STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Health Program Associate (35 Hour)

Hybrid

Recruitment #230127-4406HC-001

Introduction



The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health is hiring!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking a qualified individual to join our team as a Health Program Associate. This position will support our Practitioner Investigations Unit (PIU) in our Healthcare Quality and Safety Branch. See below for additional information on this great opportunity!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Work Schedule: Typically Monday - Friday
  • Work Hours: Full-time, First Shift, 35 hours per week
  • There may be opportunities for an alternate work schedule and working remotely in accordance with State policies.
  • Location: 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive comprehensive benefits plan that includes:
  • Industry leading health benefits with medical and dental coverage
  • Generous paid time off, include 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Retirement healthcare offerings
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance!
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:
  • Investigating complaints against licensed healthcare professionals to determine potential violations of laws, regulations, or standards of care identified in statute are affecting public health and safety
  • Managing an investigation caseload and collect evidence in the form of legal documents, witness statements, observations, and other forms of evidence
  • Analyzing evidence, maintaining activity logs, documenting case work, writing detailed investigatory reports, and preparing materials for expert review
  • May be required to travel within the state and assist with conducting on-site inspections including review and audit of infection control policies and practices, medical records, and quality assurance programs
  • Exercising discretion in handling confidential information
  • May speak before large groups, provide technical assistance, provide testimony, and support other functions of the unit
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES:

The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by:

  • Assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy
  • Preventing disease, injury, and disability
  • Promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

The Practitioner Investigation Unit (PIU) is part of the Healthcare Quality and Safety Branch of the Connecticut Department of Public Health which investigates complaints to comply with Sec. 19a-14 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires and authorizes the Department to investigate complaints against licensed health practitioners. The Nurse Consultant may also conduct on- site inspections of healthcare service sites to observe and assess infection control compliance, or non-adherence to scope of practice issues. The PIU investigates cases based on complaints in the following categories: practice-related, drug-related, boundary violations, sexual misconduct, abuse, fraud, and certain criminal convictions.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID-19 Vaccination Immunization.

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
  • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state health program or project, this class is accountable for performing high level work in the implementation and coordination of the non-clinical aspects of health care programs or projects.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

The specific duties and responsibilities of this generic class vary widely depending on the nature of the program and the current stage in its life cycle. Typical examples of duties include the following: serves as regional coordinator for a statewide health program or project with responsibility for developing and maintaining appropriate programs, projects and liaisons in their assigned regions; participates in planning, organization and implementation of a statewide health program by having responsibility for major components of program such as staffing, work assignment and distribution decisions; initiates and oversees public relations efforts; establishes and maintains relationships involved in program within agency and with other state, community or public agencies; assists division head in expediting program; prepares comprehensive reports on planning and progress of program; develops objectives so program functions within cost estimates; analyzes, evaluates and interprets data; advises and participates in formulation of task forces within or outside agency and coordinates activities so program is successfully accomplished; works with federal, state and community agencies on new, proposed or revised programs to clarify or develop objectives, determine method of integrating programs in agency operations and establish cost estimates; provides technical assistance to community agencies; assists in drafting of legislation and regulations; gathers fiscal and programmatic data on programs and participates in planning budget and programmatic aspects of program; may also be assigned to conduct health planning, program monitoring and grants management for particular programs; may be involved in approval of grants or projects; may speak publicly about program issues and develop information for public distribution; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of purposes, plans, objectives and programs of public health agencies including changing patterns of preventive medicine and environmental health; considerable knowledge of relationships between risk factors and evidence of health problems; considerable knowledge of changing aspects of social-medical philosophies; knowledge of research and evaluation design methodologies; knowledge of state and community organizations and programs involved in field of public health and medical care; considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; considerable ability to plan, organize and direct a complex technical program; ability to analyze, evaluate and interpret data; ability to lead and train staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of professional experience in a health organization.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in health care program administration, a health systems agency or other health care organization in at least one of the following areas: 

1. grant writing or monitoring; 
2. formal program planning, development, management or evaluation; 
3. program consultation; 
4. public relations activities. 

For State Employees this is interpreted at the level of Health Program Assistant 2. 

Note: A health care organization is defined as a large multi-dimensional agency with responsibility for developing health programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in health education, hospital administration, public administration, public health or other closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
3. For State Employees one (1) year as a Health Program Assistant 2 may substitute for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working in the healthcare field with licensed health care providers
  • Experience with legal and regulatory issues that impact healthcare and licensed healthcare providers
  • Experience reviewing medical records and other related documents
  • Experience interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, or other health care related rules
  • Experience independently interviewing consumers, healthcare providers, and healthcare beneficiaries
  • Experience independently writing professional correspondence and reports    

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.