Risk Assessment Coordinator/LTCR Inspector

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • San Antonio, TX

1d • Hybrid

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.

NOTE: This position is posted initially for the Risk Assessment Coordinator (RAC) Position in Quality Assurance. This position will transfer to Survey Operations as an Inspector V upon dissolution of the RAC team as part of transformation.

Inspector V – Risk Assessment Coordinator (Long-term Care Regulation) - Starting Market Rate Salary $60,431.88

Under the direction of the Quality Assurance Manager, screens and processes abuse/neglect/exploitation reports received from Provider Investigations and complaints received regarding waiver programs from a variety of sources. Acts as a backup to facilitate weekly meeting to review all deaths in HCS, TxHmL and other settings as needed, including explaining and documenting all relevant information for the death review group. Conducts telephone and/or on-site follow-up, as necessitated by the severity and/or frequency of reported incidents. Provides consultation and technical assistance regarding compliance with program principles. Resolves complaints received from consumers and other interested parties; and interacts with the complainants, staff from other departments and other agencies, and personnel and contract providers of state-operated community services, community centers, and private providers. Reviews and enters referrals from the Office of the IDD Ombudsman in database and follows up when necessary. Participates in workshops and seminars on issues related to abuse/neglect/exploitation and complaints; consultations regarding the provision of quality care within the guidelines provided by federal, state and departmental rules, laws and directives; development and revision of departmental standards and special projects. May conduct on-site follow-ups as part of a team to ensure the compliance and implementation of Medicaid laws and regulations relevant to the HCS and TxHmL programs.

LTCR Inspector

The Inspector V conducts on-site inspections and investigations including those involving abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults and children with mental illness or intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities in various Texas Long-Term Care facilities:

Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Waiver Program
Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Waiver Program

Investigations are completed in accordance with Texas Administrative Code and Long-Term Care Regulatory (LTCR) policy. The Inspector will testify at hearings or in court proceedings to provide information regarding policy/procedures, history, findings, or activities.
Works occasionally outside of traditional working hours (8 am – 5 pm), which includes evening hours, weekends, and holidays, as required for case-related functions, on-call duties, and/or as required by management.
This position offers a competitive starting salary; excellent state benefits, including health insurance and retirement; and the opportunity to regularly travel to different providers within a region and across the state – Please see the Additional Information section below for more detail on travel. In this front-line field position, a surveyor is mobile and flexible and performs minimal work at an office, though the role does require writing reports detailing any deficiencies/violations against a facility, remedies to correct those deficiencies, and narrative to support regulatory determinations. See below for details.

Requirements

• Knowledge of and ability to interpret local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to program area.
• Knowledge of acceptable professional standards of care.
• Knowledge of long-term care services to persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
• Skill in conducting inspections and investigations and determining proper courses of action.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skill in establishing program goals and objectives
• Skill in working collaboratively and cooperatively with diverse groups.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to prepare reports, to interpret laws and regulations, to gather and analyze data and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and reach sound decisions.
• Ability to integrate complex regulatory concepts, procedures, or processes.
• Ability to multi-task and track multiple activities with competing priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members and others.
• Ability to work in a potentially emotion-filled environment.
• Ability to operate a computer, tablet, laptop device, smartphone, fax machine, copy machine, and various software packages, including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to conduct interviews in various locations, including private residences, day habilitation facilities, group homes, and state-operated facilities.
• Ability to work in environments where violent and dangerous individuals may be present.
• Ability to oversee the work of others.
• Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to communicate complex information to a variety of individuals or groups.
• Ability to manage data and use data to make informed decisions.
• Ability to conduct formal presentations.
• Valid Class C (or higher) Texas driver’s license or equivalent license from another state, is required.
• Experience interacting with or communicating with members of the public, in person or by phone.
• Four-year degree from an accredited college or university
• 3 years of experience working with individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

Nice To Haves

• Experience conducting investigations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Screens abuse/neglect/exploitation reports received from Provider Investigations and complaints received from a variety of sources and determines appropriate follow-up. (40%)
• Conducts telephone follow-up appropriate to the specifics of the complaint, abuse/neglect/exploitation allegations, or deaths of individuals and documents results according to established departmental standards. (15%)
• Reviews and enters referrals from the Office of the IDD Ombudsman in database and follows up when necessary. (15%)
• Facilitates weekly meeting to review all deaths in HCS, TxHmL and other settings as needed, including explaining and documenting all relevant information for the death review group. (5%)
• Informs the program provider during on-site reviews of citations and provides consultation regarding corrective action(s). (5%)
• Attends and participates in regular weekly staff meetings and participates in workshops and training seminars. (5%)
• Monitors and ensures development of an acceptable plan of correction, providing technical assistance and consultation as needed for each on-site review. (5%)
• Identifies and communicates with supervisor all situations where health and/or safety of individuals being served is determined to be jeopardized; other situations that are unique or without precedent; any contracted providers with whom a conflict of interest, either real or perceived, could occur; and work with supervisor to assure no participation in audit or program evaluations for those providers without specific approval of the division director. (5%)
• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. (5%)
• The inspector conducts on-site licensure inspections, complaint and incident investigations, and annual comprehensive surveys to include the investigation of abuse, neglect, and exploitation at Long-Term Care (LTC) providers to determine compliance with federal and state health and safety regulations. The inspector conducts exit conferences at the end of an inspection with facility staff regarding preliminary findings of the inspection. (25%)
• The inspector completes written reports for each inspection or survey to detail deficiencies and provides narratives to support regulatory findings.  The inspector summarizes facts obtained during an investigation whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurred. The inspector is responsible for ensuring the documentation is clear and concise; ensures course corrections implemented by the providers are appropriate to address the risk or noncompliance with regulations identified during inspections and investigations. If the inspector determines abuse, neglect, or exploitation did occur the inspector will make a referral to HHSC’s Employee Misconduct Registry of the alleged perpetrator. (25%)
• The inspector establishes priorities in gathering evidence to determine what methods to use in securing evidence such as going through the interview process or reviewing records to determine compliance or noncompliance. Analyzes evidence to complete a thorough investigation and determine if there is a preponderance of evidence. Evidence must follow chain of custody and be protected during the process. (25%)
• The inspector reviews and approves corrective action plans to address noncompliance with the regulations; responsible for informing the provider of issues that require immediate remedial action to ensure the health and safety of consumers; recommends enforcement actions; ensures administrative penalties are assessed and processed according to state and federal requirements. (10%)
• The inspector participates in meetings to discuss major issues identified during the inspection/investigation, and the outcome of the inspection/investigations. The inspector testifies at hearings and court proceedings regarding the investigation findings and compliance determinations. The inspector will train new hires by conducting on-the-job training which includes mentoring, shadowing, and return demonstrations. (10%)
• The inspector performs other duties as assigned by their supervisor, or regional leadership, and that are required to maintain unit operations. This includes being available for on-call duties for emergencies such as weather events or high-priority situations at providers. (5%)

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