State of Colorado hiring Social Worker/Counselor II - CMHHIP - Pueblo. in Pueblo, CO | LinkedIn (2024)

Department InformationThis position is open only to Colorado state residents.Opt in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events!CDHSCareers*** Note: This posting may fill more than one vacancy for available positions that now exist or may exist in the future. Including both part and full time positions.***

This position is primarily in-person with intermittent online meetings and workshops. The work schedule for this position will be based upon business needs and is not guaranteed. The current schedule will be in-person, but may change without prior notification based on busy demands. Description Of JobThis position is a member of the Trauma Informed Care Department and will report directly to the Director of Trauma Informed Care. This team includes a licensed psychologist providing direct patient treatment, three licensed Social Work/Counselor II therapists, and four positions for certified Peer-Support Specialists. A clinician hired for this position must have advanced foundational knowledge of principles and theoretical underpinnings of trauma treatment, accumulated clinical experience providing trauma treatment, and the capacity to deliver efficacious trauma treatment to a unique and challenging population of involuntary patients in a secure inpatient state hospital. This position may include one evening treatment group or structured treatment activity weekly.

This position exists to provide culturally sensitive trauma informed services including assessments, knowledge of cultural and individual factor that impact trauma processing, theoretical and technical knowledge of evidence-based practices in trauma treatment, and clinical practice experience providing efficacious therapeutic interventions to our diverse patient populations. We serve patients diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses, cognitive impairments complicated by significant trauma histories, and problems with behavioral and emotional dysregulation in the form of individual, group, and family therapy in a secure inpatient state hospital. Trauma therapists must have the ability to adapt and individualize evidence-based therapeutic trauma interventions to meet the specific needs of an involuntary inpatient population, to include civil admissions and those remanded to treatment by Colorado’s Criminal Courts.

This position requires the ability to evaluate the needs of our patient population, adapt treatment modalities to the population we serve, and initiate therapeutic interventions in an inpatient setting. An understanding of the importance of considering the potential impact of psychological issues on treatment decisions when functioning as a member of a multidisciplinary team is essential. This position requires ongoing communication with unit staff to ensure continued appropriate levels of treatment during hospital stay. A professional in this position is expected to provide training and consultation to hospital staff across clinical disciplines as well as engage in community outreach activities. A person in this position must have a level of education and post-graduate clinical experience required for and hold DORA licensure as a Colorado Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Any person hired for this position is personally responsible for actively pursuing and/or maintaining appropriate Colorado licensure and certifications as well as meeting Continuing Education unit and record keeping as required by law.

Job Duties

• Provide assessments and group, individual, and family therapy utilizing evidence-based trauma informed theoretical framework and methods along with SAMHSA standards, taking into consideration the full range of diversity factor such as ethnic, cultural, religious, abilities and sexual diversity to name a few.
• Creating protocols for treatment groups based on recognized evidence-based theoretical principles of current best practices in delivery of group therapy that encourage integration of multisensory/ multidisciplinary approaches to support treatment of trauma issues.
• Documentation of clinical treatment responses and planning future interventions.
• Keeps updated to state of the art evidence-based theories of assessment and treatment interventions patients with histories of trauma, and as appropriate, for the patient dually diagnosed with substance related disorders.
• Works with other team members to gather appropriate outcome data to assess effectiveness of treatment.
• Attends clinical supervision and obtains professional development hours to keep license in good standing. If pursuing licensure or certification, for the first time, personally monitor training requirements and work with supervisors to make sure requirements are maintained.
• Monitor and maintain hospital training requirements outlined by CMHHIP Staff Education.
• Maintain required records of completion of CDHS and CMHHIP mandatory training requirements and documentation requirements for DORA license renewal.
• Participates in the direction and formulation of treatment plans and reviews.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary treatment team by recommending and designing treatment interventions which will meet patient, family education and therapeutic needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Minimum QualificationsMinimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal RightsCurrent, valid licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) from the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners or current, valid licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners.

Substitutions: Current, valid licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) from the Colorado State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners will substitute for the Professional Counseling license (LPC) or the Clinical Social Worker license (LCSW).

Preferred Qualifications And Competencies

• Master's degree, or equivalent in Clinical Social Worker (LCSW licensed) or mental health counseling (LPC Licensed).
• Knowledge of DSM 5 diagnoses and theoretical knowledge and experience providing psychological treatment for patients diagnosed with serious mental illnesses.
• Theoretical training in evidence-based practices in trauma treatment in a secure in-patient setting.
• At least two (2) years of clinical experience providing evidenced-based trauma treatment to patients diagnosed with serious mental illnesses.
• Theoretical training and experience providing individual, group and family therapy to psychiatric in-patients.
• Theoretical knowledge and experience providing behavioral treatment in a clinical setting. Knowledge and psychological treatment and therapy practices.
• Knowledge of interviewing skills and techniques.
• Ability to express ideas effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions

Conditions Of Employment

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges.
• Current, valid Colorado Driver's License.
• Must successfully pass a TB (tuberculosis) Test.
• This position will be paid biweekly.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circ*mstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
• On or after October 31, 2021, each facility shall ensure all newly hired employees or support staff members are fully vaccinated at the time of hire or receive their first dose of a two-dose protocol, or a single-dose vaccination, prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services for the facility and/or its clients.
• Employees will be required to attest to and verify whether or not they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated may be required to submit to serial testing in the future. Upon hire, new employees will have three (3) business days to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination. Vaccinated employees must provide proof of first dose prior to providing care.
• Note: Fully Vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
• Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation shall be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance. If you would like to request a medical or religious exemption, please contact CDHS_HumanResources@state.co.us

Appeal RightsIf you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental InformationHow To ApplyThe Assessment ProcessFor additional recruiting questions, please contact elizabeth.v.ortiz @state.co.usAbout UsIf your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our ValuesWe believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans .Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Toll Free Applicant Technical Support