Career Opportunities

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees. 

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The Quality Improvement Specialist is responsible for reviewing and monitoring clinical documentation and incident reports to ensure that documentation meets regulatory requirements for all client services provided. The Quality Improvement Specialist is responsible for driving continuous quality improvement in both processes and outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Conducts reviews of client charts and sample checks of supervisory review of client charts to ensure documentation is completed timely, meets regulatory requirements, and that supervisory oversight is ongoing and supports documentation efforts.
• Identifies high risk and problem prone areas for the organization, recommends strategies to address and/or participating in work groups to brainstorm solutions.
• Maintains a collaborative environment that fosters and supports creative solutions and continuous improvement.
• Monitors and evaluates change in program performance data, identifying differences and proposing solutions for needed corrective action.
• Assists in the implementation of strategies and new processes to improve outcomes.
• Reviews affiliates’ client charts to evaluate the affiliates’ adherence to the clinical documentation standards and requirements and billing practices of applicable payers.
• Identifies, analyzes, and interprets patterns and trends.
• Identifies needed follow-up.
• Provides staff, affiliates and supervisors with user friendly feedback on findings from client chart reviews.
• Maintains familiarity with licensing and accreditation standards applicable to all aspects of documentation, forms, and practices.
• Produces management reports and evaluates client satisfaction data.
• Helps Identify problems and participates in process improvement to improve client and programmatic outcomes.
• Understand and uses process improvement tools such as Fishbone Diagnosis, Failure Model and Effect Analysis and Process mapping/flow charts.

  GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:
  

• Be committed to the mission, vision and values of the organization.
• Works collaboratively as a member of a team with various groups of staff, depending on the issue addressed.
• Assures quality in work performed to facilitate the delivery of quality services.
• Promotes a continuous quality improvement culture and atmosphere.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.
• Adheres to the 5 Basic Principles.
• Supports, recognizes, and improves the role volunteers play. Sweetser employees work with, support, collaborate with volunteers, and promote opportunities for volunteer engagement.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

Customer Focus Competency

• Anticipates customer needs and is responsive to customer feedback by taking action to make things better.
• Treats others with courtesy and respect, projecting an approachable manner at all times.
• Meets needs of customers thru reliable work attendance and completion of job duties. Arrives to work and meetings on time; returns from breaks and lunch at designated time.
• Works with, supports, collaborate with volunteers and interns, and promote opportunities for volunteer and intern engagement.
• Maintains professional boundaries with all clients, co-workers, visitors, and community partners.
• Shares responsibility by taking initiative to assist coworkers.

Team Orientation Competency

• Maintains confidentiality in client, family, and personal communications.
• Expresses ideas professionally, clearly, and concisely both verbally and in writing, without the use offensive language.
• Shares appropriate information necessary for team members (departmental and interdepartmental) to effectively plan, anticipate, and be proactive participants in the service provided.
• Communicates with individuals about issues as they arise, in a direct and timely manner that is positive and builds trust and confidence in the organization. Expresses disagreement constructively.
• Maintains alignment and collaboration with leadership and coworkers through respectful communication by providing consistent and coordinated messages.

Quality Competency

• Identifies, supports, and participates in continuous quality improvement activities by developing or participating in strategies to improve processes.
• Assesses problems and evaluates options by considering available resources, implications, and consequences.
• Uses the plan, do, check, act strategy to meet quality outcomes.
• Approaches tasks with diligence, timeliness, and attention to detail.
• Maintains alignment with team, supervisory, and management goals, objectives, and direction of the organization.
• Identifies ways to be fiscally efficient while supporting quality service and mission attainment.
• Enhances quality performance by participating in professional training and development opportunities.

Safety Competency

• Adheres to safety procedures and works to prevent accidents and injuries, including good ergonomic practices. Reports accidents, injuries, or emergencies to Supervisor and Human Resources within 48 hours.
• Maintains a professional appearance and is attired to support safe completion of assigned duties; utilizes personal protective equipment/safety devices to prevent injury.
• Demonstrates good housekeeping practices, helping to maintain the professional appearance and safety of facilities, to ensure they are easily and safely accessible. Returns all equipment to its proper place and cleans work areas promptly.
• Notifies facilities staff as appropriate of safety issues needing to be addressed.
• Wears and displays identification badge in Sweetser facilities and as appropriate when working in the community. Approaches individuals not displaying Sweetser identification, offering assistance and escorting them to their destination whenever possible.

5 Basic Principles Standard

• Focus on the situation, issue or behavior, not on the person.
• Maintain the self-confidence and self-esteem of others.
• Maintain constructive relationships.
• Take Initiative to make things better.
• Lead by example.

EDUCATION:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Education or related discipline is preferred; Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Education or related discipline is required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• Valid state driver’s license.
  
  

EXPERIENCE:

• 3 to 5 years of outcomes reporting and data analysis experience; healthcare environment preferred.
• Experience with dashboard and report writing tools such as iDashboards and Crystal Reports.
• Experience writing and understanding SQL syntax statements.
• Minimum of one year experience and demonstrated skill in the use of computer software (including Electronic Health Record, Microsoft Windows, MS Office applications)

  KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Ability to review clinical charts and provide feedback to Sweetser providers in documenting aspects of clinical documentation.
• Ability to utilize technology and master the EHR.
• Ability to train staff and Sweetser affiliates in quantitative aspects of clinical documentation.
• Ability to work effectively with multi-disciplinary teams and staff.
• Ability to communicate process improvements.