Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager

Helpful Hearts Health Services Inc•Columbia, MD

1d•$60,000 - $68,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager is responsible for ensuring Helpful Hearts Health Services Inc’s compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including requirements established by the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), COMAR 10.22, and other governing and accrediting bodies. The role provides strategic leadership for the agency’s Quality Assurance program and oversees internal audits, compliance monitoring, incident and risk management, and quality improvement initiatives to support regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and the safety, dignity, and satisfaction of individuals served. The manager leads compliance reviews and audits across programs such as Residential Services, Meaningful Day/Day Habilitation, and Personal Supports; reviews participant records, staff training and credential files, and Medication Administration Records; documents findings; and develops and tracks corrective action and quality improvement plans. The role oversees critical incident reporting and investigations, analyzes incident and satisfaction data, leads continuous quality improvement initiatives, and reports quality metrics and risks to leadership. Additional responsibilities include contributing to policy and procedure development, training and coaching staff, supervising and mentoring QA staff, serving as the primary liaison for external audits and regulatory reviews, maintaining regulatory documentation and QA tracking systems, and supporting accreditation readiness. The position is office and field based, requires travel within Maryland to service locations, and may involve responding to urgent after-hours incident reporting matters and occasional evening or weekend work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human services, Healthcare Administration, Social Work, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
3–5 years of experience in quality assurance, compliance, auditing, or performance improvement within a DDA or similar human services or residential setting.
Experience working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, including Maryland DDA regulations, COMAR 10.22, and waiver services.
Demonstrated experience with audits, investigations, and regulatory compliance.
Ability to determine whether an incident is reportable under Maryland DDA requirements and accurately select the applicable reporting category.
Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-compliance, and confidential environments.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and analytical communication skills.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and current insurance.
Attention to detail and accuracy; regulatory knowledge and compliance expertise; data analysis and critical thinking; ethical decision-making and confidentiality; communication and training skills; problem-solving and continuous improvement; and leadership and staff development.
Ability to travel between program sites and sit, stand, and review documents for extended periods.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or equivalent experience.
Supervisory and case management experience.
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or similar certification.
Experience with electronic health record (EHR) systems.
Familiarity with behavior support plans and nursing oversight requirements.

Responsibilities

Maintain current knowledge of DDA regulations, COMAR 10.22, Medicaid waiver requirements, HIPAA, incident reporting standards, participant rights regulations, and other applicable standards.
Stay current on Maryland DDA policies, guidance, and transmittals.
Design, implement, and monitor quality assurance systems and processes to support compliance with policies, procedures, and service delivery standards.
Conduct compliance reviews of Residential Services, Meaningful Day/Day Habilitation, Personal Supports, and other programs.
Conduct operational audits, site reviews, record reviews, and quality improvement assessments.
Perform routine and random audits of participant records, staff training and credential files, and Medication Administration Records.
Document QA activities and audit findings accurately and promptly; identify deficiencies, trends, and risks.
Lead development and execution of corrective action plans and Quality Improvement Plans with leadership, and track completion.
Lead review of Critical Incident Reports to ensure accuracy, transparency, timeliness, and compliance with DDA requirements.
Ensure incident documentation and follow-up actions are completed; analyze incident data and implement preventative strategies.
Coordinate and oversee internal investigations, ensuring timely completion and regulatory compliance.
Drive continuous quality improvement initiatives to enhance service quality, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Collect, track, and analyze quality metrics and outcomes, and prepare data-driven reports for leadership.
Chair the Quality & Safety Committee, present findings at Quality Assurance Committee meetings, and contribute to cross-functional committees as needed.
Analyze satisfaction survey data, identify trends, and implement targeted improvement strategies.
Recommend strategies to leadership to mitigate risk and improve program performance.
Assist in developing, updating, and implementing policies and procedures aligned with DDA and CMS standards, person-centered planning principles, and best practices.
Deliver training, coaching, and support to staff on documentation standards, compliance, incident reporting, and person-centered practices.
Support staff onboarding and ongoing education initiatives.
Supervise and mentor QA staff, supporting professional development and performance excellence.
Serve as the primary liaison during external audits, regulatory reviews, inspections, and surveys, including in the absence of the CEO.
Lead organizational readiness for accreditation and external reviews, and oversee regulatory documentation and required submissions.
Maintain QA dashboards and tracking systems; generate reports on compliance, trends, and performance indicators to inform leadership decisions.
Perform additional assigned duties, including travel across service locations.
Respond promptly to after-hours calls or texts regarding urgent incident reporting.
Travel between program sites and review documents for extended periods.