DSHS HCLA Long Term Care Surveyor

DSHS HCLA

Long Term Care Surveyor State of Washington Dept. of Social and Health Services - 3.4 Kent, WA Job Details Full-time $67,992 - $91,464 a year 1 day ago Qualifications Driver's License Home visits (communication methods) Full Job Description Description

DSHS HCLA

Long Term Care Surveyor Long-term care facilities are places where vulnerable adults live and receive daily support. When a complaint is filed or an incident occurs, someone has to find out what happened and whether residents are safe. That is the core of this job. As a Long-Term Care Surveyor with DSHS's Home and Community Living Administration, you'll investigate complaints at Certified Community Residential Services and Supports (CCRSS) settings in the HCLA Region 2 area. You also conduct certification evaluations, follow-up inspections, monitoring visits, and focused infection control inspections. Your work ensures that providers meet state certification standards and that residents receive the care they are entitled to. This position is based out of the Kent office but requires regular travel throughout the region, and occasionally statewide. You will work in people's homes and residential care settings. Some visits are unannounced. Some will take place during evenings or weekends. The work is independent, detail-oriented, and grounded in protecting the health and safety of the people who depend on these services most.

Premium pay:

King County employees receive 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary and are eligible to receive a free ORCA card for transportation use. Some of what you'll do: Plan and carry out complaint investigations, certification evaluations, follow-up inspections, monitoring visits, and focused infection control inspections at CCRSS settings. Conduct interviews with clients, family members, community representatives, and facility staff to gather information about care practices and service quality. Observe clients, their living environments, and the physical conditions of care settings during onsite visits. Review client records, care plans, medical documentation, and staff and personnel records as part of investigation and certification activities. Write clear, accurate technical reports documenting observations, interviews, record reviews, and findings in a format that is easy to understand and legally sound. Communicate findings to CCRSS providers and their staff, both verbally and in writing, following state procedures. Enter all inspection information into the electronic RCS database system; all work is paperless. Coordinate complaint investigation activities with Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, Medicaid Fraud, and other state investigating agencies as needed. Identify deficient practices and apply regulatory standards to determine findings; conduct follow-up inspections to verify corrections. Attend unit huddles, mandatory meetings, trainings, Informal Dispute Resolutions, and administrative hearings as required. Use a laptop or tablet in office and field settings to document and retrieve inspection information; wear and properly use PPE, including a respirator, gown, gloves, and face shields, when visiting facilities during an infectious disease outbreak. Report for duty on short notice, outside normal scheduled hours, or at a different duty station during a recognized emergency or disaster. Who should apply?: Master's degree in social work, speech pathology, occupational or physical therapy, psychology, special education, nutrition, sociology, or a related field, AND two years of professional experience in planning, administering, licensing, monitoring or delivering social or health or behavioral health service programs in long term care and/or behavioral health settings. Or Bachelor's degree in one of the above fields, AND four years of professional experience in planning, administering, licensing, monitoring, or delivering social or health or behavioral health service programs in long term care and/or behavioral health settings. Or Eight years of professional experience in planning, administering, licensing, monitoring, or delivering social or health or behavioral health service programs in long term care and/or behavioral health settings. Additional knowledge, skills, and abilities we are looking for

Investigation:

Recognizes relevant facts, identifies deficient practices, and applies state regulations and Standard Operating Procedures to reach well-supported findings.

Report writing:

Produces clear, accurate technical reports that document observations, interviews, and record reviews in a format that is legible, organized, and legally defensible.

Communication:

Speaks and writes clearly with clients, family members, providers, facility staff, and agency partners; adjusts tone and approach to fit the audience and the situation.

Time management:

Organizes and prioritizes a varied caseload of complaint investigations, certification activities, and monitoring visits to meet statutory and department timelines.

Interviewing:

Gathers complete and accurate information through structured conversations; builds enough rapport with clients, staff, and community representatives to support honest and productive exchanges.

Objectivity:

Keeps a professional and respectful demeanor when working with difficult people or in high-pressure situations; separates personal reactions from professional findings.

Technology proficiency:

Uses Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Teams to complete work; enters and retrieves data from the RCS system; performs all field documentation using a laptop or tablet.

Knowledge of long-term care:

Understands the principles and practices of long-term services, including social service and health service delivery in residential and behavioral health settings. Questions? Please email DSHS Recruiter Georgina Pringle at and reference job number 03963. The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security. Supplemental Information Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384. E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security