Quality Assurance Specialist

Salary: $32.91 - $35.71/hr

Position Summary: The Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for implementing continuous quality improvement measures that promote best practice and compliance with Federal, State, City & Grant Funded Contractual regulations, policies, and procedures in support of achieving positive child welfare outcomes. The Quality Assurance Specialist employs the Continuous Quality Improvement learning cycle of identifying, describing, and analyzing strengths and problems, then testing, implementing, learning from, and revising solutions. The Quality Assurance Specialist supports and executes all methods of qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, visualization, and reporting to program leadership. In addition, the Quality Assurance Specialist will support efforts to engage and encourage stakeholder participation that includes evaluating outcome metrics.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Identify and evaluate key performance indicators of performance and practice in child welfare.
• Support the design and management of dashboards using Microsoft O365 applications, Excel, Evolv, Connections, Care4 and/or other programs to monitor compliance and practice in key performance indicators.
• Support the Data Manager & Director of Quality Improvement to develop internal policies and procedures to improve programmatic practice, performance, and operations.
• Conduct and analyze data from spreadsheets, databases & random reviews of case records to evaluate the timeliness and quality of documentation, assessments of safety, risk, well-being and services, supervision and guidance as well as timely and effective decision-making on cases.
• Produce monthly and quarterly reports that include but are not limited to, performance data, Indicated SCR, Clients Served, Utilization/ Vacancy, CSEC, Supervisory Reviews, Casework Contacts, Family/Client Engagement, and Audit Outcomes.
• Support the implementation mechanisms of client and employee feedback by collecting and analyzing data from, survey tools, facilitating focus groups, grievance investigations, and post-service follow-up.
• Analyze data from city, state, federal & grant/model developer audits and provide program leadership with reports of findings that include trends and targeted areas for improvement.
• Support the Children's Aid Continuous Quality Improvement learning cycle and assist program staff in the collection and analysis of data in targeted areas for improvement.
• Continually engage and support programs by participating in staff meetings, sharing information, attending COFCCA meetings, troubleshooting database issues, and building sustainable child welfare/community based best practices.
• Complete system reviews of high risk or critical areas impacting program health and provide written reports of findings that include recommendations.
• Quality Assurance Specialists must visit and support all Children's Aid Child Welfare Family Services sites and programs as directed by the Data Manager.

Teamwork and Collaboration Duties:

• Support the role of the Data Manager by taking on additional tasks and participating in meetings as needed.
• Provide support with various division objectives including, but not limited to, implementation of new contracts and models, monitor and collect outcome data for grant-funded programs and initiatives.
• Continually collaborate and support fellow Quality Assurance Specialists to provide adequate coverage and support for all preventive programs and meet deadlines and project deliverables.
• Engage in continuous learning and professional development that furthers the department's continuous quality improvement mission and goals.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field required, master's degree, preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in an ACS Child Welfare/Human Services setting with in-depth knowledge of and familiarity with ACS and OCFS child welfare policies, procedures, and best practices preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Advanced skills in using agency and child welfare systems such as Evolv, Care4, Connections and PROMIS systems.
• Advanced skills in using MS O365 applications (Excel, PPT, TEAMS, Forms, Copilot) and statistical analysis AI tools and concepts.
• Must be a creative thinker and problem solver.
• Must be self-motivated and self-directed to manage and complete projects within structured timeframes.
• Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Flexibility, and ability to work under pressure, multitask between 3 program types and meet deadlines.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.