Residential Child Care Licensing Inspector
About The Position
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is hiring a Residential Child Care Licensing Inspector to help ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children in Texas residential child-care facilities. Inspectors work collaboratively to monitor and investigate general residential operations, child-placing agencies, and selected agency homes; train and provide technical assistance to providers; and hold inquiry meetings for facility applicants. The position may be filled at Inspector III, IV, or V depending on the applicant’s experience. The role includes conducting and documenting inspections, investigating complaints and alleged minimum-standards violations, evaluating applications and issuing permits, identifying risk and recommending enforcement referrals, and responding to emergency complaints. Inspectors are expected to complete regulatory work accurately and within applicable legal, regulatory, and policy time frames. The position is headquartered in Brownwood, Texas, and may be eligible for up to 100% telework, although substantial travel is required. Work hours must be flexible and may include occasional evenings and weekends.
Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, or experience equivalent to a four-year degree; education and experience may substitute for one another year for year.
- Valid driver’s license; applicants must have a valid Texas driver’s license, reliable transportation, and insurance as required by the State of Texas.
- Knowledge of Texas laws and regulations.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Ability to apply emotional intelligence, critically think, identify risk and mitigation measures, work respectfully with diverse groups, de-escalate situations with tact and diplomacy, self-start, organize and manage priorities, operate basic office equipment including camera/AV equipment, and travel.
- Must attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
- Must pass a background check, including a criminal history check and Texas Child Abuse and Neglect Registry check; verification of degrees and/or licenses is required.
- For Inspector IV consideration: experience in regulatory services, including as a regulatory inspector, and experience performing highly complex inspection or investigation work under limited supervision.
- For Inspector V consideration: experience in regulatory services, including as a regulatory inspector or investigator; experience performing advanced inspection or investigation work under minimal supervision; and experience leading, mentoring, or supervising a team in some capacity.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in regulatory services such as inspections and investigations.
- For Inspector IV: experience establishing priorities and methods for securing evidence and assessing programs and procedures to improve operations.
- For Inspector V: experience testifying at administrative hearings or before courts of jurisdiction, or developing and delivering specialized inspection training or educational sessions.
Responsibilities
- Monitor general residential operations, child-placing agencies, and selected agency homes; document compliance and deficiencies; notify providers of corrective actions; and complete inspections and follow-ups within required time frames.
- Plan inspections and evaluate applicable standards over a two-year period; identify and cite deficiencies, assess and mitigate risk, document findings and photographs, and provide technical assistance to improve compliance.
- Monitor application and permit fee payments, background-check results, controlling-person identification, permit renewals, and requests for waivers and variances.
- Investigate complaints and alleged minimum-standards violations in residential operations, child-placing agencies, and agency homes; complete investigation actions and notifications within required time frames and document findings that support decisions and address risk to children.
- Complete regulatory tasks associated with DFPS investigations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, including participating in risk assessments and evaluating information to identify minimum-standards violations.
- Evaluate applications for general residential operations and child-placing agencies and process permit decisions and issuances within applicable time frames.
- Identify risk and recommend referrals to Child-Care Enforcement when appropriate; process provider plans of action; and conduct follow-up inspections after enforcement actions.
- Provide training and technical assistance to providers, attend or present at provider meetings, conduct inquiry sessions and minimum-standard trainings, and collaborate with providers, stakeholders, and the public.
- Respond to emergency complaints involving high-risk situations in residential child-care facilities.
- Perform other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
Benefits
- 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
- Defined benefit pension plan and lifetime monthly retirement annuity
- Generous time off benefits
- Career advancement and promotional opportunities
- 401(k) and 457 programs
- Eligibility as a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
