DSHS DDA CARE Specialists Unit Manager
State of Washington · Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Description
CARE Specialists Unit Manager – Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)
In this role, you will supervise and guide a statewide group of six CARE Specialists who are based in local offices to support field operations. These specialists do not provide IT support or direct client care; instead, they serve as regional experts in the administration of the assessment tool information system. You will report directly to the Director of Headquarters Operations, collaborating closely with central office staff, regional administrators, field personnel, clients, and families to maintain standard practices.
The Developmental Disabilities Administration manages programs that assist adults and children with developmental disabilities across Washington State. Within our headquarters operation, you will guide the provincial management of the database tool used by 600 case managers to determine client eligibility, document necessary supports, and allocate resources.
Your leadership will focus on data accuracy and system consistency to satisfy federal reporting agreements with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which secures essential program funding. You will oversee the daily application of the Comprehensive Assessment Reporting Evolution (CARE) software, a case management information system, and the associated security access and consistency tracking databases. By ensuring field staff possess the training and resources they need, your small team helps create reliable support plans for people throughout the state.
We are looking for someone with DSHS experience using the CARE tool. You should deeply understand its current capabilities, while constantly looking for ways to optimize its efficiency and effectiveness. As the CARE Specialists Unit Manager, your official duty station will be Lacey, WA. This role offers a hybrid telework schedule, with occasional travel required to the Lacey office and other locations across Washington State.
Within your first six months, you will evaluate the assessment database tool and recommend changes to streamline the process, making it more user-friendly for staff and families. You will collaborate with the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities who is the author of the tool and internal developers to suggest software and process updates based on end-user feedback. Additionally, you will fill current vacancies by hiring new team members, establishing a regular schedule of progress updates with your supervisor to track process improvements, and identify needed support.
Some of what you will do
- Lead, mentor, and evaluate a remote, statewide team of six regional specialists, ensuring they have the information and skills to provide technical assistance to field offices.
- Oversee team training and certification processes to ensure all specialists maintain expert trainer standards for the Supports Intensity Scale Assessment.
- Review quality assurance data, monitor data trends, and compile comprehensive reports to verify that assessment methods comply with state administrative codes and federal assurances.
- Coordinate your team's participation in gathering business requirements and testing software updates to ensure system changes meet design specifications.
- Create and update user manuals, training materials, policies, and administrative rules regarding the application of the assessment tool.
- Provide expert consultation and clear correspondence regarding assessment matters to clients, families, providers, and external entities.
- Manage user access settings within the security portal to protect department information according to established guidelines and policies.
- Oversee and monitor vendor fulfillment for the assessment tool contract to ensure services are delivered and paid correctly.
Who should apply
If you have worked with DSHS’s Comprehensive Assessment Reporting Evolution (CARE) case management information system, you may meet the requirements through several experience and education pathways, although the core requirement is substantial experience providing training and technical assistance.
This experience is to include:
- Conducting the Supports Intensity Scale Assessment.
- Proven ability to lead, supervise, and support a team distributed across multiple physical locations.
- Experience evaluating complex data systems to formulate recommendations that result in positive program changes.
- Ability to manage project timelines, handle urgent issues simultaneously, and communicate updates clearly to leadership.
- Demonstrated commitment to cultural diversity, collaborative teamwork, and respectful communication in a fast-paced environment.
- Understanding programs, principles, regulations and statutes related to DDA and community-based long-term care services.
- Willingness to travel occasionally across the state to support regional teams.
DSHS partners with people to access support, care, and resources. This role is classified as Washington Management Services 2 (WMS2). Interested? Please list 3 professional references’ current contact information on your application and include your current resume and a letter of interest explaining how your knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this role.
Questions? Please contact the Recruiter, Jenny, at bastrjl@dshs.wa.gov or 360-725-5810 and reference #07084. Learn more about DSHS.
The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here (Download PDF reader). Appli