Behavioral Health Specialist, Social Work/Counselor III - Gilliam

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position functions as a mental health counselor within the Division of Youth Services (DYS). It provides mental health and case management services to committed and detained youth. Services include clinical assessment, monitoring medication effectiveness, individual, group, and family therapies, suicide risk assessment, report writing, and coordination with a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). DYS youth often have behavioral and/or psychiatric problems resulting from trauma-related issues such as neglect, abuse, or severe family problems. This position uses approved DYS Evidence Based Curricula in working with this population.

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)
One (1) 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.
Be a minimum of 21 years of age.
No felony convictions or history of domestic violence.
Full background check and reference check required.
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 Check.
Possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License.
Successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
Successful completion of the Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool.
Disclosure of any prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination from State employment.
Explanation of why prior termination or resignation should not disqualify from the current position.
Employee number from prior State employment (if applicable).

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories.
Maintains a clear understanding of adolescent development, appropriate interventions, and developmental needs.
Uses theories relevant to the needs of the youth and their individual history, considering age, ethnic, cultural, religious, and sexual issues to affect behavior change.
Interprets treatment issues, problems, expectations, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
Documents and assesses the effectiveness of specific interventions toward program progression and youth stabilization.
Provides therapeutic services for substance abuse, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, and specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth.
Provides therapeutic services using a strength-based approach and holistic manner.
Collaborates with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication assessment or continuation.
Collaborates with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided.
Seeks out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treating the youth.
Provides 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.
Supports agency services of cognitive behavioral-based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
Actively engages family/caregivers in the process of stabilizing and transitioning youth to placement.
Assesses progress, and barriers to progress, and documents all case management and therapeutic services in the Fusion Electronic Health Record system.
Follows Sanctuary/ROCK Program principles.
Facilitates Community Review Teams as needed for Individual Growth and Change Plans and other interventions.
Reviews assessment data and recommendations with youth, gathers additional historical information, develops therapeutic rapport, ensures youth engagement, maximizes confidentiality, and evaluates problematic symptoms.
Engages parents/family members, significant others, guardians and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data.
Recognizes signs and symptoms of serious mental illness (per DSM-5 standards), exacerbation of symptoms, decompensation or improvement of mental health status.
Completes a brief mental health status exam.
Makes recommendations and develops alternate interventions for youth not responding positively to programming.
Possesses knowledge of suicide risk indicators, with ability to offer on-going suicide risk assessments of youth.
Provides input in conjunction with other transition specialists to transition planning and services.
Coordinates with YSSIII, Client Managers and milieu staff in the implementation of milieu interventions.
Collaborates with client manager and MDT initial MDT staffing when needed.
Refers to psychiatrists as needed.
Determines appropriate, strengths-based treatment goals and objectives for youth.
Determines appropriate individuals to provide treatment and other services to youth per treatment plan.
Maintains thorough knowledge of federal confidentiality regulations 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA, and all Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division Rules for treatment practice.
Stays current on literature and emerging research in the best practices of treating juvenile mental health, substance abuse issues and co-occurring disorders.
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.
Guides staff by modeling interventions, recommending practices and resident assignments.
Participates in initial case reviews of all new youth, assists in group placement, and assists in case consultation.
Provides trainings and consultation on a local/agency level.
Maintains 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.
Provides input on decisions around milieu programming.
Provides input on implementation of treatment goals and objectives within the milieu.
Provides input in the development of additional treatment program options.
Documents in approved EHR a treatment note for all individual and group sessions in DAP format.
Individualizes group documentation, reflecting how each particular youth participated in each group session.
Identifies appropriate information to be recorded and the appropriate place to record it.
Identifies appropriate parties to receive information on youth treatment and most appropriate mode of communication.