MENTAL HEALTH QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDITOR

Internal Careers; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 66,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry is seeking a Mental Health Quality Assurance Auditor to strengthen mental health care across 16 facilities. You will review records, assess service quality, and evaluate vendor-provided care for compliance with requirements.

Work with a team of auditors and report findings to facility leaders. The role emphasizes attention to detail, clinical assessment, and improving processes to enhance patient care within the

Qualifications

• Knowledge of mental health treatment in a correctional setting.
• Quality assurance and utilization review methodology.
• Basic procedure analysis and policy development methodology.
• Research and patient assessment methodology.
• Laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to the assignment.
• Windows operating system.

Responsibilities

• Reviews mental health and other records related to services provided by contracted vendors.
• Reviews Health Needs Request forms and appointment schedules to ensure timely on-site services.
• Collaborates with Facility and Contract Bed Compliance Monitors on mental health issues.
• Monitors and reviews services for unusual patterns of utilization or denial.
• Evaluates the clinical appropriateness of mental health services, including provider referrals and documentation.
• Conducts utilization reviews, spot checks, and scheduled quality assurance audits to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and ADCRR policies and procedures.
• Provides feedback to site-level administration and collaborates with staff to ensure processes follow policies and procedures and use resources effectively.
• Conducts clinical reviews and interviews to support inmate grievance appeal responses, investigations, and lawsuits.
• Completes required reports, conducts research, and prepares correspondence.
• Attends meetings and trainings, completes special projects and assignments within required time frames.
• Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment.

Skills

Assessment, research, and analysis

Interviewing and investigation

Verbal and written communication

Synthesizing and presenting

Organization and time management

Decision-making

Typing and computer use

Education

Master’s degree or higher in mental health

Arizona license by AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiner

Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP)

Tools

Windows operating system

Job description

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,

REHABILIATION & REENTRY

Our mission is to enhance public safety across Arizona through modern, effective correctional practices and meaningful engagements. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) is committed to creating a safe, secure, and humane correctional system. With public safety top of mind, ADCRR and its more than 8,000 officers and professional staff are driven by a heart for public service and a commitment to deliver perfect effort each day. ADCRR is redefining itself as an agency whose daily work centers on transparency, accountability, and fairness.

MENTAL HEALTH QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDITOR

(PROGRAM EVALUATION SPECIALIST)

Job Location:

Address:

Health Services Contract Monitoring Bureau
801 E. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
https://corrections.az.gov/

Posting Details:

Salary: $78,000.00

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Job Summary:

Join the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) as a Mental Health Quality Assurance Auditor and help strengthen mental health care across 16 state and private prison facilities. Working alongside a team of auditors, you’ll review records, assess the quality and timeliness of services, and evaluate whether care provided by contracted vendors meets applicable requirements. Your work will help identify patterns in service use and denials and bring important opportunities for improvement to light.

This role offers the chance to turn careful analysis into practical change. You’ll share findings with facility leaders, help improve processes and coordination of care, and prepare clear, confidential reports and responses for internal and external inquiries. If you’re detail-oriented, curious, and motivated to make a meaningful difference in a complex healthcare setting, bring your expertise to a team working to improve services throughout Arizona’s correctional system.

Job Duties:

• Reviews mental health and other records related to services provided by contracted vendors
• Reviews Health Needs Request forms and appointment schedules to ensure timely on-site services
• Collaborates with Facility and Contract Bed Compliance Monitors on mental health issues
• Monitors and reviews services for unusual patterns of utilization or denial
• Evaluates the clinical appropriateness of mental health services, including provider referrals and documentation
• Conducts utilization reviews, spot checks, and scheduled quality assurance audits to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and ADCRR policies and procedures
• Provides feedback to site-level administration and collaborates with staff to ensure processes follow policies and procedures and use resources effectively
• Conducts clinical reviews and interviews to support inmate grievance appeal responses, investigations, and lawsuits
• Completes required reports, conducts research, and prepares correspondence
• Attends meetings and trainings, completes special projects and assignments within required time frames
• Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of mental health treatment in a correctional setting
• Quality assurance and utilization review methodology
• Basic procedure analysis and policy development methodology
• Research and patient assessment methodology
• Laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to the assignment
• Windows operating system

Skill in:

• Assessment, research, and analysis
• Interviewing and investigation
• Verbal and written communication
• Synthesizing and presenting information in support of project objectives
• Organization and time management
• Decision-making
• Typing and computer use

Ability to:

• Evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of healthcare services
• Compose correspondence and reports effectively
• Multitask
• Conduct research and prepare responses to issues and concerns
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external entities
• Compile information and reports
• Make decisions and meet deadlines
• Work with the Department’s standardized databases
• Work in a prison environment

Selective Preference(s):

• Three (3) years experience providing mental health treatment services to incarcerated individuals
• Master's Degree or higher in a mental health related field and current Arizona license by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiner
• Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP)

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation
• In an effort to maintain a safe environment, all employees are required to take a Tuberculosis (TB) test during their New Employee Orientation and every year thereafter.
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

We offer an excellent and affordable comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees:

• Vacation and sick days with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
• Robust and affordable insurance plan to include medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability options
• Exceptional retirement program
• Optional employee benefits such as deferred compensation plans, credit union membership, and a wellness program
• An incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program
• For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment
  • Current ADC Employees: Consult with your respective Human Resources Liaison if you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above

Contact Us:

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling [phone]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.