Project Officer/Liaison (Administrator IV) Spanish Peaks Vclc - Walsenburg

Department Information

This position is open to current CDHS employees only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Division of Veterans Community Living Centers

• Spanish Peaks

Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center is an award-winning Veterans Nursing Home in Huerfano County, located minutes from I-25 between Pueblo and Trinidad. Our location is truly remarkable, with the mighty plains to the east, a State Park literally ½ mile away and majestic mountains surrounding 270° of the property.

With 120 long-term care beds, Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center serves veterans, spouses, widows, and Gold-Star parents of veterans from all over. Colorado residency is not a requirement for residency, and we work closely with families to identify conditions/disabilities that may significantly subsidize the cost.

We strive daily to provide exceptional quality of care and quality of life is our goal. It is our honor and privilege to care for our residents and their families.

Opt-in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events!

CDHSCareers

Description of Job

This work unit exists to provide comprehensive long-term care services for veteran and veteran-related residents. The 120-bed facility is operated through contract by the Huerfano County Hospital District Board on behalf of the State of Colorado.

This position exists to act as the federally mandated state employee to ensure that the interests of the state (as governing body with full ownership, legal authority and responsibility for the facility) are represented and acted upon. The position oversees daily operations, Board activities, ensures contractor compliance with the Operating Contract, as well as all federal, state and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) regulations concerning operation of a long term care facility. The position serves as the official on-site contact with the VA including provision of census and billing information, assuring submission of veteran benefit applications and responding to official queries concerning the facility or residents made by the VA, elected representatives and veteran service organizations. The position is authorized to sign approvals in accordance with the Operating Contract, and state and federal regulations. Additionally, the position acts as a resident advocate, quality assurance monitor, facility financial status monitor, and a liaison with other State of Colorado Departments who interact with the facility. The position is part of the Division Management Team.

What you will be doing:

Regulatory Compliance Monitor

This position is the Staff Authority for the VCLC's as the only position that is responsible for overseeing a contract operated state facility.

• Monitors contractor regulatory compliance through audits of patient charts and associated records.

• Reviews compliance with internal policy and procedures

• Audits performance on responses to formal inspections by the VA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment.

Operations Monitoring

• Oversees daily operations of the facility to ensure adequacy of staffing and to assess functions of all departments including activities, dietetics, rehabilitation, staff development, nursing, plant operations, environmental services, laundry, social services, marketing, central supply, medical records, physician services, accounting, IT/EMR, medical records, quality assurance and hospital operations. As Staff Authority, this position has the required knowledge of all facility operations.

Division/Department Liaison

• Liaison with Department of Human Services staff and Division Director to inform and coordinate actions involving the department, Division, and facility.

Management at CDHS relies on this position to provide accurate information to make decisions on compliance, Division standards, policies, and interventions.

• Attends all regular office meetings to instruct the facility regarding new regulatory requirements and Division standards with which the facility must comply.

Responds to ad hoc policy requests from the Division Director.

Residential/Family Advocate

• Serve as an advocate for residents and their families to ensure their rights and wishes are met by the facility through establishment of rapport with residents and through attending resident council meetings.

• Maintains awareness of significant issues relating to advocacy needs through observations and direct discussion with residents and family members, when necessary, in order to determine if the contractor is respecting the rights and needs of the clientele.

• The need for intervention must be investigated through direct and indirect methods.

• The level and type of intervention must be determined through situational variances.

VA Regulatory Compliance Monitor and Educators

• As the staff authority this position confers and collaborates with representatives of the VA to develop and maintain facility recognition as a State Veterans Nursing Home and to educate and influence the facility administrative staff in appropriate methods of complying with VA expectations.

• Intervene in daily plans for facility operations and resident care to ensure the facility complies with care standards.

• Determine the adequacy of the facility response and decide actions required for resolution.

• Review and determine eligibility for applicants to the facility.

• Determine areas requiring changes to facility operations and quality assurance plans and determine actions required to resolve areas of concern.

Contract Enforcement and Educations

• Monitor Board (Contractor) and the management sub-contractor and adjacent medical center through meeting with Board members, CEO, administrative staff as well as review of financial reports, budgets and development plans. Educate and influence these individuals and entities in accordance with regulatory and contract compliance.

• Determines the education needed for new managers and directors of the facility staff and Board of Directors in order to meet the requirements of the management contract and regulations for operations.

• Decides on the best practical options for providing this education and how to develop their awareness and skills.

External Relations

• Respond to queries, provide information, and serve as on-site contact for advisory committee members, veteran's service organizations, elected representatives and interested community members through community education efforts, attendance at regular advisory committee meetings and informal contacts.

• The Staff Authority coordinates facility activities with State of Colorado centralized services including facilities management, the Attorney General's office and risk management in regard to contract issues, construction issues, property management and liability concerns.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• The project officer is often called upon to assist other state operated VCLCs and to provide support to the Division Office.

• Decisions made are in accord with the assigned role such as interim NHA or interim division director.

• Other duties as assisgned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application.

Shift Information: Monday

• Friday in-office Schedule

Please note that these working arrangements are subject to change based on the department's needs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a Accounting, Finance, Business Management, Administration, Social Work, Health Care Management, Gerontology, or Public Health Administration or in a field of study that is related to this work assignment. You must attach a copy of your transcripts to this job application.

• Your unofficial transcripts must include your name, college/school name, type of degree/certification received, and date the degree was received/conferred.

AND

Applicants must have at least three years of full-time professional experience in long-term care facility or department operations, CMS, CDPHE, or VA regulatory management or knowledge, contract performance monitoring and negotiation, resident or family advocacy, departmental or operational liaison OR in a similar field related to this work assignment.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis, experience must relate to this position and will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis (i.e. long-term care facility or department operations, CMS, CDPHE, or VA regulatory management or knowledge, contract performance monitoring and negotiation, resident or family advocacy, departmental or operational liaison).

Additional education from an accredited institution in Accounting, Finance, Business Management, Administration, Social Work, Health Care Management, Gerontology or Public Health Administration or other field of study that is related to this work assignment will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

• You must attach a copy of your transcripts to this job application. Your unofficial transcripts must include your name, college/school name, type of degree/certification received and date the degree was received/conferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum three (3) years experience in contract performance monitoring and negotiation

• Long Term Care facility or department operations with experience CMS, CDPHE or VA regulatory management or knowledge

• Resident or Family advocacy

• Experience working with Veterans or Veterans Administration(VA) for health care

• Departmental or Operational Liaison to internal/external parties

Conditions of Employment.

• A full pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, convictions of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges.

• Must be willing to submit and pass a full background check.

• Must possess and maintain a valid U.S. driver's license.

• This position is designated as "Essential Services" and can be required to work unexpected or unusual work hours to perform the essential and/or emergency services of the department without delay and/or without interruption.

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination, or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Appeal Rights:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact annette.torrez@state.co.us

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support