Accreditation Specialist

State of Iowa • Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IA

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Behavioral Health at Iowa HHS is seeking an Accreditation Specialist to strengthen behavioral health services across Iowa. This role involves reviewing, supporting, and strengthening providers to ensure safe, high-quality, and effective care. The specialist will lead accreditation reviews, build relationships with providers, evaluate documentation for compliance, and provide technical assistance. This position is crucial for ensuring accountability and continuous improvement within the state's behavioral health system.

Requirements

• Seven years of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution of a program.
• One year of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution of a program, plus a total of four years of education and full-time experience (where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience), and a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience).
• Graduation from an accredited school of law.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes nine months of full-time work as a Program Planner 2 or twenty-seven months of full-time work as a Program Planner 1.
• Mental Health Experience or education related to providing service, treatment or assessment to those affected by mental health challenges, either in a private setting, group homes, local assistance agencies, or state or privately-run treatment. Application must demonstrate that applicant has received a general orientation to the symptoms and treatment protocols for mental illness or public policies, procedures, or applicable laws related to the topic, or assistance programs for those affected by mental illness. Experience may come from public, private or non-profit organizations.
• 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in one or in a combination of the following: Deaf education, Deaf counseling, Special education, Intellectual disability, Disability counseling, Any experience dealing with the housing, transportation, accessibility, education, employment or advocacy for mentally or physically handicapped individuals.

Nice To Haves

• Curiosity
• Collaboration
• Passion for improving behavioral health services
• Enjoy digging into details and understanding how things work
• Comfortable talking with everyone from front-line staff to leadership
• Value fairness, consistency, and clear communication
• Like helping others succeed and see accreditation as a partnership, not a gotcha
• Organized, steady under pressure, and great at follow-through
• Care about strengthening behavioral health services for the people of Iowa

Responsibilities

• Lead accreditation reviews for providers such as community mental health centers, case management programs, crisis services, and more under Iowa Administrative Code 441-Chapter 24.
• Complete full on-site reviews or reviews for providers with national accreditations (like Joint Commission or CARF).
• Build relationships with providers by scheduling reviews, preparing desk reviews, conducting on-site visits, and interviewing staff and clients.
• Evaluate documentation, service standards, policies, and clinical records to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines.
• Share findings, guide providers through corrective actions when needed, and support them in meeting accreditation standards.
• Prepare formal survey reports and recommendations that help shape agency decisions.
• Provide technical assistance on standards, policy interpretation, best practices, and emerging trends.
• Work with other Iowa HHS divisions and partners (such as Iowa Medicaid) to answer questions, share information, and collaborate on system improvements.
• Conduct specialized reviews when concerns or requests arise, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement across the system.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave, paid holidays)
• Retirement Plans (IPERS, Retirement Investors Club - RIC, Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care expenses)
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discount Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed