Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Social Services Program Specialist I

Opening Date: September 25, 2024  

Closing Date: October 08, 2024

Job Class Code: 5092
Grade:  22
Salary: $47,174.40 -$65,832.00

Position Number:  02031-2265 

Location: Portland, Biddeford,  or Sanford

•    This position does not require:
o    A nursing license,
o    Performing supervisory duties, or
o    Working on holidays (although there is the potential for a few days/year working early morning, nights, or weekends)

•    It does require:
o    Statewide travel and occasional overnight stays.
o    A valid Social Worker license
•    Generally, the work is performed M-F 

•    “What I am enjoying most about my position as a surveyor is the “team mentality” and the availability and responsiveness of the supervisors. The work life balance is nothing that I have experienced in my whole career as an RN”. -KC
•    “I am thankful to have found a workplace that encourages having a positive work-life balance and provides a chance to make a positive impact on my community.”-MP   
•    “Being a surveyor enables me to use my healthcare experience to work in public service to help ensure safe and quality healthcare throughout the state, help identify improvement opportunities for providers and facilities, and travel this beautiful state to observe the care provided to patients in many different facilities.”-PW
•    “The reason I like my job is I feel like I play an important part in ensuring the patients who present to our healthcare facilities get quality and safe care.”-CW
•    “I like my job because I feel like I am the “safety net” for patients who seek healthcare.  Someone is watching!”--CB

If you’d like to feel this way about how you earn your living, we are looking for a professional with pharmacy, social work (Maine Social Work license required), dietary/nutrition, and/or physical therapy experience or education who thrives in a team environment, yet works well independently, to support the Department of Health and Human Service’s mission to promote health and safety for all Maine people. 

What can you expect to do as an Acute Care Surveyor? 
•    Work as part of a team of surveyors to conduct licensing inspections and complaint investigations about care given to patients of hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, ambulatory surgical centers, dialysis centers, portable x-ray providers, outpatient physical therapy providers and rural health centers; 
•    Interview complainants and witnesses to obtain information regarding complaint allegations;
•    Review medical records and perform observations;
•    Complete reports, known as “Statements of Deficiencies,” 
•    Participate in training, including mandatory on-line training required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”);
Please NOTE: initial and on-going training is extensive, and participation and passage of all required courses is mandatory. 

Minimum Qualifications:

A six (6)-year combination of education and/or professional experience in social services casework, social services program development/delivery, or social services-related fiscal/budget administration/analysis work. 

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class).

Positions assigned to the Social Services option require a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) license as issued by the Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure..

Preferred candidates will ALSO have: 
•    Knowledge of federal and Maine regulatory requirements for the types of healthcare facilities listed above;
•    Experience working in any one or more of the types of providers listed above;
•    Demonstrated critical thinking skills;
•    Ability to work with diverse individuals;
•    Demonstrated excellent ability to write concisely, clearly, and with correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure;
•    Demonstrated ability to communicate politely, professionally, and effectively in writing and verbally;
•    Demonstrated experience working productively and professionally both on your own and with a team; 
•    Demonstrated ability to maintain objectivity and professionalism during occasional unusual and stressful circumstances;
•    Demonstrated ability to draw valid conclusions and make independent decisions; 
•    Demonstrated ability to be a positive team member; 
•    Demonstrated critical thinking skills;
•    Pharmacy, social work (with valid Social Work license), dietary/nutrition, and/or physical therapy experience or education;  
•    A valid Maine driver’s license; and
•    Reliable transportation.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information: 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

For additional information about this position please email James Allen, RN and Acute team Supervisor, at James.Allen@Maine.gov. 

To apply, upload a resume and cover letter* with your application.   In your cover letter, explain how you meet the Minimum Requirements above, and state whether you have any of the attributes listed above under “Preferred candidates will ALSO have”. .  

Please submit all documents or files in  PDF format.

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.L.Harman@Maine.gov 

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS). 

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.