Senior Accommodation Consultant (Read Note Before Applying)

Notes -

• The selected candidate for this role will orient to their role in our office off Greenbriar and La Concha for up to 90 days and will then will transition to a hybrid model (4 days remote, 1 day in office, and as needed). 

At Houston Methodist., the Sr. Accommodation Consultant is responsible for engaging in the interactive process with colleagues, applicants, and leaders when a colleague or applicant requests a workplace accommodation to perform the essential functions or to enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment due to a disability, pregnancy/pregnancy-related condition, or sincerely held religious belief. In addition to performing the duties of the Accommodation Consultant, this position performs HR responsibilities at the subject matter expert level providing expertise and direct support to clients in ADA and recommends solutions to support requests for accommodations. The Sr. Accommodation Consultant position tracks and follows all assigned cases to closure. This position requires a high degree of emotional intelligence and critical thinking/decision-making skills to work with all levels of management and staff in an effective and positive manner. The Sr. Accommodation Consultant serves as a role model within the HR department, providing training and guidance to other HR team members as appropriate.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as primary liaison between operational leadership, colleagues, and any third parties in the resolution of employees' reasonable accommodation requests.

• Works with client managers and staff to coach, train and guide in regard to ADA policy interpretation and procedures, job description accommodation, and legal issues, e.g., FMLA, ADA, etc.

• Partners, in collaboration with HR colleagues around the system, on ADA initiatives.

• Serves as a role model and mentors peers as needed. Provides recommendations on complex cases and identifies new solutions to accommodations.

• Contributes towards improving department score for turnover/retention/employee engagement, using peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides expert guidance to leaders on effective reasonable accommodation management, interactive dialogue, and implementation of accommodations within department service timelines.

• Receives escalated complex documentation and reviews for sufficient and complete information. Ensures clear communication with requester and management to ensure efficient resolution of the accommodation request within department standards.

• Maintains regular contact with colleagues, operational leaders, and other key stakeholders regarding progress and status of accommodations assists in the resolution of any challenges related to the accommodation

• Works closely with other members of the team and others in teams within HR Benefits, Employee Health, entity Human Resources Departments, & Risk/Legal.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Stays abreast and adheres to current ADA, HIPAA and Worker's Compensation regulations in accordance with Houston Methodist policies. Ensures team practices appropriate accommodation through a thorough understanding and compliance of employment law by providing education and training.

• Employs a proactive approach to identify, develop and deploy continuous improvement initiatives in the optimization of positive outcomes by monitoring and improving the accommodation workflow, supporting peer-to-peer accountability, and identifying solutions via collaboration. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve processes. Includes analysis and reporting of case processing information for the department.

• Ensures all documentation for actions and interactions within the interactive process via the internal Case Management system are accurate and timely.

• Reviews complex documentation for sufficient and complete information.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Educates HR teams on accommodation procedure to gain acceptance and understanding.

• Assists management in the decision-making process of process changes that would have a financial impact. Ensures case documentation includes tangible accommodation costs for monitoring and reporting purposes.

• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks. Assists management with staffing needs including scheduling, time off requests and timekeeping, as appropriate.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Determines trends and makes recommendations to the business on proactive/innovative approaches to accommodations within business units or locations to better assist the business.

• Seeks opportunities to identity self-developmental needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

• Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging team members in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives. Provides subject matter expertise of current trends and developments in the areas of ADA, by reading appropriate books, journals, articles and literature and attending professional development activities including webinars and professional association meetings.

• Reviews trends and makes recommendations to Management on proactive/innovative approaches to accommodations within business units or locations to better assist the business.

• Continually researches and evaluates external ADA updates and maintains ongoing awareness of the effects on business environment. Seeks additional opportunities to identify self-developmental needs and take appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree

• Master's degree preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Four years of Human Resources experience with three of those years at a higher level directly related in employee relations, reasonable accommodations, or related HR discipline assisting employees/applicants with accommodation requests, benefits administration, and/or vocational coaching with those who have disabilities

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• Human Resources\PHR - Professional in Human Resources OR
• Human Resources\SPHR - Senior Professional in Human Resources OR
• Human Resources\SHRM-CP - Certified Professional in HR OR
• Human Resources\SHRM-SCP - Senior Certified Professional in HR

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Expert knowledge of FMLA, statues, regulations and guidance issued by the EEOC pertaining to ADA accommodations

• Exhibits strong interpersonal and teamwork skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all applicants, HM leaders and staff, physicians and co-workers

• Ability to interact, influence, and partner with client groups to achieve positive results for the organization

• Intermediate proficiency with MS Office products, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

• Ability to identify and effectively utilize resources to accomplish multiple tasks with high priority

• Strong knowledge and application of Federal and State employment laws, regulations and legislation

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to adapt to changing responsibilities and multiple tasks

• Capable of handling and challenging/difficult situations

• Demonstrates sound judgment and executes proficient critical thinking skills

• Ability to apply change management practices

• Ability to collect, interpret, and analyze data and make sound recommendations

• Adheres to all federal and state employment regulations, company policies and procedures

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Houston Methodist (HM) is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers.  HM consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area.  HM also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities.  Overall, HM employs over 25,000 employees.   Houston Methodist is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide the best patient care and service in a spiritual environment.

In 2019 Houston Methodist and its physicians treat more than 6,333 international patients from more than 76 countries. Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services’ consulting and education divisions also provide advisory services and training and development to health care organizations around the world.