LTCR Nursing Facilities Senior Investigator

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • San Antonio, TX

12d

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!
Nursing Facilities Senior Investigator – Starting Market Rate Salary $83,371.89
As part of a collaborative team of public servants, an investigator protects residents’ health and safety by conducting on-site inspections and investigations in Texas long-term care facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and day activities and health services sites) to assess their compliance with state and federal laws and rules. This position offers a competitive starting salary; excellent state benefits, including health insurance and retirement; and the opportunity to regularly travel to different facilities 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 acceptable professional standards of resident care.
• Knowledge, ability, and skill in conducting high-level investigations.
• Skilled in conducting investigations to verify regulatory compliance.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to work independently and make appropriate decisions and regulation-based recommendations.
• Ability to operate personal computer-based programs and complete data entry and technically correct, error-free reports.
• Ability to multi-task and track multiple activities with competing priorities.
• Ability to complete a high-volume, deadline-driven workload.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and reach sound decisions.
• Ability to use the computer for writing reports.
• Ability to integrate complex regulatory concepts, procedures, and processes.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively present information to executive-level management.
• Must have Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT) Certification or obtain within 12 months of hire.
• If the applicant has a license and/or certification in a professional area that is eligible for federal qualification as a health facilities surveyor the license must be current and valid in the State of Texas (e.g., registered or licensed nurse, dietitian, social worker, sanitarian, respiratory therapist, etc.), as applicable.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in public administration, health care administration, hospital administration, business administration, education, psychology, social work, sociology, nursing, medicine or a discipline related to developmental disabilities and/or gerontology, or a related field.
• Experience in writing deficiencies/violations and investigation reports.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a Texas state agency regulatory program, or experience working as a Registered Nurse, may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education, with a maximum substitution of four years.
• Experience conducting health care provider or related investigations and in citing deficiencies preferred.
• Experience with state and federal regulations specific to long term care preferred.

Responsibilities

• Under the direction of a program manager, an investigator VI conducts on-site licensure inspections, complaint and incident investigations, and annual comprehensive surveys in facilities to determine compliance with federal and state health and safety regulations.
• Completes inspection or survey reports detailing deficiencies.
• Communicates clearly and accurately with others (internally and externally) to provide, exchange, or verify information, answer inquiries, address issues, or resolve issues or complaints in Texas long-term care facilities.
• Conducts exit conferences with facility staff regarding findings.
• Visits long-term care facilities to verify correction of previously cited regulatory violations.
• Performs quality assurance reviews of documents prepared by others; for example, publications, assessments, reports.
• Develops and implements training for field investigators.
• Participates as a member of other teams within HHSC Long-term Care Regulation, including enforcement and quality assurance.
• Occasionally might need to testify at hearings or in court proceedings to provide information regarding policy/procedures, history, findings, or activities.
• In the event of emergency licensure action, be available to assist with non-skilled care and oversight to residents in a facility.
• If the employee is a current registered or licensed nurse, there is a potential for skilled care.
• Be available for on-call duties for emergencies such as weather events or high-priority situations in facilities or at providers.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
• a defined benefit pension plan
• generous time off benefits
• numerous opportunities for career advancement
• 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.
• excellent health benefits
• a lifetime monthly retirement annuity
• 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level