Licensing Specialist

Introduction

When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults.

We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve. At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind.


This is a Management Service position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

This is a repost if you previously applied you do not need to reapply.

GRADE


18


LOCATION OF POSITION


Maryland Department of Human Services


Office of Licensing and Monitoring


25 S. Charles Street


Baltimore, MD 21201


Main Purpose of Job


This position provides continuous consultation, monitoring, and supervision for Child Placement and Residential Child Care Agencies that are contracted and/ or licensed by the Department of Human Services, Department of Juvenile Services or Maryland Department of Health to ensure that all vulnerable children in these departments are protected from further abuse or neglect.


POSITION DUTIES

• Licenses, re-licenses, and monitors agencies for compliance with state policies and directives.
• Enforces COMAR 14.31.05-.07, COMAR 07.05.01-.04, and COMAR 07.02.21 as required by law, in all monitoring actions to include on-site scheduled and unannounced monitoring visits and inspections. Reviews child care, personnel, and foster parent records of In-State facilities.
• Analyzes quality and investigative assessments of programs and procedures by conducting on-site inspections, reviewing contractual and performance data, interviewing stakeholders and performing comparisons of data with peer programs, and industry research and analysis.
• Assesses regulatory compliance, facility operations, staffing qualifications, levels and schedule, fulfillment of intended service obligations and goals, operations safety, program implementation, and personnel qualifications for selected positions.
• Identifies exceptions and promulgates corresponding corrective action plans necessary to bring programs and procedures into compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies.
• Assigns relative values to identified violations and noncompliance issues as related to potential risk and severity to youth.
• Coordinates assessments, corrective action plans and program support with affected and interested stakeholders, including internal and external municipal, state, and federal agencies and their staff including, but not limited to: DHS, Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Department Juvenile Services (DJS), Governor's Office for Children (GOC), and child advocacy organizations, and case managers.
• Conducts complaint investigations of DHS licensed facilities and/or coordinates complaint investigations of other state licensed agencies contracted with DHS to ensure safety and well-being of children placed in Maryland's licensed facilities.
• Prepares quarterly assessment reports in a clear and understandable manner, supported by sufficient, relevant and competent evidence that can include facility and equipment inspections, interviews with youth, internal staff, contractor staff, and others as appropriate, program evaluations, corrective action plans, interview and inspection notes and data sampling, audits work papers, written communication, comparative reports, flow charts, summary of findings, risk assessments, meeting notes, and other supporting and relevant documentation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university approved by the Council on Social Work Education.


Experience: Seven years of professional experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency or institution, four years must have been in an administrative, supervisory or consultative capacity.


Notes:


1. These requirements are established by the Social Service Administration by authority provided in Human Services Article 4-204 of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, Office of Personnel Services and Benefits does not have authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.


2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a commissioned officer in Social Work classifications or Social Work specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare field of work on a year- for-year basis for the required experience and education.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Two years of experience monitoring agency compliance and/or enforcing COMAR regulations in a human service agency.
• Two years of experience in a Child Welfare programs.
• Two years of experience creating and submitting written reports or evaluations.
• Strong interpersonal communication, writing and active-listening skills.
• Ability to work independently, be an effective team player and focus on goals and results.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must be licensed by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners.


2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties are required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.


SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be placed on the employment (eligible) list. The resulting list may be used for future vacancies with this agency or other state agencies.


If you are in State service and are a promotional candidate, your salary will be determined in accordance with State of Maryland guidelines.

BENEFITS

As an employee of the State of Maryland, you will have access to outstanding benefits, including: health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost. CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MORE DETAILS: STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS .

• Personal Leave - new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).
• Annual Leave - ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.
• Sick Leave - fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.
• Parental Leave - up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
• Holidays - State employees also celebrate at least thirteen (13) holidays per year.
• Pension - State employees earn credit towards a retirement pension.
• Positions may be eligible for telework.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to, Department of Human Services, Recruitment Services Unit, Attn: Kendra Young, 25 S. Charles Street 1115-L, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

All mailed documents must include the applicant's name and the job number and must be received by 5 p.m. on the closing date. Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the application.

If additional information is required, the preferred method is to upload. If unable to upload, please email requested information only to View email address on click.appcast.io. Only additional materials that are required will be accepted for this recruitment. All additional information must be received by the closing date and time.


If you have any questions concerning this recruitment process for this position, please contact View phone number on click.appcast.io.


TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.


As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.