Child Care Enforcement Program Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Abilene, TX

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Child Care Enforcement Manager, the Program Specialist VI position performs highly complex enforcement functions using fair, consistent, and transparent enforcement decision-making for Day Care and Residential child-care operations.  The position receives referrals from Child Care Regulation and reviews case history, investigations and inspections to determine evidence sufficiency for corrective or adverse actions.  The position assesses appropriate administrative penalties for deficiencies, conducts administrative reviews of Probation and adverse actions, minimum standards, waivers, and controlling persons, accepts referrals for judicial actions, and tracks cases through the legal processes. The position provides consultation and technical assistance to the regions and participates in statewide enforcement reviews and enforcement decisions.  The position works with HHSC legal personnel and will testify in State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) or district court. The position responds to management, media and legislative inquiries as appropriate. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position may be located in any regional office across the state.

Requirements

• Knowledge of: Laws, Rules and Minimum Standards related to Child Care Facilities.
• Knowledge of: Enforcement actions, and program activities related to day care and residential facilities.
• Knowledge of: Legal processes in administrative and district courts.
• Knowledge of: HHS policies, procedures, and other governing documents.
• Knowledge of: Texas legislative processes and policy.
• Skilled in: use of a computer and applicable software including Microsoft Word, Outlook, TEAMS, SharePoint, Excel programs, and applicable HHS and CCR programs.
• Skilled in: written and oral communication.
• Skilled in: drafting correspondence, legal documents, memoranda, and emails.
• Skilled in: establishing and maintaining productive working relationships both internally and externally.
• Skilled in: leadership, communication, and public speaking.
• Skilled in: analyzing data and information to draw conclusions, make recommendations or develop summative reports.
• Skilled in: organizing and prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines for simultaneous tasks.
• Skilled in: weighing strengths and weaknesses in enforcement cases.
• Ability to: analyze and interpret complex written material, interpret policies, rules, and regulatory language.
• Ability to: read and analyze investigative/inspection reports and identify weak or unsupportable findings.
• Ability to: work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to: prepare reports and communicate technical information to be understandable.
• Ability to: maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups and individuals and work through areas of conflict.
• Ability to: make independent and sound technical judgments.
• Ability to: organize workload and set priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. accredited college/university or a foreign education that has been determined to be equivalent by an acceptable education evaluator.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience interpreting, explaining, and applying appropriate law, rule and Minimum Standards to cases.
• Job related experience must also include duties in any of the following areas: developing enforcement cases; drafting legal documents or lengthy reports on a regular basis; or performing quality analysis on compliance inspections and investigations.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Enforces Day Care and Residential cases in accordance with the laws, rules, and Minimum Standards.
• Reviews investigation and inspection reports for child-care operations that have been referred to Child Care Facilities Enforcement for enforcement action.
• Examines and reviews deficiencies described in the report and the underlying evidence, interprets and applies appropriate sections of laws and rules, and Minimum Standards to determine the appropriate enforcement action or administrative review decision.
• Participates in enforcement reviews for Day Care and Residential Child Care Facilities.
• Performs complex consultative services and technical assistance work for Child Care Facilities Enforcement.
• Develops and maintains enforcement tracking system for enforcement reviews.
• Compiles monthly reports of Day Care and Residential enforcement activities noting patterns and trends.
• Provides technical assistance on matters related to enforcement.
• Responds to inquiries from respondents, internal/external stakeholders and agency staff and management.
• Provides guidance to regions and state office regulatory staff on enforcement issues by interpreting policies, regulations, and rules.
• Collects, organizes, and prepares materials in response to requests for program information and reports from the legislature or other sources.
• Manages multiple assignments with competing priorities.
• Participates in staff meetings and presents enforcement information as needed.
• Elevates issues to upper management where necessary.
• Works cooperatively with enforcement staff, program staff, and managers to acquire necessary information for processing enforcement cases.
• Will testify in hearings at SOAH and in district court.
• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
• defined benefit pension plan
• generous time off benefits
• numerous opportunities for career advancement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees