Vice President, Quality Assurance (36543)

About the position Birch Family Services is a leading provider of education, employment, and community support services for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities and their families in New York City. Every year, the organization supports more than 2,000 people across multiple locations throughout NYC. From preschool to graduation, employment, housing, and beyond, Birch Family Services provides fully integrated programs and services to support individuals in achieving their goals across their lifetime. Position Objective: The Vice President (VP), Quality Assurance (QA) is responsible for developing and implementing quality improvement initiatives including evaluating, monitoring and supporting Community Services (CS) programs to ensure quality services and compliance with all regulatory and funding sources. In addition, the VP, QA may be assigned similar responsibilities to support the agency’s education programs. The VP, QA facilitates communication and collaborates with agency managers and administrators in preparing for audits and coordinates responses and follow-up to inquiries from auditors and/or the Justice Center. The VP, QA routinely has communication and interpersonal contact with a variety of stakeholders requiring effective interpersonal skills, including written and oral communication, listening, advocating, presenting, guiding and mentoring. In addition, the person in this role will manage multiple deadlines and projects as necessary and/or assigned. These responsibilities are completed under the leadership of the Executive Vice President and/or the Sr. VP of Workforce Development. Responsibilities • Collaborates with Human Resources on recruitment activities, and interviews. After the onboarding processes, works with management to train, coach, and mentor, staff on all levels to ensure consistent and effective communication of agency policies and procedures in relation to delivery of quality services and incident reporting requirements. • Conducts periodic program site reviews and evaluation of systems including but not limited to those related to service delivery, management of personal funds, health and safety of persons supported, and staff training, to ensure compliance with all applicable mandates. • Prepares site visit reports and based on the findings, makes recommendations, provides technical assistance and/or training as appropriate. • Conducts regularly scheduled QA team meetings, chairs the Incident Review Committee, collaborates with managers/administrators in the development of the CS Quality Improvement/Risk Management Plan, coordinates all related activities and prepares QA reports for the Compliance Officer, Board of Directors and as requested. • Oversees the incident management function including but not limited to ensuring incidents are reported properly and in a timely manner, immediate corrective actions are taken to safeguard the health and safety of persons supported, all notifications are made, incidents are investigated timely and thoroughly, documentation and follow-up is completed in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and agency policies. • Responds timely to requests from internal and external entities including but not limited to OPWDD Incident Management Unit, Division of Quality Improvement, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, NYS Justice Center etc. • Reviews, monitors, and develops various tracking systems related to incident management (e.g., IRMA entries, investigations, incident review committee meetings and recommendations, Corrective Action Plans (CAPS), etc.) and follows-up as needed with internal and external parties to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and agency policies. • Prepares reports based on their analysis of incident data that identifies trends within and across programs and includes recommendations for improving the quality of services and protecting the health and safety of persons supported. • Keeps informed of all newly promulgated, modified and existing codes, rules, regulations, adminstrative memoranda, protocols, manuals, etc., informs agency managers/administrators of all regulatory changes and their impact on programs and current practices. • Participates in industry-wide committees such as the InterAgency Council QA Committee. • Attends OPWDD webinars including but not limited to those pertaining to quality improvement and incident management. • Identifies, makes recommendations and collaborates with the management team to assist in the development/modification of policies, procedures protocols and/or training needed to ensure compliance in response to changes in federal, state, city regulations and Agency standards. • Assists with audit preparation and survey activity, proposes solutions for areas of concern, and collaborates with administrators and management to develop POCAs as needed. Works with managers/coordinators to ensure timely follow-up of recommendations and/or corrective actions and where appropriate implements changes across the CS division. • Participates in agency committees as assigned (e.g., Compliance, Human Rights, Risk Management and Safety), survey teams, the agency’s quality improvement process, and in external committees, seminars and/or training as applicable. • Represents the agency at conferences, provider association committees or other relevant professional entities. • Upholds regulatory and compliance requirements and adheres to all agency policies, procedures, and protocols. • Completes other tasks and duties as assigned. Requirements • Minimum BA/BS in a human service field, significant QA management experience considered, MA/MS preferred. • Minimum of 10 years of experience providing services and/or working with people with IDD in residential, day, educational and/or vocational placements, with at least 5 years of experience at the Quality Assurance management level. • Demonstrates an extensive knowledge and understanding of OPWDD, federal, state and city laws, regulations, codes and policies related to and/or governing services for persons with IDD. • Experience in interpreting regulatory requirements, developing systems, writing policies and procedures and collaborating with management to implement systems and to comply with governing regulations. • The ability to travel to various locations throughout the NYC region is required. • Excellent management, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects concurrently. • Demonstrates professionalism, represents the agency in a positive manner and develops strong working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. • Demonstrated competency in written, verbal and computational skills to present and document records in accordance with program standards and promotes continuous quality improvement. • Excellent critical thinking, data analysis and problem-solving skills to identify and implement strategies to improve services and ensure regulatory compliance. • Ability and willingness to obtain various certification(s) and/or to learn a variety of strategies used to support persons receiving services in order to effectively evaluate the quality of services being provided and to make recommendations accordingly. This may include but is not limited to: Incident Investigator certification, program evaluation methodologies, First Aid/CPR, SCIP-R, Personal Outcome Measures (POMS), Person-Centered Thinking and behavioral strategies, etc. • Proficient in the use of computerized systems such as Microsoft Office applications, PrecisionCare, PayCom, virtual platforms and/or agency systems to track compliance and develop reports as requested. • Ability to work a flexible schedule, both on-site and remote, as necessary. • Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints, including those of a sensitive and confidential nature, under a variety of circumstances, from individuals, managers, employees, regulatory agencies, vendors, or applicants.