Investigation Specialist

Merakey; Escondido (CA); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Retirement plan

DailyPay

Well-being platform

Backup childcare

Counseling services

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Pryor Online Learning

Job summary

Merakey is seeking an Investigation Specialist to join the Incident Management Team in the San Diego, CA area. This hybrid role requires local travel to programs in the San Diego area.

The investigator will conduct thorough reviews, protect the safety and rights of individuals served, and ensure timely, compliant investigations. The ideal candidate will possess two years in human services, CI certification within 90 days, strong communication, and report writing skills.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in human services or a related field.
• Must obtain Certified Investigator (CI) Certification within 90 days of hire.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to conduct interviews in person, by phone, and virtually.
• Ability to prepare clear, structured reports while maintaining professionalism and objectivity.
• Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills with ability to manage multiple cases and meet deadlines.
• Experience maintaining accurate case records in a case management system (QCOMS) preferred.
• Experience supporting individuals with IDD is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and complete investigations related to consumer care, including abuse, neglect, exploitation, complaints, and peer review/death cases.
• Investigate incidents across service lines including IDD, ABH, and CFS.
• Manage case documentation and tracking using QCOMS, aligning with KPIs.
• Utilize the Enterprise Incident Management (EIM) system to meet external and internal compliance requirements.
• Coordinate and communicate investigation findings through cross‑functional meetings with Operations, HR, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain clear, timely communication with leadership regarding case status and investigative activities.
• Apply knowledge of federal/state regulations, payer requirements, and internal policies to ensure compliant investigations.

Job description

Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in human services or a related field.
• Must obtain Certified Investigator (CI) Certification within 90 days of hire.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to conduct interviews and communicate effectively in person, by phone, and virtually.
• Ability to prepare clear, structured reports while maintaining professionalism and objectivity.
• Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple cases and meet deadlines.
• Experience maintaining accurate case records and documentation in a case management system (QCOMS) preferred.
• Experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is preferred but not required.

Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. We are seeking an Investigation Specialist to join our Incident Management Team in the San Diego, CA area.

This is a hybrid position. Local travel to programs in San Diego, CA area is required.

Earn $27.69-$29.74 per hour, based on experience.

Position Details

The goal of the Incident Management Team is to research and investigate all Incidents as deemed necessary to reduce the potential negative impact on Merakey's consumers, infrastructure, and the community.

The Investigation Specialist conducts thorough reviews and investigations of incidents across Merakey programs to protect the safety, rights, and well-being of individuals served. This role helps reduce organizational risk by ensuring timely, compliant, and accurate investigations that support Merakey’s commitment to quality, integrity, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct and complete investigations related to consumer care, including abuse, neglect, exploitation, complaints, and peer review/death cases.
• Investigate incidents across service lines, including Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Adult Behavioral Health (ABH), and Children & Families Services (CFS).
• Manage case documentation and tracking using QCOMS, ensuring alignment with quality standards and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Utilize the Enterprise Incident Management (EIM) system to meet all external (ODP, OMHSAS) and internal compliance requirements and deadlines.
• Coordinate and communicate investigation findings through cross-functional meetings with Operations, HR, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain clear, timely communication with leadership regarding case status and investigative activities.
• Apply knowledge of federal/state regulations, payer requirements, and internal policies to ensure compliant investigations and accurate determinations.
• Support organizational quality, safety, privacy, and compliance initiatives through collaboration and special projects.
• Uphold professional standards and promote adherence to the organization's Code of Conduct and Integrity Program.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn more about our full benefits package - https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Watch a video about Merakey.

Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!