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Quality Assurance Specialist (Mental Health)

This information is for reference only. These classifications are no longer valid and were replaced 7/1/2020.

Class Number: 
4597
Annual Salary Range:
$41,208.00 – $65,544.00
Twice-a-Month Salary Range:
$1,717.00 – $2,731.00
Pay Grade: 
07
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Definition

This is professional and administrative work coordinating and implementing a quality assurance program in a facility providing specialized or community-based services, or assisting with the implementation of an intense quality assurance program of substantial scope and complexity for persons with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

(The following minimum qualifications will determine merit system eligibility.  Allowable experience and education substitutions are provided in italics below the corresponding minimum qualification statement; no other substitutions will be permitted.  These minimum qualifications may also be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers.)

A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 15 earned credit hours in one of the following:  Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Education, Occupational Therapy, or a closely related field; and,

Three or more years of professional experience in psychology, social work, nursing, education, adjunctive therapy, case management, staff development, or a closely related area, involving the development, implementation, or monitoring of treatment/habilitation plans or staff training functions pertaining to programs and services for persons with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities.

(Additional qualifying experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis for deficiencies in the required graduate education.)

Job Duties

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

Conducts evaluations and assessments of current practices to identify treatment alternatives and strategies for the delivery of programs and individualized services; reports evaluation/assessment findings; prepares recommendations for approval by a facility director and management team.

Identifies problems by consulting with professional and support staff, reviewing client complaints, observing staff performance, monitoring program implementation, and reviewing records, reports, special studies, and utilization/financial data.

Monitors programs and services to ensure that desired changes are effected, objectives are achieved, and program changes are maintained; documents client outcomes which can be attributed to changes resulting from the quality assurance program.

Evaluates programs and services for compliance with accreditation and/or certification standards; coordinates and/or assists in activities regarding the development and implementation of plans and time frames for correcting deficiencies involving these standards.

Designs research and program evaluation projects; develops and establishes systems for collecting data; analyzes statistical data collected from these studies; and prepares both technical and general reports which summarize results and makes recommendations.

Conducts pre-surveys in order to identify and correct deficiencies prior to on-site reviews by survey teams; serves as liaison in contacts with survey agencies.

Assists in the development and maintenance of policies and procedures, operational guidelines, and contractual agreements relating to compliance standards.

Advises contracted service providers on accreditation, certification, and/or licensure matters.

Supervises staff and participates in activities relating to the development, coordination, and implementation of a quality assurance program in a facility providing specialized or community-based services for persons with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities.

Consults with community groups and individuals regarding quality assurance program development; assists the Regional Advisory Council in planning and evaluation activities.

Serves on committees and boards of review, and maintains records of meetings and other facility activities for documentation purposes.

Exercises considerable independent judgment and initiative in the performance of duties; receives general administrative direction.

Performs other related work as assigned.

Key Skills

Comprehensive knowledge of the field of mental illness and/or developmental disabilities, and current trends and methods employed in the care, treatment, habilitation, and evaluation of clients.

Comprehensive knowledge of accreditation and certification standards and their application to state-operated or privately-operated facilities involved in the treatment/habilitation, or delivery of services to persons with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities.

Intermediate knowledge of research methods including design and controls, evaluation strategy and methodology, and statistical techniques.

Ability to develop, coordinate, implement, and review an overall quality assurance program of moderate scope and complexity for a mental health facility providing specialized services for children and/or adults with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Ability to develop, plan, implement, and evaluate quality assurance activities for an intense quality assurance program of substantial scope and complexity.

Ability to design, evaluate, and monitor strategies for the delivery of programs and individualized services.

Ability to analyze and interpret data, and effectively communicate findings.

Ability to supervise and coordinate the work of staff.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with facility and department employees, staff of various survey and contract agencies, and the general public.

(Revised 3/1/97)
(Minor Revision 6/1/17)