Long Term Care Facility Enforcement Reviewer

Job Description:

Facility Enforcement Program Specialist V

Performs highly advanced consultative services and technical assistance activities in the Facilities Enforcement unit within the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Analyze citations to help ensure compliance with program policies and procedures, statutes, and rules; and recommend enforcement remedies as needed for Nursing Facilities (NF), Assisted Living Facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF).

Analyze legislation to develop recommendations for policy in programmatic issues relating to the implementation, improvement, and/or expansion or reduction of program enforcement activities. Analyze the application of and variations within programs to develop action plans for improving or initiating new programs. Assist with the development of enforcement program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals in accordance with program objectives and goals. Communicates with internal staff to ensure consistency of enforcement information. Prepares reports and retrieves data for management.

Essential Job Functions:

Conducts nursing facility, assisted living, and intermediate care facilities enforcement reviews.
Reviews and analyzes survey findings to determine if evidence supports a deficiency/violation and the assigned scope and severity. Makes state and federal enforcement recommendations.
Provides consultation and guidance in the development and revision of NF, ALF, and ICF enforcement related guidance. Reviews Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) recommendations and compiles a summary for distribution to statewide staff.
Provides guidance to regions and state office regulatory staff on enforcement issues by interpreting policies, regulations, rules and state and federal guidance letters.
Conducts Opportunity to Show Compliance for licensure actions of NF and ALF programs.
Provides clarification to regional staff to ensure strength of future deficiencies resulting in remedies being imposed.
Reviews draft policies and guidance to ensure they conform to federal and/or state requirements as applicable.
Consults with internal stakeholders to ensure that consistent enforcement-related information is provided statewide.
Participates in workgroups, committees and meetings as the nursing facility enforcement representative. May be a witness at hearings.
Responds to management, media and legislative inquiries as appropriate.
Develops and maintains enforcement tracking system for enforcement reviews.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Must have Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT) Certification.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Knowledge of state and federal laws and rules related to long-term care providers.
Knowledge of enforcement actions, survey and program activities related to nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and intermediate care facilities.
Ability to gather, organize and analyze facts; to compile and prepare reports; to develop and evaluate policies and procedures and initiate modifications or revisions as appropriate.
Ability to interpret policies, rules and regulatory language.
Skilled in the use of a computer and applicable software including Microsoft Word, Outlook, TEAMS, SharePoint and Excel programs.
Ability to communicate (verbally and written) with leadership, agency staff, stakeholders and the public.
Ability to adjust work routine according to priorities.
Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships.
 

Initial Screening Criteria:

Experience in field related to regulatory services long-term care preferred, such as social worker, nurse or dietician in a NF, ICF or ALF. Must have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a psychology, sociology, nursing, social services related field or public health from an accredited college or university or be a registered nurse (RN). Experience in a Texas state agency long term-care regulatory program may be substituted on a year for year basis for the required education, with a maximum substitution of

four years.