Behavioral Health Specialist (Social Work/Counselor IV) - Campus at Mount View

State of Colorado•Lakewood, CO

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is open only to Colorado state residents. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. 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. It is the mission of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) to effectively build skills and competencies of youth to become responsible citizens. The Social Work series and other identified Behavioral Health Specialists employed by the facility are responsible for providing evidenced based and research supported therapeutic intervention services to youth committed and detained with the Division of Youth Services. Behavioral Health Specialists (BHS) are expected to provide therapeutic care of and support opportunities for growth and change for youth and their caregivers, to ensure healthy and successful reintegration back into our communities. The work unit provides services that include support of clinical services, development of strength-based treatment plans, individual, family, and group therapy, and thorough knowledge and training regarding HIPAA, confidentiality, transition and integration of care within a multi-disciplinary approach. The Social Worker/Counselor IV provides consistent training, functional leadership, and day-to-day guidance related to mental health services, substance use interventions, and behavioral strategies within the facility. The role supports the Clinical Director by reinforcing the DYS treatment model and Sanctuary principles across interdisciplinary teams, including transition services, client management, medical, special education, security, and administrative staff. As a Behavioral Health Specialist, the incumbent is expected to remain current on emerging research, best practices, and evidence-based approaches relevant to complex mental health needs, behavioral interventions, and sensory-based strategies used in youth treatment settings. Participates in orientation, educational workshops, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and clinical team meetings, and training. Responsible for maintaining all professional certifications and licensure and actively participates in own professional growth and CEU’s. Positions within this work unit are expected to function as a mental health professional with competence confirmed by licensure, experience and expertise beyond basic knowledge and understanding of general mental health issues. It implements decisions, makes recommendations, and evaluates cases based on practice, theory, evidenced based principle, and experience at an advanced level confirmed by licensing. The position is expected to bring clinical support and monitoring to behavioral health clinicians and staff within the facility and unit.

Requirements

Current, valid Colorado or State participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact licensure as a: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
Two (2) year of experience with current, valid licensure from a state participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact based on the work assigned to the position.
Applicants for supervisory positions must have licensure that meets the legal requirements to perform supervisory responsibilities.
Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
Full background check and reference check required
This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check
Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License
Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained.
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must: Disclose that information on the application. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment.

Nice To Haves

Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.

Responsibilities

Provide Assessment and Treatment: Within the first seven days of a youth’s arrival, this position will thoroughly assess a youth’s mental health needs by reviewing the youth’s main and medical files and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate.
Maintains a caseload and will provide oversight of Behavioral Health Specialists assigned to individual youth.
Conducts individual, group, and family therapeutic interventions using evidence-based treatment theories and curricula.
Provides counseling in accordance with training and expertise gained through specific training and knowledge of DORA standards and the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH) expectations.
Therapeutic intervention service needs include substance use, psychoeducation, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, sensory integration, and offense specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth.
Behavioral health services are relevant to the needs of the youth and the individual needs and protective factors, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual identity issues, to affect behavior change and the reduction of complex co-occurring needs and risk to community and symptoms in the individual and family.
Treatment is provided using DYS treatment model. Use of behavioral interventions, sensory integration and modalities, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing techniques with youth are used.
Interpret treatment issues, needs, expectations, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
Treatment is provided using strengths-based approach and holistic manner.
Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward meeting the objectives and goals of the treatment plan.
Treatment - incorporates and addresses the youth’s risk, needs and protective factors and how criminal conduct, trauma histories, substance abuse and mental health issues are related.
Collaborate with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication use in treatment and collaborate with primary BHS on assessing needs for medication if appropriate.
Collaborate with client manager and primary BHS to assist in developing wrap around transition and aftercare services for the youth nearing parole / discharge to support sobriety.
Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided, and work with the school Behavioral Health Specialist in ensuring consistent behavior interventions for youth who may be struggling in the school environment.
Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treatment with the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability.
Therapeutic interventions are provided 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.
This position supports agency services of individualized services using cognitive behavioral based interventions, sensory modulation, Sanctuary model and Motivational Interviewing.
Facilitation of daily groups, assessment of progress, barriers to progress, collaboration with multidisciplinary team members, communication of pertinent information to primary BHS, milieu staff and education, and documentation of all case management and therapeutic services in the electronic record system by the end of next business day.
Documents summary of progress in monthly treatment plans for youth on caseload.
Documents all assessments, sessions, court reports, transition plans, community passes and staffing sessions.
Communicates effectively in verbal and written formats, that demonstrates knowledge and expertise in working with juveniles who have substance abuse, mental health and behavioral health issues.
Is able to elaborate on needs, protective factors, progress and barriers to progress in a manner that is understandable to all audiences and partners, to include family, client management, education staff, parole boards, private providers, courts, etc.
Conducts all mental health services in accordance with DORA and OCFMH standards in order to mitigate risk and improve overall health.
Services provided are at an advanced level based on licensing and experience in the substance abuse field, relevant to current research and best practice principles.
Training and/or Supervision: This position supervises programming components which include the Behavioral Program (level system), Chronic Disease Protocol, Substance Use Services, Mental health Services, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Responsive environments, Practicum, and Internship program.
In conjunction with the CTL, develops and conducts training for milieu staff and/or BHS.
This position is responsible for the training and development of interns; this position is an Individual Contributor that is responsible for oversight for mental health services.
This position also makes recommendations, and evaluates treatment cases based on practice, theory, or principle, and experience at an advanced level confirmed by licensing with oversight from CLT.
Utilizes a strength-based approach to assisting in professional development and addressing performance concerns.
This position provides training specific to procedures that have been developed to ensure that policy standards are met and specifically to further develop the team in its competency and in the area of family engagement.
This position provides consultation to the direct care staff to develop and maintain programming that promotes a trauma informed environment.
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan 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
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
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