Investigator

Role Responsibilities

The Government of Alberta’s Health Investigations Unit (HIU) is the sole criminal investigative body responsible for protecting Alberta’s $5.2 billion physician compensation fund. With province-wide jurisdiction, the HIU leads complex criminal investigations into fraudulent physician billing practices.

We are currently seeking a dedicated and skilled Investigator to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying emerging trends, issues, and opportunities related to investigative techniques and approaches. You will work collaboratively with stakeholders across Alberta Health, law enforcement agencies, and other partner organizations to carry out comprehensive and complex investigations.

In this role, you will be supporting the Manager and Senior Investigators in the Health Investigations Unit (HIU) in several key aspects. You will be responsible for the thorough and secure disclosure of health records and assisting in several key aspects with complaints or offences associated with fraud-based offences of the Criminal Code. As the HIU files move from investigation into prosecution, you will ensure that all records are appropriately organized, stored, vetted and disclosed.

You will be also be responsible for the application of HIU business rules on all the submitted investigative tasks and provides oversight of the business rules including the identification of any issues, the continual updating of rules developed through best practice and collaboration with other GoA investigative units and partner agencies.

A key component of this position is the day-to-day management of the HIU investigative platform X-Fire and is one of two X-Fire administrators within HIU.  This oversees configuration, file transfer and training and collaboration with other GoA agencies that are also using X-Fire.

As an Investigator, you will provide input to the development and continual enhancement of policies, systems and procedures for the HIU investigation program that is designed to support Service Alberta and Alberta Health. This position is a senior resource and liaison for law enforcement agencies and stakeholders and is relied upon to promote awareness of HIU’s programs and capabilities.

In this position, you will also be responsible for the management of placement students and any temporary staff within HIU. This includes the assignment, teaching, monitoring and correction of their submitted work and their subsequent evaluations.

The Investigator functions within the parameters of applicable Government and Ministry legislation, regulations, policies, directives and procedures.  This position requires independent functioning, analyzing, modification and decision-making regarding current processes in several areas including:

•    Investigations 
•    Disclosure
•    Policies, programs and initiatives oversight.
•    Comprehensive consultation and partnerships
•    Providing comprehensive consultation and partnerships.
•    Supporting the Manager of HIU and the Director of Audit and Investigations in achieving the Ministry goals.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

• Systems Thinking - Understands how your work contributes to the achievement of department goals by reviewing and prioritizing incoming files and completing investigations in a timely manner using appropriate techniques to gather and secure evidence. 
  
  

• Agility - Taking advantage of opportunities to change how work is done to better anticipate obstacles and improve service. In this role, you will provide input to the development and revision of legislation, regulations and policies pertaining to the investigation program, identifying emergent issues and making recommendations to management; researches and recommends the acquisition of new systems, technologies and equipment to senior decision makers.
  
  

• Develop Networks - Identifies key stakeholder contacts in the organization with whom a relationship must be established.  The investigator will cooperate and collaborate with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) and the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) in relation to investigations and assists other jurisdictions with investigations as needed.
  
  
• Build Collaborative Environments - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes by sharing knowledge and expertise with fellow HIU staff members to fulfill identified training requirements and enhance capabilities of team members.

Qualifications

• University Degree in a related field such as law, law enforcement, police security, criminal justice, criminology or a related field plus a minimum 2 years related experience in case management and investigation.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Eligibility for Peace Officer designation is required. You will be required to obtain Peace Officer status either though previous experience credit, or successful completion of the Government of Alberta Peace Officer Training Program.

The following equivalencies may be considered:

• Diploma plus 4 years’ of related experience.
• Certificate plus 5 years’ of related experience.
• 6 years of related experience in lieu of formal education.

Assets:

• Previous experience with Major Case Management (MCM) and Electronic Major Case Management (EMCM) principles.
• Experience with relevant computer systems (CPIC, MOVES, X-Fire) and other software tools including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Pro and Microsoft Teams.
• Previous leadership roles responsible for staff development and coaching.
• Previous experience using analytical, research and problem-solving skills to analyze information, facts, statements, and evidence in a logical manner and develop reasonable conclusions and recommendations to resolve issues.
• Previous experience working with, interpreting and applying the Criminal Code policies and procedures pertaining to investigation of violations of the Criminal Code of Canada, the Statues of Province of Alberta, and other related policies including Canada Evidence Act, Health Professions Act, Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, etc.
• Experience with investigative techniques, including interviewing and interrogation skills, statement analysis and evidence gathering and handling techniques when interviewing witnesses, suspects, and accused persons.
• Previous experience in providing testimony in court or other regulatory hearings. 

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Please note:

• This posting is for one full time, temporary role with a term of 2 years.
• The hours of work are Monday to Friday, 7.25 hours per day/ 36.25 hours per week.
• Successful candidates will be required to undergo a level 3 security screening.
• Candidates will be expected to disclose any formal discipline including any unresolved disciplinary matters. This includes, but is not limited to, allegations of abuse, bullying or harassment. 
• A valid drivers license is required.
• Health Investigations Unit has province-wide jurisdiction and travel throughout the province will be required (less than 25% travel).

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.