(Entry Level) Health Care Services Trainee - Wheat Ridge Regional Center

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

This posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services

Our mission is to offer people with disabilities the necessary supports in order to promote the personal values of individual growth, participation, contribution and capability.

The Health Care Service Trainee (HCST I) gives hands-on direct support to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. These positions provide people we serve with opportunities to achieve the highest level of independence in the areas of health, safety, and activities of daily living (eating, bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene). These positions sustain a therapeutic milieu for people served while utilizing sound practices to ensure safety and security of the environment. The HCST I provides psychiatric and behavior-based treatment, while assisting those served to reach their maximum level of independence. 
Some precautions we are taking include:

1. We provide personal protective equipment - i.e. gloves, gowns, surgical masks, N 95 masks and protective eyewear
2. Emphasis on Infection control - i.e. robust training and cleaning schedule
3. Management support

• Coaching and mentoring individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities
• Assisting individuals with learning personal care and domestic care skills
• Implementing behavior programs to decrease the performance of problem behaviors, to develop replacement behaviors and to teach coping and safety skills
• Responding to crises by following approved verbal and physical interventions to ensure safety
• Assisting individuals with various therapy/treatment
• Ensuring appropriate documentation
• Provide supervision and support to individuals while at home
• Provide transportation, supervision and support individuals when in the community
• Attend and participate training as required
• Working with an interdisciplinary team
• Shift work, days, nights and weekends required.

Additional info for this position:

This position is a unique opportunity to receive fully paid training that requires no prior healthcare experience! 

We will equip you with the skills and knowledge to quickly advance. Here’s a snapshot of what career pathing opportunities we offer:

1. After the employee starts and completes orientation, the employee will begin training in order to be able to administer medication to the individual we serve.

2. After the employee completes this coursework and passes a competency check with a nurse, the employee will be promoted to a Health Care Service Trainee II and paid an additional $1 per hour.  

3. After 6 successful months working as a Qualified Medication Administration Personnel (QMAP), the employee will be promoted to a Health Care Technician I and paid an additional $1 more per hour.

4. Additionally, once the employee becomes a QMAP, there are many other positions at WRRC open to them including Mentor/Health Care Technician II, Line Charge/Health Care Technician III and Residential Coordinator/Health Care Technician IV.  These promotional opportunities all come with increased salaries. 

It doesn’t end there! After one year of working with CDHS, you will be eligible for partial tuition reimbursement. Begin or continue your education while you work and we’ll lend you a hand. Your success is our success and ensures better outcomes for the patients we serve!

Experience: None
Education: None
Preferred Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Experience working with people who have developmental/intellectual disabilities
• Experience working with people who have mental health diagnoses   

• Ability to communicate effectively orally with information and ideas so others will understand.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written format so others will understand.
• Ability to instruct individuals for guidance with personal care needs
• Listening Skills
• Teaching Skills
• Willingness to Learn

• Full background check required.
• Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
• Requires necessary vaccinations, including influenza.
• Must be willing to test for Tuberculosis (TB).
• Must demonstrate the ability to lift 50 lbs., bend, squat, etc. and perform Safety Care interventions proficiently (pre-employment and continuously throughout employment).
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted Colorado driver's license.
• Position must travel to remote work sites and must utilize a state vehicle, if available. If not, must utilize personal vehicle and submit for mileage reimbursement. Position is required to use a state vehicle to transport residents.
• Must be available for shift work, any day and/or any area, to meet agency needs, including nights, weekend and/or holidays.
• 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 circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS. 

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 heather.siegal@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

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

*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 ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at  cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

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