Director of Care Navigation

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is open to current Colorado residents only. Located within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Civil and Forensic Mental Health Services (CFMH) operates Colorado’s two mental health hospitals, the Forensic Services Division, the Division of Mental Health Transitional Living (MHTL), Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, the Outpatient Services Division, and Enhanced Placement, Incompetency, and Civil Committment (EPICC) services. CFMH provides a continuum of mental healthcare services for civilly- as well as justice -involved individuals. CFMH works across the legal system to provide evaluations, treatment, placement, and case management for these individuals. EPICC is the newest part of this continuum and presently encompasses two subdivisions which include the Bed Utilization Management section and Care Navigation Services. Care Navigation Services (CNS) has been created to address recent changes to Colorado’s statutory framework governing competency to proceed in criminal cases, which established new processes to transition certain defendants from the criminal justice system to the civil judicial system when criminal prosecution is no longer the most appropriate disposition. The mission of the Care Navigation team is to provide supervision and care coordination for individuals who have been formally charged with a felonious crime of violence or unlawful sexual behavior and who have been found by a presiding court to be both Incompetent to Proceed to adjudication (ITP) and Not Restorable to competency within the foreseeable future (ITP-NR) – at which time the courts are required to release such defendants from their restoration commitments. The CNS team works within a variety of community, criminal justice, and secure settings (e.g., mental healthcare agencies, jails, courts, hospitals, etc.). The team is responsible for coordinating placement, ensuring a high level of accountability for patient care, providing clear and relevant communications with judicial stakeholders on issues related to progress as well as risk, and (when appropriate) advocating for changes to court-ordered conditions with respect to least-restrictive settings for the provision of services. Furthermore, team members are required to ensure that the skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies necessary to fulfill their position duties remain current through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and employee development.

Requirements

Nine (9) years of relevant experience in development, implementation, and administrative oversight of behavioral healthcare programs in a management role which includes areas of competency as identified below: Strategic planning, Policy creation and implementation, Program development and implementation, Program monitoring, oversight, and auditing, Work unit leadership and management, Knowledge of Social Services systems, Knowledge of inpatient mental healthcare systems, Ensuring service quality and meeting the needs of the clients/patients, community, and referral sources, Providing outreach, training, and representation to stakeholders within a variety of contexts including forensic as well as judicial.
A combination of related education in psychology, social work, counseling, healthcare administration, healthcare management, public / government / healthcare policy, or other mental health / healthcare related field and/or relevant experience in development, implementation, and administrative oversight of behavioral healthcare programs in a management role which includes areas of competency as identified below equal to nine (9) years: Strategic planning, Policy creation and implementation, Program development and implementation, Program monitoring, oversight, and auditing, Work unit leadership and management, Knowledge of Social Services systems, Knowledge of inpatient mental healthcare systems, Ensuring service quality and meeting the needs of the clients/patients, community, and referral sources, Providing outreach, training, and representation to stakeholders within a variety of contexts including forensic as well as judicial.
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.
TB testing and flu vaccinations are required.
Any other vaccinations or testing that is required by CDHS.
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

