What are the responsibilities and job description for the SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELOR I position at State of Colorado?
This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!
This position exists to provide clinical services to youth in the facility that experience complex mental health, trauma, substance abuse, and other related issues. In addition, this position is experienced in addressing criminogenic risk factors in adolescent population as well as family interventions. This unit will understand criminal conduct in adolescents and be able to treat the youth from the perspective of lowering the criminogenic risks and increasing protective factors the youth presents with and addressing the relationship between mental health issues and criminal conduct. This position is skilled in the use of a strength based perspective, and system theory.
This position exists to provide DORA and research approved treatment services to youth who have engaged in delinquent behaviors in a secure state operated treatment facility. This position provides individual, family and group counseling, ongoing assessment, case management, record keeping, and service coordination in conjunction with a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) responsible for the overall treatment, supervision and transition of the youth. These youth often have behavioral and psychiatric issues resulting from trauma related exposure such as neglect, abuse or severe family problems. This position completes an integrated and comprehensive strength-based treatment plan and provides expertise in the area of mental health, co-occurring, special needs and family issues. This position utilizes the Colorado Juvenile Risk Assessment and other validated assessment tools to address criminogenic needs and what is driving underlying behavior by using a strength based approach and a youth's protective factors and resources. This position provides training and consultation to staff in regard to treatment and milieu interventions specific to juveniles who have complex mental health needs. This position is responsible for the development and implementation of transition plans in coordination with the multidisciplinary team of client manager, family, youth, facility staff and community programs. This position takes a lead role on the clinical team in the unit, assists in conducting in service trainings and communicates youth's needs to milieu staff.
What you will be doing:
- Will conduct bio-psycho-social assessment of youth on caseload upon arrival at facility.
- Will assess progress, barriers to progress, collaborate with multidisciplinary team, communicate pertinent information to milieu staff and education, document all case management and therapeutic services in TRAIL's system.
- Assess youth's treatment needs by reviewing the youth's main and medical files and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate.
- Collaborate with multiple individuals client managers, educational/vocational systems, medical team and psychiatrist and direct care staff to coordinate treatment needs of committed youth.
- Interview the resident assuring that assessment data is as reliable as possible.
- Contact/engage parents/family members significant others, guardians, educators, and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the resident's situation.
- If needed, treatment plans will identify goals and objectives, interventions and those responsible for providing them.
- Complete treatment plans within 30 days of admission and objectives will consist of skills that the youth is working on in addition to individual and group session objectives.
- Facilitate a review, making recommendations, and developing alternative interventions to be implemented by team staff and client for cases that represent a negative or no change response to clinical services.
- Make referral for psychiatric medication when indicated, and work collaboratively with psychiatrist and the medical staff in the youth's medication regime.
- Conduct risk assessment tools, determine level of progress on a monthly basis, and assess for appropriate transition services for successful reintegration.
- Assess safety and determine intervention/and monitoring plans for suicidal youth. T
- Implements decisions, makes recommendations, and evaluates treatment cases based on practice, theory, and evidenced based principles, and experience at an advanced level confirmed by licensing.
- Utilizes a systems approach to working with the adolescent their family and community support systems.
- Maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories and curriculum in complex mental health treatment for adolescents.
- Work with high risk, high needs youth to include duel diagnosis, lower IQ, youth with IEP needs and youth with suicidal ideation.
- Interpret treatment issues, problems, expectation, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
- Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward meeting the objectives and goals of treatment plan.
- Support agency services of cognitive behavioral based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
- Documents summary of progress in monthly treatment plans for youth on caseload.
- Documents all assessments, court reports, transition plans, community passes and staffing sessions.
- Develop SMPs and other interventions, conduct CRTs, and participate in monthly reviews as needed.
- Maintain all professional certifications, participates and supports orientation, educational workshops, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and family department meetings, and trainings.
- Expected to look for and supervise graduate school clinicians during their internships.
- Works in conjunction with the agency Clinical Director and clinical team in the development of agency treatment and programming.
- Serve as clinical consultant to unit manager and other clinical providers regarding the delivery of clinical services, milieu services and interventions.
- Provide consultation to Youth Services Counselor I's and milieu staff to assist in the implementation of youth treatment goals and objectives.
- Participates in clinical supervision with the clinical director.
- Supports and promotes Division and agency initiatives.
- Participates in family department meetings and trainings in order to assure and maintain competency.
Current, valid Clinical Social Worker license (LCSW) issued by the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners and one
And
One (1) year of experience as a licensed clinical social worker,
Substitution:
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).
And
Experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
Or
Current, valid certification as a Level III Addiction Counselor (CAC III) from the Colorado State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners
And
Two (2) years of experience as a certified addiction counselor.
Substitutions:
Current, valid licensure as an Addiction Counselor (LAC) from the Colorado State Board of
Addiction Counselor Examiners will substitute for the CAC III certification and (1) year of the
required experience.
Special Qualifications:
Explain: This position requires a Master's degree in a behavioral health field and licensing as Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Preferred competencies include one (1) year post licensure experience working with adolescents with criminal backgrounds and mental health related disorders.
Preferred qualifications:
- Specialized training and experience in marriage and family therapy
- SOMB listed juvenile treatment provider
Essential Competencies:
Written and oral communication skills, problem solving skills, deductive reasoning, critical thinking, social perceptiveness, active listening, therapy and counseling knowledge, psychology knowledge, judgment and decision making skills, time management, effective and timely documentation, and oral comprehension skills.
Conditions of Employment:
- Must be willing to submit to a background check, pre-employment drug screening.
- Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado drivers license.
Appeal Rights:
If 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.
How to Apply
The Assessment Process
For additional recruiting questions, please contact elizabeth.v.ortiz@state.co.us
About Us:
If 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 Values:
We 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.
Salary : $5,391 - $7,548
