Empower your agency to manage risk with confidence.

Risk Management Practitioner (RMP)

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Our RMP Program delivers practical, cost-effective strategies to help public sector professionals reduce risk and save money.

This five part certificate program provides the essential building blocks to establish, develop, and embed Risk Management as a business process in your public sector organization. These workshops provide participants with a comprehensive grounding in the practical application of Risk Management practices for the (primarily self-insured) public entity that will ultimately reduce costs. The program is specifically designed for Risk Management assistants, workers’ compensation specialists, human resource analysts/assistants and front-line supervisors who are responsible for, or have as an aspect of their job, the practical and cost-effective management of risk for their organization.

This program was built by a broad coalition of industry leaders and subject matter experts to fill a critical gap in the industry. Through learner-centered, interactive, and thought provoking training, the facilitator taps into and expands participants' expertise and provides a dynamic, uniquely tailored course.

The program consists of the following five courses of critical content and application. The courses may be taken in any order, although it is recommended that you take them sequentially if possible.

To learn more and register, click on each course below.

Interested in a scholarship?

RMP scholarship program

Overview of Public Sector Exposures & Risk Management

Currently, all courses are delivered in a hybrid model. Hybrid delivery incorporates an eLearning course and live virtual training. The eLearning will take roughly two hours to complete and must be completed before the live virtual training.

Why is skilled risk management so critical to organizational success? What does an effective risk management professional do? Learn the responsibilities of a Risk Manager and expand your understanding of how risk management contributes to your organization. You will walk away with key concepts and tools used by risk managers and form new insights into the unique loss exposures public entities face. You will also learn about the foundational laws and regulations shaping the profession.

Learning Objectives

Acquire a sound, contextual understanding of how Risk Management impacts the overall financial health of public entities
Define and explain the purpose of Risk Management in the public sector, comparing and contrasting “Traditional” with “Enterprise” Risk Management
Define the core competencies of the Risk Management profession
Explain how the historical development of Risk Management in the public sector has evolved into today’s practices
Explore the pros and cons of different ways to practice Risk Management within a public entity
Explain basic concepts of laws and regulations that commonly involve public sector risk management, such as Public Records Act Requests, the Brown Act, and HIPAA
Learn and apply the fundamentals of Root Cause Analysis in the context of Risk Management
Demonstrate understanding of the components and purpose Certificates of Insurance

Insurance Administration, Annual Renewal, and Risk Transfer

Manage your organization’s risk exposure like a pro after taking this class. You will master the complex and confusing world of insurance, learn to successfully transfer risk and apply new knowledge about working with brokers and navigating contracts to minimize risk for your organization.

Learning Objectives

Increase their knowledge of primary insurance, excess insurance, and risk-pooling Joint Powers Authorities (JPAs)
Gain strategies for building more effective relationships with insurance brokers
Identify and explore risk transfer options (insurance, self-insurance, and pooling)
Increase their understanding of deductibles and self-insured retentions
Demonstrate an understanding of the contractual transfer of risk process
Use loss runs and actuarial studies to make more informed decisions
Identify contractual language that could either lessen or increase risk
Use data to select appropriate ancillary services, loss control, and safety training
Identify key steps and decisions in the program placement and annual renewals process
Use Certificates of Insurance as a critical means of ensuring risk transfer and complying with contract terms
Become familiar with the importance of procurement and individual agency insurance requirements (verifying, reducing or waiving)

Property & Liability Claims, Safety & Loss Control

Plan proactively! After this class, you will know how to identify and evaluate your agency’s particular loss exposures while implementing sound proactive loss control measures. Impress your managers with strategies for navigating investigations and litigation and assessing current trends and evolving risk.

Learning Objectives

Demonstrate an understanding of First Party vs. Third Party Claims
Increase their understanding of Torts (Intentional Acts, Negligence, and Strict Liability)
Become familiar with the California’s Government Claims Act and its implications for Risk Management
Demonstrate an understanding of relevant Claims Investigation activities
Improve your understanding of litigation management (defense counsel and claims examiners)
Understand Settlement Authority in public entities
Learn the importance of prevention through safety training, compliance, and CalOSHA adherence
Explore current trends and management of unique and evolving risks in the public sector

Workers' Compensation

Handle one of the biggest areas of risk management flawlessly after taking this session. Return to your job armed with strategies and tools to effectively administer standard workers’ compensation and employer’s liability policies within your organization. You will engage in hands-on exercises that provide practical guidance on how to administer claims and maintain records.

Learning Objectives

Gain insight into the development and history of Workers’ Compensation
Identify benefits available to injured workers, along with the core concept of “exclusive remedy”
Increase your knowledge of California-specific laws and regulations, including the Labor Code, the Code of Regulations, and important administrative players, such as the WCAB
Increase your awareness of the employer’s duty to secure the compensation insurance and the various forms of permissible insurance, including self-insurance and pooling
Become familiar with the principle of “AOE/COE” – Arising out of Employment/Course of Employment
Become familiar with the principles of claims investigation, including: acceptance, delay and investigation, or denial; the use of “sub rosa” or surveillance
Explore the components of temporary disability, salary continuation and coordination of benefits including Labor Code section 4850 (Public safety/law enforcement employees and relevant previsions of the California Education Code
Learn the components of working with Workers’ Compensation within the public sector
Understand affirmative defenses for employers
Understand the use of settlements including compromise and release, stipulations with future medical and the use of structured settlements
Explore litigation within Workers’ Compensation
Enhance Awareness of supporting agency interests through appointment, contribution and subrogation

Disability Management & Early Return to Work

Demystify this complex area of risk management when you attend this important session. You will explore both work-related and non-industrial injuries as well as the similarities and distinctions between “temporary modified duty” and “reasonable accommodations.” Learn to engage in the interactive process and uncover the intersection between medical limitations and workplace disabilities, as well as the benefits of maintaining an effective Early Return-to-Work (ERTW) program.

Learning Objectives

Explore the differences between industrial and non-industrial injuries, temporary modified duty and reasonable accommodation, medical limitations and disabilities
Become aware the interactive process of ADA and FEHA
Increase your understanding of early return-to-work and alternative job placements
Learn the importance of systems and record keeping
Learn best practices for responding to California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints
Gain insight into the coordination of leave administration, including the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and local union/contractual provisions
Explore Ancillary Workers’ Compensation discrimination liability: Labor Code 132a claims

Group training available!

For more information, contact the CPS HR Training Center at 916.263.3614 (option 3) or [email protected].

This program came about from the collective efforts and passions of many dedicated individuals who longed for a guide to assist Risk Management professionals within California public entities. Without their insights and commitment, this project would not have come to fruition. Thank you!

Thank you to our sponsors!