3 years of experience in program development and implementation
3 years of experience in program oversight and administration
Program evaluation and auditing experience
Program policy creation and development experience
Behavioral health systems knowledge
Behavioral health risk management and mitigation experience
Public, Non-profit, and/or Government program administration
Experience working in inpatient, locked, detention, and/or forensic clinical settings
Knowledge of Medicaid/Medicare benefits systems
Knowledge of State benefits systems, especially related to individuals with ID/IDD, neurological, and neurocognitive diagnoses
Management of multiple work units or initiatives
Demonstrated skill and experience in leading and supporting collaborative teams and teamwork
Exemplary verbal and written communication skills
Self-directed
Resourceful
Superior critical and analytical thinking skills
Ability to shift focus and juggle multiple priorities
Ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships to ensure the satisfaction of contractual agreements and the achievement of program requirements
Experience representing an employing agency in high stakes, high profile situations like legislative initiatives, task forces, courtroom appearances, and media.
Ability to align teams across systems
Performance management and experience with identifying and working to attain key performance indicators / metrics
Experience analyzing and operationalizing legislative as well as statutory rules and guidelines
Demonstrated skill and experience managing multiple projects
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and direction of the daily operations of the work unit and is the direct supervisor for four (4) full-time employees including a Program Assistant (PAII), the Court Information Administrator (Administrator III), the Benefits Coordinator (Health Professional IV), and the Care Navigation Supervisor (Health Professional V).
Provides second-level supervision for the six (6) other positions within the work unit and holds regular team meetings.
Maintains familiarity with the current status and progress of all clients being served by CNS, relevant statutes, and community resources to assist in problem solving and to ensure all clients are receiving an appropriate level of care and/or appropriate intervention.
Responds to emergency situations directly and also accompanies team members to staffings or treatment-related meetings when support is requested and/or required.
Provides final approval for all court communication and documentation submissions to include, but not limited to, quarterly reports, annual reports, regressions / progressions, and proposed conditions.
Assesses the needs for the work unit based on program evaluation, client needs, the division’s mission, and resource allocation.
Supports consistent implementation and compliance with related treatment standards and agency rules / regulations, reports any deficits to leadership, and collaborates in developing operational procedures.
Serves as an advocate for the work unit and its clients, communicates needs and plans to leadership – which includes analyzing issues related to the services offered by this work unit.
Develops a good working knowledge of Colorado regulations and statutes, as well as internal policies and procedures.
Ensures that effective services are being provided by developing, implementing, and monitoring staff and client engagement and quality of services and work products.
Identifies needs for quality improvement and develops a corrective plan of action to present to leadership.
Creates work unit protocols and audit tools.
Performs functions and responsibilities related to personnel including assignment of work schedules, approval of leave, counseling and mentoring, performance planning, and assessment and administration of corrective and disciplinary action pursuant to State Personnel Rules.
Monitors staff productivity and efficiency and oversees their compliance with specific competency requirements.
Provides strategic planning and staff projections for review by leadership.
Possesses specialized knowledge within the population served by CNS and regularly participates in committees and work groups.
Is responsible for all work unit related needs during business hours and after hours as needed.
Is responsible for responding timely to all Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests and, in the event of a negative outcome, may be required to participate in communication with CFMH and CDHS leadership and media.
Utilizes best practices to develop and implement operating policies and practice standards for the work unit, including standards for treatment planning, and reporting to the court and various agencies.
At the direction of CDHS and CFMH, analyzes current statutes and makes recommendations for changes.
Stays informed of relevant statutes and applies the requirements of the Colorado Revised Statutes to the work unit.
Works in collaboration with the Colorado Mental Health Hospitals in Pueblo as well as Fort Logan, the Mental Health Transitional Living program (MHTL), the Division of Regional Centers (DRC), and the Forensic Services Division to develop, draft, and implement policies and strategies for the admission of patients and the management of clients in community placements.
Assists with the development of policies and procedures for EPICC and ensures all CNS staff receive training and apply such policies and procedures appropriately.
Collaborates with agencies and programs that interface or interact with the CNS program and/or services at a policy level.
May create and facilitate stakeholder training specific to CNS, may participate in legislative workgroups upon request, and may be asked to represent the department during court hearings either via subpoena or leadership.
Serves as a subject matter expert on behalf of CNS when required.
Develops and maintains processes for the statistical tracking, monitoring, and analysis of a variety of client- and outcome- specific measures associated with CNS.
Prepares and presents current data on a regular basis, serves as the subject matter expert on that data, and may be asked to collect and present additional data as needed.
Continuously analyzes the data gathered in order to identify trends, anticipate needs, and propose solutions.

Benefits

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
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program