Social Worker Ii - Spring Creek

This position has a residency waiver and will be accepting applications from residents and non-residents of Colorado. This announcement is open to potential candidates who are legal residents of the United States. All legal residents of the United States are eligible to apply and compete. If appointed to a position, applicants from outside of Colorado will be required to relocate to Colorado prior to their start date, at their own expense.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies at the locations below.

Division of Youth Services

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About the Division of Youth Services: The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.
We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys

• Maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories in mental health treatment for adolescents.
• Maintains a clear understanding of adolescent development, appropriate interventions for this population, and developmental needs.
• Uses theories relevant to the needs of the youth and their individual history, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual issues to affect behavior change. Interpret treatment issues, problems, expectation, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
• Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward program progression and youth stabilization.
• Therapy needs may include substance abuse, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, offense specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth.
• Clinical services are relevant to the needs of the youth and the individual needs and protective factors, when identified, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual issues to affect behavior change and the reduction of substance abuse activity and symptoms in the individual and family. Provides therapeutic services using a strength based approach and holistic manner.
• Collaborate with medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication assessment or continuation to aid in youth stability.
• Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided. Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treating the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability.
• Provide therapy in a manner that is consistent with the youth's ability, taking into account any necessary modification needed as a result of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury and mental health disorders. Support agency services of cognitive behavioral based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
• Position actively engages family/caregivers in the process of stabilizing and transitioning youth to placement.
• Assess progress, barriers to progress, document all case management and therapeutic services in Fusion Electronic Health Record system.
• Facilitate Community ReviewTeams as needed for Individual Growth and Change Plans and other interventions as they are developed.
• Determine appropriate interventions for youth based on assessment data and youth treatment progress
• Determine appropriate transition plan and needs for youth.
• Determine whether there is a need for outside referrals or additional treatment services for youth.

Assessment and Treatment Planning

• This position addresses mental health and other needs identified, taking into consideration the estimated length of stay.
• Review assessment data, when completed, and recommendations with resident, gather additional historical information from resident, develop therapeutic rapport, ensure the resident is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized and problematic symptoms are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner.
• Engage parents/family members, significant others, guardians and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the resident's situation.
• This position recognizes signs and symptoms of serious mental illness (per DSM-5) standards), exacerbation of symptoms, decompensation or improvement of mental health status is imperative for monitoring each youth's progress.
• An ability to complete a brief mental health status exam is expected.
• This position places an emphasis on, making recommendations, and developing alternate interventions for youth not responding positively to programming. Knowledge of suicide risk indicators is required, with ability to offer on-going suicide risk assessments of youth.
• Recognizing when the need for special management programming (SPM) arises is expected, along with development of and monitoring of the IGCP.
• Providing input in conjunction with other transition specialists to transition planning and services to aid in successful reintegration of youth into the community. Coordination with YSSIII, Client Managers and milieu staff in the implementation of milieu interventions in order to achieve program success. Collaborate with client manager and MDT initial MDT staffing when needed. Refer to psychiatrist as needed.
• Determine appropriate, strengths-based treatment goals and objectives for youth.
• Determine appropriate individuals to provide treatment and other services to youth per treatment plan.

Training and Consultation

• This position has a thorough knowledge of the federal confidentiality regulations 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA, and all Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division Rules for treatment practice.
• Takes responsibility for being current on literature and emerging research in the best practices of treating juvenile mental health, substance abuse issues and co-occurring disorders with a complex population.
• Trains others in the facility in best practice treatment delivery approaches.
• Participates in orientation, educational workshops, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and substance abuse discipline meetings, and trainings to assure and maintain competency in the provision of evidence-based substance abuse treatment services.
• This position guides staff by modeling interventions, recommending practices and resident assignments that may be implemented.
• Participates in initial case reviews off all new youth, assist in group placement, and assist in case consultation.
• Provides trainings and consultation on a local/agency level. Is responsible for maintaining all professional certifications and licensure.
• Actively participates in own professional growth and continued trainings, research and CEU's. Participates in clinical supervision with the clinical director.
• Participates in supervision to remain in good standing for license renewals. Participates in treatment team meetings and briefings.
• Provide input on decisions around milieu programming.
• Provide input on implementation of treatment goals and objectives within milieu.
• Provide input in the development of additional treatment program options.

Documentation and Communication

• Document in approved EHR a treatment note for all individual and group sessions in DAP format.
• Group documentations must be individualized, reflecting how each particular youth participated in each group session.
• Identifying appropriate information to be recorded and the appropriate place to record it.
• Identifying appropriate parties to receive information on youth treatment and most appropriate mode of communication.

Minimum Qualifications:
General Counseling Only: Current, valid licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) from any state or from the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners or current, valid licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from any state or from the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners.
**Note, nothing in these Minimum Qualifications alleviates the criteria to transfer licensing or any requirements by the respective board under the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

Substitutions:

• Current and valid licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) will substitute for the Professional Counseling license (LPC) or the Clinical Social Worker license (LCSW).

Highly Desired Competencies:

• CAC III or LAC to support coaching and oversight of Behavioral Health Specialists working towards CAC credentialing

Conditions of Employment:

• Must posses a licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) from the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiers or as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners.
• Full Background - Name check, TRAILS and Fingerprinting
• Must be 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• Colorado Driver's License
• Essential Services Designation: Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• Transportation of youth in State vehicles, Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
• Social workers, addiction counselors, marriage family therapists, and professional counselors may practice in Colorado for a cumulative period of 20 days under C.R.S. §12-245-217(2)(e), as long as the services performed meet the individual's scope of practice.
• Non Colorado Residents must submit the required paperwork and materials to CO Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to obtain a Colorado license within 20 days of hire.
• 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.
For additional recruiting questions, please contact Isaac.Phelps@state.co.us