possesses and/or the sale of marijuana within
the last year will result in disqualification. Examples of Duties Employment Standards Knowledge of: English language; professional customer service;
operation of multi-line telephone handset; data-entry using
software; computer systems utilization. Ability to: observe, receive, and otherwise obtain information
from all relevant sources; analyze information, evaluate results,
and to choose the best solution; solve problems; learn Federal,
State, and local laws, and also local agency policies and
procedures, terminology, jurisdictional boundaries, and available
types of emergency services; to read maps and provide directions;
clearly speak and communicate effectively over the telephone;
remain calm in stressful situations; perform multiple tasks
simultaneously; learn use of multiple computer and telephone
systems. Additional Requirements: Desirable Qualifications: multilingual in languages spoken in
the County such as Spanish, Mixtec, Hmong or others relevant
languages. Supplemental Information SELECTION PROCESS Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the
Criticall exam to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment
may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service
Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection
process will have their names placed on the employment list for a
minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is
established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their
score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact
duration of the employment list. Human Resources will notify you by
mail if your name is removed. Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during
each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to
check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection
Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required
deadlines. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is
committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants.
Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable
accommodation during the application or selection process should
contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require
verification of needed accommodation from a professional source,
such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution. BENEFITS: For more information on County benefits, please visit
here CLICK HERE In addition, applicants from other public sector
employers may qualify for: Statement of Commitment The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and
sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion
everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County
believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in
policies, institutional practices and systems. The County
recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed
to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx,
Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other
diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where
society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and
health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive,
enabling all people to participate and reach their full
potential. We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for
inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We
aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and
the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity
employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law
and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances. We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the
County's mission and to embody a culture of "One County, One
Future." Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the
County to deliver our best to all our community members. We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive
for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people
having equitable access and opportunity. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION PROCESS: The Sheriff's Office conducts a polygraph examination and
in-depth background investigation. If you feel your past may hinder
your future from working for the Sheriff's Office, please contact
Human Resources at (805) 681-4270, for assistance on determining
your employment eligibility. Appointee must successfully pass the following: Polygraph Examination will measure the accuracy of information
disclosed during the background investigation process. Background Investigation includes an interview and in-depth
background investigation of police records, personal and virtual
character check, military, and employment histories; inquiry of
persons who know you and evaluate whether you respect the law and
rights of others; are dependable and responsible; have demonstrated
mature judgment in areas such as the use of drugs and intoxicants;
are honest; and is a safe driver. The following shall commence upon accepting a conditional offer
of employment: Psychological Examination is given by a licensed psychologist.
You will be evaluated on the psychological factors related to
successful performance to determine if you are presently suited for
the difficult and stressful job of a dispatcher and to otherwise
ensure that the candidate is capable of withstanding the
psychological demands of the position. APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: OPEN UNTIL
FILLED; Postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can
be obtained 24 hours a day at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty
Keywords: Santa Barbara County, CA, Santa Barbara , Emergency Communications- Call Taker, Other , Santa Barbara, California
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