FORENSIC ATTENDANT

About the role

The Department of Medical Examiner is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Forensic Attendant vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Responsibilities

• Drives a County vehicle to locations throughout the County to recover and transport bodies, specimens, or records from hospitals, nursing home, or other death scenes to the Medical Examiner's facility.
• Maintains vehicles in operational condition.
• Keeps vehicle stocked with gurneys, stretchers, straps, sheets, and necessary supplies.
• Recovers, lifts, and transports bodies to Department of Medical Examiner or other facilities.
• Receives and processes bodies into Department of Medical Examiner facilities; places bodies on autopsy tables; prepares bodies for release; and releases bodies subsequent to post mortem examination.
• Collections and preserves physical and medical evidence.
• Performs case related data entry to Medical Examiner's computer system; keeps a log on morgue activities; writes receipts for bodies, clothing, personal property, and evidence; fingerprints bodies in accordance with departmental standards.
• Cleans autopsy room and sterilizes instruments and equipment; delivers soiled linen to laundry; returns clean linen to morgue and storage room.
• Aid the Medical Examiner Investigators in physical recovery and lifting of decedents bodies, as needed.
• Aid in autopsy procedures, as needed.
• Perform other related duties, as needed.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or possession of an equivalency diploma -AND- One (1) year of experience in a hospital, morgue or ambulance service moving or transporting patients or decedents.
• A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.
• One year of experience as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professional, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Mortuary Removal Specialist.
• An Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree or higher, preferably in the following areas: Administration of Justice, Health / Physical Sciences, Nursing.
• Physical Class: 4 - Arduous. Positions within 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.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professional, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Mortuary Removal Specialist.
• An Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree or higher, preferably in the following areas: Administration of Justice, Health / Physical Sciences, Nursing.
• Willingness to perform a variety of physically demanding activities, such as frequent lifting and moving of decedents and heavy equipment, climbing down rocky cliffs, carrying a piece of equipment up steep hills, or removing corpses from the ocean.
• Ability to work ANY shift, including nights, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Ability to drive 75-100 miles one-way using a County vehicle or personal vehicle to various death scenes throughout the County of Los Angeles (mileage reimbursement is provided by the County).
• Ability to assist in the physical recovery, packaging, lifting, and moving of decedents’ bodies including infants, children and bodies that may be fragmented, burned and/or in advanced stages of decomposition.
• Ability to work in highly stressful situations.
• Ability to develop and apply effective coping and self-care skills that maintain physical, mental, emotional well-being, a healthy perspective, and a clear and appropriate set of boundaries.
• Ability to work in death scenes that present a variety of difficult environmental challenges, such as strong odors, extreme temperatures, dilapidated living conditions, and/or rugged terrain.