Job Description 

The Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) vision is to honorably serve those who served us with a mission to provide the highest quality of programs, benefits, and advocacy to Massachusetts veterans alongside federal and local partners.

EOVS is currently seeking a qualified candidate for the open position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Quality. This role is responsible for the EOVS Homes and Housing quality program. In this position, you will be managing the EOVS quality team, establishing and maintaining systems and processes to improve data collection, analysis and reporting with the Homes and the use of quality programming to improve care and services at the Homes. The position works with both the EOVS and Homes quality management staff to improve their understanding and use of best practices and collaboratively leads the annual process of developing quality management plans for EOVS and the Homes.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight, guidance and direction to each MVH in the development and implementation of programs, plans, policies and procedures for the continuous quality improvement program.
• Manage the EOVS quality program staff and establish and maintain a process to evaluate compliance with all applicable regulatory guidelines, rules, and standards
• Establish and maintain a process working collaboratively with the Homes to ensure continuous readiness for external surveys
• Review and analyze internal survey results, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and other performance metrics as may be available to ensure that care and services provided meet or exceed applicable best practices
• Provide oversight, guidance, direction, and support to the Homes’ infection prevention and control programs
• Prepare regular reports on findings to the MVH and EOVS leadership focused on providing recommendations and support for the process of continuous quality improvement for the Homes.
• Lead the collaborative process of establishing, maintaining and improving the EOVS and Homes quality dashboards
• Lead the quarterly Quality meeting, develop and maintain the standard for presentations of quality metrics to both internal and external audiences.
• Participate in educational programming and learning opportunities to gain awareness of best practice opportunities, quality innovations and regulatory updates
• Focus on the identification, collaborative evaluation and implementation of best practice opportunities for the Homes
• Identify opportunities for improvement and support a change management process to achieve resident centered care and services within the small home philosophy of care.
• Use electronic medical record and its tools, techniques, and reports
• Train staff of MVH Homes to improve their proficiency and professional development in the field of QM.
• Review incident and other standard reports and the results of external surveys and other sources as may be available to identify opportunities to improve. 
• Conduct investigation and follow-up as may be required; provides guidance on performance improvement initiatives
• Oversee the ongoing review of MVH Homes QAPI programs and outcomes as well as the completion of an annual EOVS quality program report that includes data-based analysis, trends and patterns
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of health care administration
• Knowledge of the principals, practices and regulations regarding continuous quality improvement, risk management and resident care in long term care, skilled care, residential care and adult day health care programs.
• Knowledge of CMS certification, DPH licensure, VA State Home recognition requirement and standards.
• Knowledge and experience with the periodic survey/inspection process by CMS, DPH, VA.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of management and supervision, including planning and assigning work, controlling work through periodic reviews and or evaluation, determining staff's training needs and providing or arranging for such training and motivating subordinates to work effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others and the ability to establish rapport with people from different ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds. 
• Knowledge and experience with organizational change management.
• Demonstrated ability to work under stress, to meet deadlines and to be flexible.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of budgeting related to program management.
• Ability to understand, apply, and interpret the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards, and guidelines governing MVH operations and use the same to inform the development of QAPI efforts designed to further enhance the EOVS and Homes mission and quality of care.
• Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of program data, to draw conclusions, and to make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to gather information by examining records and documents and by questioning and observing individuals.
• Ability to adjust to changing situations to meet emergencies or changing program or production requirements.
• Knowledge and skills in statistical techniques.
• Ability to analyze data, reports, and metrics.
• Ability to utilize information gleaned from data, reports, and metrics to design and implement quality improvement initiatives and/or training.
• Ability to prepare reports including narrative, data and metrics.
• Ability to communicate both written and orally in a precise, understandable manner.
• Ability to evaluate nursing and other clinical and operational practice, process and workflow provided by the MVHs.  
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to accomplish work objectives where few precedents or guidelines are available.
• Willingness for periodic travel for job related purposes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two (2) or more years of experience as a Registered Nurse in a recognized long-term care facility, hospital, clinic, or similar medical setting.
• Three (3) or more years of experience managing a continuous quality improvement (CQI) program.
• Professional certification as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or through the American Society of Quality (ASQ).

About the Executive Office of Veterans Services:

On March 1, 2023, Governor Maura T. Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll established the Executive Office of Veterans Services. The office oversees programs and services for Massachusetts veterans, including Chapter 115 benefits for eligible veterans. It also manages the state’s two Veterans Homes in Holyoke and Chelsea and the Memorial Cemeteries in Agawam and Winchendon.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

For Management MV-MXII

A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the   Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

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An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.