Registered Nurse -Boston Regional Office

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking an experienced, dedicated, and licensed nurse to fill the role of Registered Nurse for the Boston Regional Office .

In this role, the selected candidate will be an integral and collaborative member of the DCF Health and Medical Services Team (HMST), as well as partnering with the Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Disability, Plan of Safe Care, LGBTQIA, Education Specialist and Mental Health specialists within the region, to support the social work teams.

Based in the Boston Region Office the nurse will help implement healthcare-related agency policy and provide consultation to internal DCF staff and to DCF foster / adoptive parents and guardians.

The nurse will also assess the medical needs of children and recommend policy changes / improvements and solutions to the HMST Supervisor.

The nurse will attend periodic administrative meetings, trainings, foster home visits, Central Office meetings, and hospital discharge planning meetings and will periodically travel to Area Offices to meet with staff as necessary.

The nurse will participate in a pool for cross-coverage of other regions during other nurses' vacations or time off for other reasons, including illness and staff vacancy.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive) :

• Respond to questions from DCF Regional and Area Office staff regarding children's medical conditions and care.
• Develop on-going relationships with the Regional Office, Area Offices, local healthcare providers such as physicians, hospitals, school nurses, home care agencies and mental health providers.
• Assist with the coordination of treatment plans for medically complex children who are transitioning into new foster homes, group homes and residential placements.
• Identify children who are appropriate for the Special Kids / Special Care program, complete the referral form and submit the referral to MassHealth.
• Review COIN (Central Office Incident Notification) reports regarding children with non-accidental trauma, fatality or near-fatality, emotional injury, or serious bodily injury.
• Assist social work staff with assessing appropriateness of HIV testing for individual children.
• Participate in monthly HMST staff meetings.
• Coordinate consultations with the Regional Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence and Mental Health Specialists.
• Collaborate with the DCF Medical Social Workers around healthcare coordination or any other medical issue that may arise.
• Assist DCF staff with interpreting medical record documentation, help coordinate healthcare services through communication with healthcare providers, including assistance with hospital discharge planning.
• Review medical documentation related to payment of foster parents for care of children with special needs (PACT reviews).
• Assist Area Regional and Central Office staff with assessing proposed DNR orders and accessing physicians to provide second opinions and ethics opinions when DNR orders are proposed.
• Assist the HMST with trainings for staff and foster parents and help coordinate trainings on healthcare issues with the DCF Child Welfare Institute.
• Learn and access the electronic MassHealth system to research information necessary to respond to questions related to MassHealth eligibility, third party insurance, prior approval, and claims.
• Work with the Medical Director to establish methods to document actual job responsibilities and measure satisfaction of DCF staff and implement the methods upon approval by the Supervisor.
• Provide reports and e-mail or verbal updates to the Supervisor on consultation and other activities and ad hoc reports as requested.
• Consult with staff on cases before the quarterly Regional Fatality Review Boards, participate as needed in DCF Regional Office and Area Office meetings, participate at least telephonically in the monthly Special Kids / Special Care, and Program Case Review Team meetings.
• Assisting DCF legal in interpretation of medical records.
• Consult with medical director about very complex cases and cases in which there is conflict among medical providers and hospitals.
• Collaborate with medical director on special projects related to health of staff, foster families, and children in care.

Preferred Qualifications :

• At least three (3) of pediatric acute care nursing experience strongly preferred.
• Multiple years of recent nursing experience working in an acute hospital pediatric inpatient unit or in pediatric community health nursing.
• Ability to provide consultation and recommendations regarding medical conditions and treatment plans for children and young adults as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience with ethnically, culturally, racially and / or economically diverse populations.
• Experience with care coordination with a pediatric population.
• Knowledge of the healthcare issues affecting abused or neglected children.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly via electronic mail and to utilize computer applications such as Word and Excel.

TO APPLY :

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Please upload both Resume and Cover Letter for this position when applying.

About the Department of Children and Families :

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to upholding the fundamental mission of protecting children from abuse and neglect to ensure they are able to grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

DCF's vision is that all children have the right to grow up in a nurturing home, free from abuse and neglect, with access to food, shelter, clothing, health care and education.

DCF works toward establishing the safety, permanency and well-being of the Commonwealth's children by stabilizing and preserving families;

providing quality temporary alternative care when necessary, safely reunifying families; and when necessary and appropriate, creating new families through kinship, guardianship or adoption.

Preferred applicants will possess a demonstrated commitment to the core practice values : 1) child-driven, 2) family-centered, 3) community-focused, 4) strength-based, 5) committed to diversity / cultural competency, and 6) committed to continuous learning.

For more information about our agency and programs visit : www.mass.gov / dcf

Pre-Hire Process :

A criminal 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 ADA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form.

For questions, please the contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4.

Qualifications :

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS :

Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience as a registered nurse in a recognized hospital, clinic or medical facility and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a supervisory, administrative, or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions :

I. A Graduate degree with a major in Nursing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.

• No substitutions will be allowed for the required (B) experience.
• Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LEVELS IN SERIES :

• Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
• Recent graduates from an approved school of nursing must have applied for the first available registered nurse examination.

Special Requirements : Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's license may be required.

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.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

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.