Heidi JH Ferreira
Attleboro,Ma
Summary
An educated professional with expertise in social services and non-profit organizations; including many years of experience in risk management, safety prevention, investigations, employee relations, health information, corporate compliance, safety planning, policy development, regulatory and legal research, licensing, and requirements specific to privacy and security. Highly effective at collaboration and implementing systems to improve quality. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with other professionals in efforts to create a strong, compliant organization with trust, integrity, and consistency.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance
The Home for Little Wanderers
08.2002 - Current
- Reports to the CFAO
- Oversees a department of 17 employees
- Manages and resolves employee relations matters; leads mediation process
- Collaborates with payroll department to revise various pay structures
- Collaborates with training department to change on-boarding and orientation for new hires
- Revised and communicated the Employee Handbook
- Facilitates meeting with Riks Management and Corporate Compliance of the Board
- Meets regularly with the Board
- Create employee policies such as Remote/Hybrid Work Policy, Bereavement Policy, Covid Policy, Fitness for Duty, and the Absenteeism and Punctuality Policy
- Revised progressive disciplinary process
- Regularly reviews leaves of absence and workers’ compensation claims
- Works collaboratively with insurers and insurance brokers
- Created a program to promote team activities for programs and departments
- Convened work group to address staff retention
- Builds partnership with universities and colleges to support employees’ education
- Responds to inquires and audits from OSHA, the Office of Cicil Rights, licensing agencies, and similar entities
- Managed employee engagement survey
- Oversees annual performance evaluation cycle
- Develops strategies for recruitment
- Serves as a mentor for employees in formal mentorship program
Chair, Corporate Compliance Committee
Association of Behavioral Health
10.2018 - 02.2024
- Provided leadership in developing, monitoring and evaluating policies and procedures related to organizational operations.
Vice President of Risk Management, Compliance, & Data Governance
The Home for Little Wanderers
01.2011 - 01.2022
- Reports to the CEO
- Oversees a department of 6 employees
- Oversees licensing procedures and COA accreditation
- Oversees all critical incidents and internal investigations, which include, at times, conducting the investigations, facilitating the internal review teams, and writing the final report for distribution; has completed over 800 investigations
- Conducted several risk management reviews and root causes analysis focusing on programmatic issues
- Developed and conducts regular review of the agency’s corporate compliance plan
- Oversees the incident reporting process
- Serves as agency’s HIPAA Security and Privacy officer, and serves as one of three data security coordinators under Massachusetts Privacy Laws
- Facilitates and reports quarterly to the Board’s Risk Management & Corporate Compliance Committee
- Serves as the chair of the Performance Quality Improvement Committee, MPL/HIPAA coordinator team, and risk management/insurance team
- Oversees the Leadership Advisory Council
- Former Chair of Core Safety Team
- Plan, direct and oversee the activities within the department
- Supervise all department staff
- Ensure guidance and feedback for employee development and productivity
- Coordinate with other departments the development and dissemination of an automated client information system
- Participates on the Executive Leadership Team
- Supervises a team of six employees
- Directly involved in the organization’s strategic plan
- Certified ALICE trainer
- Chair of the Corporate Compliance Committee with the Association of Behavioral Health
Director of Organizational Performance & Risk Management
The Home for Little Wanderers
01.2002 - 01.2012
- Reports to the Vice President of Performance & Outcomes
- Manages interagency policies and practice guidelines
- Oversees licensing procedures and COA accreditation
- Coordinates and oversees activities related to human and client rights
- Provides monthly trainings for new employee
- The training includes mandated reporting, the investigation process, human/client rights, and confidentiality, including an overview of the Massachusetts Privacy Laws
- Reports quarterly to the Board’s Governance and Risk Management Committee
- Developed and serves as a co-chair on the Core Safety Team, which is currently working on an agency-wide safety plan for all employees and the development of the quality monitoring tool
- Developed and serves as a co-chair on the Workplace Safety Task Force, which is focused emergency planning
- Completed a 2-year initiative in 2010, which focused on reducing and eliminating restraints; continued to serve as a co-chair for the Restraint and Incident Reduction Team
- Oversees the Health Information Department
- Recently developed a structure for the consumer advisory group
- Serves as a co-chair to develop the electronic health record as required by the federal government
- Currently supervises 3 employees
- Works closely and positively with external agencies and individuals such as the Special Investigations Unit at the Department of Children and Families, the licensors and their managers at the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Mental Health, the Corporate Compliance Network at ABH, and the agency’s attorneys
- Conducts frequent research on updated and new laws pertaining to HIPAA, community safety, the electronic health record
- Has maintained consistent rating of “Exceeding” on annual performance evaluations
- Received the agency’s Employee of the Year Award in 2001 and 2007
Residential Counselor / Team Leader / Milieu Director
Charles River Health Management/The Home for Little Wanderers
01.1996 - 01.2002
- Reported directly to the Program Director
- Maintained the physical safety of 16 adolescent females in an intensive residential treatment
- Trained in Non-Violent Self-Defense, the curriculum used for the use of physical interventions and mechanical restraints
- Provided supervision to 5 direct reports
- Oversaw approximately 40 employees
- Was required to issue disciplinary action when warranted
- Organized scheduling for day, evening, and overnight shifts
- Worked collaboratively with department managers to prepare for JCAHCO
- Conducted program investigations specific to human rights complaints
- Participated in multiple activities focused on reducing and eliminating restraints
- Participated in a root cause analysis following the unfortunate death of a client
Education
Juris Doctorate -
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
01.2012
B.A. - Sociology, Minor in English
Framingham State College
01.1993
Skills
- Employee Relations
- Company organization
- Occupational safety
- Recordkeeping
- Compliance
- Policy Implementation
- Training leadership
- Staff Supervision
- Risk Management
- Time Management
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Effective Communicator and Public Speaker
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Executive Leadership
- Professionalism
- Project Oversight
Timeline
Chair, Corporate Compliance Committee
Association of Behavioral Health
10.2018 - 02.2024
Vice President of Risk Management, Compliance, & Data Governance
The Home for Little Wanderers
01.2011 - 01.2022
Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance
The Home for Little Wanderers
08.2002 - Current
Director of Organizational Performance & Risk Management
The Home for Little Wanderers
01.2002 - 01.2012
Residential Counselor / Team Leader / Milieu Director
Charles River Health Management/The Home for Little Wanderers
01.1996 - 01.2002
Juris Doctorate -
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
B.A. - Sociology, Minor in English
Framingham State College
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