Quality Assurance Specialist

The Division of Child and Family Services is recruiting for a Quality Assurance Specialist 3 in Carson City or Las Vegas. This position reviews the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of care provided through DCFS juvenile justice and out-of-state residential treatment programs. Key duties include evaluating critical incidents, identifying service gaps, conducting root cause analyses, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations through statewide audits.

The role uses analytical software to manage and analyze data, prepare reports, and support program evaluation. Additional responsibilities include literature reviews, developing data visualizations, presenting findings, updating quality assurance processes, and collaborating with partners to improve program performance. The position also involves out-of-state travel to evaluate residential treatment facilities for Nevada youth. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S., as visa sponsorship is not available.

Quality Assurance Specialists design and implement a comprehensive quality assurance program encompassing clinical and related disciplines at a mental health hospital, residential care facility or community-based program or service for individuals with intellectual disabilities who may also have significant physical and/or mental health issues, rehabilitation facility, or a clinic which provides outpatient medical and psychological services, or the medical system for the Department of Corrections.

Incumbents objectively and systematically review and evaluate the quality and appropriateness of client care and services, identify opportunities for improvement, and work with administrators and staff to resolve identified problems and deficiencies.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in nursing, social work, human development, special education, health science, public health, or other behavioral or social science and four years of professional experience performing program evaluation, quality assurance/improvement, and/or utilization review activities for a human services program or agency; OR two years of experience as a Quality Assurance Specialist II in Nevada State service;

OR an equivalent combination of education and experience, above the Bachelor's degree level, as described above. Review and evaluate appropriateness of client services including access, outcomes and prevention; conduct case reviews including customer interviews and surveys, medical/clinical and case records, facility inspections, and agency/facility policies and procedures; assist in identification of problem areas; monitor high risk/impact areas and processes vulnerable to litigation, adverse publicity, or involvement of law enforcement.

Evaluate compliance with applicable accreditation, licensing, health and safety, and funding requirements; develop recommendations for corrective actions including serving on committees, providing written reports and summaries, and presenting findings to administrators and department staff; review citations and plans of correction from federal, State, and accreditation reviews; participate in developing corrections and monitor corrections for compliance.

Provide technical guidance to agency staff and/or contractors regarding quality assurance/improvement activities and requirements; ensure agency/facility staff, contractors and administration are aware of accreditation, licensing, funding, and human rights requirements; provide training to staff, providers, and outside agencies regarding federal and State regulations, program requirements, policies and procedures, accreditation standards, client rights, consent and confidentiality issues, due process, documentation and communication related topics, and other areas as required.

Review reports of incident, abuse and neglect, rights violations, sentinel events, serious incident, treatment appeals and complaints; ensure applicable regulations and reporting requirements are followed; conduct investigations and contact outside enforcement agencies as appropriate; ensure client confidentiality and privacy as well as the security of documents, reports, and findings.

Coordinate agency efforts to achieve and maintain accreditation; develop quality assurance/improvement criteria and methodology; coordinate self-assessments using accreditation standards; research, develop and collate data for pre-survey information packets; coordinate, write, and organize information…