OPWDD Investigations Specialist
Department:
Compliance and Quality Management (CQM)
Reports To
Incident Management Unit (IMU) Supervisor
Location:
1333 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY
Employment Type
Full Time
FLSA
Exempt
About Us
Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City.
Role Overview
This position will be responsible for completing investigations and provide support to the Compliance & Quality Management (CQM) Incident Management Unit (IMU). They will be primarily responsible for investigating allegations of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of persons supported and ensuring the integrity of the investigation process.
Key Responsibilities
- Conducting objective, fair, thorough, unbiased and timely investigations in accordance with requirements of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
- Obtaining and analyzing documentary evidence
- Identifying and interviewing subjects and witnesses to the allegation
- Providing recommendations to mitigate risk of recurrence
- Constructing detailed investigation reports
- Presenting investigative findings at the respective Incident Review Committee (IRC)
- Monitoring the Incident Report and Management Application (IRMA) via OPWDD website daily, and removing incidents from the queue
- Processing incidents and uploading relevant documents into IRMA
- Uploading the investigative file into the Justice Center Web Submission Investigation Report (WSIR)
- Work satisfactorily with minimal supervision
- Find facts and investigate issues
- Convey information to others clearly, concisely and logically
- Respect and maintain confidentiality
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing
- Establish and maintain proper working relationships with program managers and directors, persons supported, caregivers, parents, supervisors, co-workers and staff
- Maintain a safe working environment
- Adhere to ethical standards
- Adhere to personnel policies, procedures and universal health precautions
- Other related duties as assigned by supervisor
- Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Required Qualifications
- BA/BS in human services or related field required, MA/MS
- At least five (5) years of progressive quality improvement (or relatable experience), Compliance or Program Management experience in a large human services agency or similar setting.
- Proficiency in MS Office is a must.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills required.
- Excellent critical thinking skills, organizational skills and follow up skills
- Honest and ethical with high levels of integrity and confidentiality
Work Environment
Corporate Office (must be available to go to any Rising Ground location for work related duties when needed
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full- time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday at assigned location. Work hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Benefits & Compensation
- Competitive salary structure
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- PTO policy (11 Paid Holidays, Paid Sick Time, Paid Vacation & Paid Personal Days)
- Remote / flexible work options (If applicable)
Additional Requirements
- Authorized to work in the U.S.
- Ability to work in-person in New York City (NYC)
- Ability to travel to other Rising Ground Sites (if required)
Equal Employment Opportunity
It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.
Skills Required
- BA or BS degree in human services or a related field
- MA or MS degree
- At least five years of progressive quality improvement, compliance, or program management experience in a large human services agency or similar setting
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Strong critical thinking, organizational, and follow-up skills
- Honesty, ethical conduct, integrity, and confidentiality
- Authorization to work in the United States
- Ability to work in person in New York City
- Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites when required
What We Do
Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity. With an annual budget of $203 million and 101 programs at 138 sites throughout the New York City and lower Westchester area, we deliver dedicated support to promote safe environments for children and help families thrive through our family stabilization, family foster care and adoption programs; innovative special educational programs that advance learning from early childhood through high school; result-focused programs that help court-involved youth change the trajectory of their lives; caring services that promote independence for children and adults with developmental disabilities; and pro-active community health initiatives that foster well-being. Across programs, we continually engage new, innovative techniques and implement evidence-based models to increase our impact and promote better outcomes.
