DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
District North QA
1701 North 4th Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004

Salary: $64,000.00 to $78,000.00 

Grade: 22

Closing Date: January 2, 2025

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a QA Investigative Nurse in District North. DDD provides individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families, services and supports that are flexible, high quality, and member driven. These services provide individuals with opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities of independent decision-making and engagement in the community. This is a critical DDD position that conducts on-site clinical health and safety visits to vendor sites all across northern Arizona. 

Applicants for this position cannot be licensed or certified by the DDD Office of Licensing Certification and Regulation (OLCR), cannot have a principal interest in or have a spouse or close family with principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Conducts on-site clinical health and safety visits to vendor sites for all health and safety concerns, Immediate Jeopardy concerns or at the direction of the Divisional or AHCCCS Quality Management Unit. Performs as the lead for reviewing/fact finding and participates in on-site visits while maintaining member confidentiality, participate in health and safety meetings, scheduled & unscheduled visits of placement settings and service sites identified to have serious deficiencies.
• Works with appropriate regulatory agencies and conducts all mandatory required reporting. Provides all investigative documentation to the Division QMU Clinical Investigator to assist them in the investigative and severity determination process of the Quality of Care (QOC) Investigation. Follows up with vendors regarding Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Remediation follow ups. Reports all Health and Safety and QOCs to DDD QMU.
• Provides the vendor agencies, service providers and Division staff with ongoing training, technical assistance and continued on-site monitoring to reduce the likelihood of the incident reoccurring and promoting vendor/provider regulatory compliance.
• Completes incident entry of the incident report (IR) into IMS. Notifies key clinical triage personnel of incidents and notifies other departments who may need to conduct an immediate follow up for the incident. Cross checks incident with the client application database and District Employee Directory to verify info.
• Answers incident reporting phone line, ensures calls are entered into IMS, follows up with the afterhours emergency line designated contact to ensure all incidents are being entered. Conducts follow up visits with vendors for written reports on incidents that were verbal notifications.
• Drive to and from licensed settings to complete clinical health and safety visits.

Knowledge in:
• Applicable laws, rules, policies, procedures, and standards related to acute care delivery, nursing scope of practice, and quality management. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Department of Health Services (DHS), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations.
• Clinical Investigative Fact Finding and on­site clinical monitoring methods.
• Nurse Practice Act.
• Division Contractual, licensing and on-site monitoring.
• Program guidelines and practices.
• Managed Care, AHCCCS, ADHS and CMS policies.

Skills In:
• Oral and written communication.
• Organization, planning and time management.
• Various computer software programs.
• Critical decision making, personnel management.
• Effective communication, interviewing, communicating with the public and staff.
• Critical Interviewing techniques.

Ability to:
• Write, Summarize and produces concise complex reports.
• Work in a fast-paced environment.
• Uses computer applications to complete reports (Excel, Power Point, IMS, FOCUS, and Google Suite products).
• Prioritize and complete assigned tasks by required deadlines.
• Communicate effectively and work with groups.
• Travel when required.

The ideal candidate for this position will have:
• At least (1) year of experience providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities or a vulnerable population.
• Experience conducting investigations is highly desirable.

• Required at time of appointment: possession of a current license to practices as a registered nurse in the State of Arizona.
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to Driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operated a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) (R2-10-201.11).
• Employee shall have a valid Level One fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 41-2758.07 to work with children and vulnerable adults.
• Candidates for this position shall be subject to a search of both the Department of Child Safety Central Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 8-804 and the Adult Protective Services Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 46-459.
• Successfully pass background and reference check; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the Agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Joseph Deserio at (480) 589-4222 or JDeserio@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (480) 589-4222 or JDeserio@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.