ILS Technical Assistance Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

14d

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. The Independent Living Services (ILS) Program Specialist V reports to the ILS Program Director. Performs highly complex (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work in the Independent Living Services (ILS) program. Work involves collaborating with state contract management staff to support contracted service providers’ implementation of contract and program requirements for the ILS Purchased Services and Base/Operational Grant contracts. The ILS Program Specialist V provides technical assistance and training to contracted entities, program staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, and the general public. Provides routine contacts and follow up with contractors regarding provision of services funded by the contracts. Evaluates problems and questions to provide technical assistance that resolves programmatic or service delivery issues. Collaborates with others to provide training to service providers and staff. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with focus in the area of social services, counseling, psychology, social work, sociology or related field. Four years of relevant work experience analyzing policy and providing technical assistance may be substituted for education.
• At least two years work experience interpreting policy or rules.
• At least two years work experience providing technical assistance to providers or other partners.
• At least two years work experience conducting training or presentations.
• Ability to travel up to 10%, including overnight.
• Working knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to Independent Living Services (ILS).
• Basic knowledge of contract administration, management or monitoring practices.
• General knowledge of performance management and oversight best practices based on identified measures.
• Considerable knowledge of independent living services for individuals with significant disabilities or specialization in the field of blindness or deaf blindness.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in providing technical assistance to providers or other partners.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts.
• Ability to devise solutions to problems and facilitate support at the local level.
• Ability to analyze policies and rules.
• Ability to conduct training effectively.
• Ability to communicate and foster relationships with contracted entities, staff, community agencies and the public.
• Ability to independently plan, organize, prioritize and manage multiple work assignments.

Responsibilities

• Gathers and analyzes data from a variety of sources including the ILS Data Reporting System (DRS), compliance monitoring reports and contacts with assigned service providers to identify trends, gaps in service delivery and assess service provider training needs. Utilizes data gathered to collaborate with the training team to develop and conduct individualized training to contracted entities to resolve issues identified.
• Evaluates problems and questions from contracted entities to resolve programmatic issues and provides ongoing technical assistance in the areas of performance and compliance, service delivery, assessing consumer needs, provision of goods and services, quality assurance programs and issues related to the ILS Data Reporting System. Conducts monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly meetings with assigned Purchased Services and Base/Operational Grant service providers and prepares/distributes meeting summary. Documents all aspects of the provision of technical assistance.
• Collaborates with compliance specialists for the review and evaluation of contractor service delivery methods, activities, contract performance, purchase of consumer services and trends to identify recommendations and facilitate development of contract provider program improvement plans. Attend monthly Training and Technical Assistance Specialist (TA) / Compliance Specialist (CS) meetings and document the results of those meetings. Provides technical assistance support to assigned CILs on both Purchased Services and Base/Operational Grant.
• Provides advice and consultation to contracted entities, compliance specialists, training team and other HHSC programs and departments by interpreting policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and standards related to the ILS program. Maintains knowledge of all applicable information and makes recommendations for policy or standards revisions.
• Reviews contracted provider prior approval packet submissions to ensure programmatic requirements for the purchase of the good or service are met. Collaborates with the ILS Services Specialist to recommend needed documentation, approval or denial of use of ILS contract funds.
• Attends webinars, training or conferences related to independent living services, community resources or training techniques. Evaluates the information for inclusion in ILS Program trainings or sharing training resources with service providers.
• 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: 1,001-5,000 employees