Health Care Technician I - MHTL Homes Pueblo West

State of Colorado•Pueblo, CO

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Health Care Technician I provides direct, hands-on milieu management and care to clients in the Mental Health Transitional Living Homes Program, a residential behavioral health program operated by the Colorado Department of Human Services. The role supports clients’ activities of daily living, social and life skills, safety, and psychosocial and physical needs. Care must be provided consistently with professional standards and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. This is a full-time, in-person essential-services position in a residential setting providing care and treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Day, evening, and overnight shifts are available and include weekend work. The position provides client supervision and direct care, administers medications, completes required records and logs, follows program standards, supports staff orientation and training, and transports clients to appointments and activities when needed. The position is open to current Colorado residents only, and employees must work at their assigned location during scheduled work hours.

Requirements

High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED); no substitutions are allowed.
Must become certified as a Qualified Medication Administration Professional (QMAP) within six months of hire; the program will assist employees who are not already certified in obtaining certification.
Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver’s license, or a non-restricted U.S. driver’s license for positions within 30 miles of the Colorado state border. Out-of-state license holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of starting employment.
Must complete a pre-employment criminal background check; certain felony, moral-turpitude, or job-related misdemeanor convictions may disqualify applicants.
Must receive annual influenza and other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.
Must be available for shift work, including possible evening and weekend shifts, holidays, and voluntary or mandatory overtime.
In-state travel is required, including transporting clients, field trips, travel between locations, and in-person team-building events.

Nice To Haves

One year of direct-care experience with clients with severe mental illness.
Experience passing or administering medications.
Experience with de-escalation techniques.
Ability to drive a 15-passenger van.
Experience dealing with various mental health disorders.
Experience managing a milieu.
Food preparation or food safety experience.
Previous state employment.
QMAP certification.
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Provide hands-on assistance with clients’ activities of daily living and support the development of social and life skills through recreational and social activities.
Arrange personal care items and adapt clients’ physical environments to meet their ongoing needs.
Help clients orient to the program, including reviewing requirements and responsibilities and inventorying personal items.
Supervise clients and monitor their whereabouts, interactions, conditions, safety, and daily needs; report observations and potential care changes to the MHTL Homes team.
Administer medications in prescribed doses and at appropriate times according to the Medication Administration Record (MAR).
Document medications, client responses to medications and treatments, medication refusals, mental-status information, and other relevant care details; report refusals to the clinical team.
Follow MHTL Homes policies and procedures, department standards, and regulatory requirements for programming and operations.
Complete required MHTL Homes and CDHS training and attend assigned meetings and in-services.
Complete shift notes, incident logs, refrigerator temperature logs, and other life, safety, and health records accurately and on time.
Teach or orient new, pulled, or pool staff on milieu management and safety basics.
Transport clients to and from appointments and recreational or social activities when necessary, following applicable vehicle and passenger safety requirements.
Maintain and share schedules for client appointments and activities requiring transportation, in collaboration with the MHTL Homes team.
Complete trip logs accurately and on time.
Perform other duties as required for business needs.

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.
Work-life programs, including flexible schedules and training.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.