LTCR Inspector

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Abilene, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! LTCR Inspector – Starting Market Rate Salary $60,431.88 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: Licensed-only Nursing Facilities Assisted Living Facilities Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) DAHS-Individualized Skills and Socialization (DAHS-ISS) Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers 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. The state of Texas offers many benefits to employees. HHSC is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments. We also offer excellent health benefits, a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

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.
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.
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.
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.

Nice To Haves

Four-year degree from an accredited college or university, preferred.
Experience conducting investigations preferred.
Experience working with individuals with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or physical disabilities preferred.

Responsibilities

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.
The inspector completes written reports for each inspection or survey to detail deficiencies and provide narratives to support regulatory findings.  The inspector summarizes facts obtained during an investigating 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.