Quality Improvement Specialist II and II ($58,000-$65,000)

Company Description

UCAN is a community-focused organization that has served vulnerable children, youth, and families for over 145 years, currently reaching more than 10,000 individuals annually. With a mission centered on compassionate healing, education, and empowerment, UCAN offers trauma-informed programs addressing clinical and counseling services, foster care, youth leadership, workforce development, and violence prevention. Rooted in social justice and organizational diversity, UCAN values empowering communities by building on their strengths and collaborating with neighborhood resources. Guided by its historical mission, the organization envisions a future where youth overcoming trauma become leaders of tomorrow.

Position Title: Quality Improvement Specialist II, II

Department: Management and General

Reports to: VP of Quality Improvement

Salary Range: $58,000-$65,000

Position Objective and Summary:

The Quality Improvement Specialist coordinates numerous program evaluation, quality improvement and quality assurance functions within UCAN; including monitoring programs for compliance toward quality standards, implementing tools used for program and service evaluation, and organizing data collection and information analysis. The QIS is responsible for collaborating with programs staff to allow open communication and a dialogue to ensure a QI feedback loop is in place. The QIS is a support to each program and is responsible for bringing out the best work of each team member whenever possible.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Best Practices

• Consults and advises UCAN programs on adherence to Council on Accreditation (COA) Standards .
• Consults and advises UCAN programs on compliance with Medicaid Rule 132 and associated contract obligations.
• Provides oversight of the overall Medicaid service and billing process, and the proper use of and submission to the Medicaid Billing System web-based application.
• Acts as liaison to external Medicaid consultants and auditors.
• Facilitates preparation of Medicaid reviews.
• Maintains familiarity with IDCFS Rules & Regulations, as well as other contractual obligations (i.e. CHA, IBSE, CPS), and acts as a resource to programs in this area.
• Maintains familiarity with ethical standards and mental health law, advising programs in this area.
• Maintains knowledge of current clinical best practices, educating programs in this area.
• Assesses programs current practices and use of evidenced-based practices, and advises in this area.

Program Monitoring, Evaluation & Outcomes

• Develops and manages implementation of plans for program evaluation.
• Facilitates and leads programs in the development, use, and revision of program plans including a literature review, logic model, outcomes development and measurement plan.
• Leads programs in the development of annual Program Goals & Outcomes.
• Assists with the development of plans for measuring and tracking outcome data.
• Recommends improvements in evaluation questions, outcome measurement, analysis, presentation and utilization.
• Facilitate and discuss program monitoring and improvement with management teams .

Utilization Review

• Contributes to the development of and assists in the maintenance of all quality standards, including service provision and documentation; works with service providers to assure compliance to these standards taking into consideration agency and program needs, as well as COA, Medicaid and other contractual obligations.
• Collaborates with service providers
• Coordinates Utilization Review processes; completes on-site reviews and provides feedback to workers regularly.
• Analyzes, summarizes and reports on the results of the Utilization Review and prepare quarterly reports to address trends in findings.
• Create action plans with program teams to address deficiencies .

Data Management

• Runs Evolv discrepancy reports to ensure data accuracy.
• Acts as a support to the agency in the use of UCAN’s information management systems, as well as other identified systems.

Collaboration

• Serves as liaison between IT, Development and program to ensure needs are being met for all.
• Builds relationships with staff through program management through attending team meetings, providing 1:1 training (when necessary), and consultation to ensure open channels of communication.
• Maintains knowledge of other QI functions in the agency, and collaborates on team projects.
• Conducts trainings and provides program education, as identified.
• Serve as Project Manager and coordinate efforts amongst team members when assigned.

Additional Responsibilities

• Facilitate specialized projects, and assume increasingly independent responsibility for individual activities
• Identify and make recommendations for areas of improvement within the Department
• The QI Specialist II, III will be given additional responsibilities that may replace or supplement certain responsibilities as noted above, based on the needs of the program.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform any other duties needed to help drive UCAN’s Vision, fulfill its Mission, and abide by its values.
• Responds to youth and their families, UCAN staff, DCFS, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their needs.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education /Job Experience/Certification:

• Master’s Degree in human services with at least 2 years of quality improvement or program evaluation experience within social services required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in human services with at least 5 years of quality improvement or program evaluation experience within social services required.

• BA/BS in human service field required, Master’s degree in Social Work or related field preferred.
• Minimum 2 years work experience in social service field required.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, particularly in Excel.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent decision making and analytical skills, with the ability to resolve problems and correct errors.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to exercise discretion and judgment in dealing with colleagues and customers.
• Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills, with the ability manage numerous projects simultaneously under deadline pressure.
• Working knowledge of COA, Medicaid or DCFS standards (depending on role) preferred.
• Automobile and valid Illinois driver’s license required.