Forensic Support Team Director/Program Management III - Forensic Services Department

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position serves as the Program Director of the Forensic Support Team (FST) for the State of Colorado, within the Colorado Department of Human Services, Civil and Forensic Mental Health (CFMH). The FST is responsible for care coordination for in-custody individuals court ordered to the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) for competency evaluation and/or restoration. The FST works closely with other departments within Forensic Services and CFMH, as well as agencies statewide, including the criminal courts, Bridges Program, and detention facilities. The work involves various settings including community agencies, jails, courts, and hospitals, which can include locked units and secure facilities. Clients may at times be unpredictable due to their mental health needs. The team is required to make critical decisions in dynamic and fast-paced environments to ensure a high level of accountability for patient care. Staff are required to maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and discipline and team development. This position may be required to travel throughout Colorado.

Requirements

Ten (10) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position OR A combination of related education in Mental Health, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned, equal to ten (10) years.
Must have one of the licenses below to be considered for this position: LPC or LCSW or Psychologist License by the Colorado Board Examiners.
Must travel throughout the State and has staff statewide.
2-Step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required.
Annual Influenza vaccination and other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.
Must be reachable by staff and stakeholders for after-hours emergencies.
Full Background check including: CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose that information on the application and provide their employee number from prior State employment.

Nice To Haves

Previous State Experience
Specialized supervisory and/or leadership training
Demonstrated background in managing personnel matters
Demonstrated experience in leadership, change management, and organizational culture
Significant experience working with individuals who have a severe and persistent mental illness.
Significant experience working in secure settings such as inpatient psychiatric hospitals, jails, prisons, etc.
Experience identifying individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, providing recommendations for safety management, and assessing clinical acuity.
Experience providing clinical and administrative supervision to other professionals
Experience navigating multiple systems, agencies, and processes involved with the intersection of mental health and criminal justice: Medicaid, Medicare, Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers, guardianship, community mental health centers, housing programs, nursing home/assisted living, etc.

Responsibilities

Direct, manage, train, and provide supervision and oversight of the staff assigned to FST.
Design, develop, and direct implementation of FST policies, procedures, and protocols for the delivery of all FST-related services and anticipate future needs based on systemic changes.
Interact with relevant stakeholders regarding FST programs and practices.
Oversee the FST budget, personnel matters, collaborate on legislative requests, consult with stakeholders, and determine position needs, caseloads, and workflows.
Responsible for all personnel matters, including interviewing, hiring, onboarding, retention, offboarding, and performance issues.
Support the team in their collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal service provision.
Create, maintain, and create reporting for data requirements, including the Consent Decree.
Provide leadership and direction to the daily operations of the work unit, consisting of various staff, and is the direct supervisor to five (5) full-time employees and 22 second-level employees.
Maintain familiarity with the current status and progress of clients being served by FST, relevant statutes, clinical knowledge, and community resources to assist in problem-solving, and ensures all clients are receiving appropriate care coordination.
Respond to emergencies directly and in support of team members and also accompanies team members to staffing’s and/or care coordination-related meetings with stakeholders when requested or required.
Ensure consistent implementation and compliance with relevant standards and procedures and must have good working knowledge of statutory regulations and sound clinical skills.
Ensure effective services are being provided by developing, implementing, and monitoring staff and client engagement and quality of services and work products.
Monitor staff productivity and efficiency and oversees compliance of staff with specific requirements.
Identify needs for quality improvement and develop a corrective plan of action.
Create work unit protocols, tracking mechanisms, and audit tools.
Perform all functions and responsibilities of an Appointing Authority as related to personnel and establishes work assignments, schedules, approval of leave, performance planning, corrective and disciplinary actions, and separation of employment.
Perform all functions and responsibilities of an appointing authority related to accomplishing the goals and objectives of the organization using allocated resources in the most efficient manner.
Responsible for all recruitment, hiring, onboarding, offboarding, and staff training.
Make efforts to develop and maintain student training opportunities when possible.
Provide strategic planning, projections, and creative innovation.
Responsible for responding in a timely to all Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests.
Responsible for the oversight of all contracts, memorandums, and statements of work associated with FST stakeholder services.
Oversee all finances and expenditures associated with the FST department, including internal tracking systems, invoices, receiving reports, p-card purchases, and overall budget, as well as policy and procedure associated with successful adherence to established budgets and fiscal rules.
Monitor trends associated with budgets to identify best use of resource allocation and forecast future departmental needs.
Collaborate with agencies and programs that interact with the FST program and/or clients.
Create and facilitate stakeholder training specific to FST, may participate in legislative workgroups upon request, and may be asked to represent the department during court hearings either via subpoena or leadership.
Maintain statistical tracking and monitoring of a variety of client-specific and outcome-specific variables associated with FST.
Prepare and present current data on a monthly basis, serve as the subject matter expert on said data, and may be asked to collect and present additional data as needed.
Continuously analyze the data gathered in order to identify trends, anticipate needs, and propose solutions.
Perform tasks or undertake special assignments or projects deemed necessary by CFMH but not specifically referenced in the above duties.

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 (for some positions)