CDOC Social Work/Counselor II - Substance Use Disorder - Denver

State of Colorado • Denver, CO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Work/Counselor II provides substance use disorder services to the inmate population at the Denver Correctional Complex. The role delivers formal and informal behavioral health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions, including substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment under clinical supervision. The employee collaborates with mental health professionals and facility staff, monitors treatment and documentation, and supports continuity of care through referrals and complete records. The position also provides counseling, crisis intervention, and clinical direction to non-clinical staff, while helping maintain the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment.

This position requires a current, valid Colorado license or registered candidate status in an eligible social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or addiction counseling field. The employee must complete the Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training and meet its physical, screening, driving, and background requirements. The work is in a correctional setting and may involve stressful or potentially violent situations, physical control or restraint, fluctuating noise and temperature, and work outdoors in inclement weather. Employees must be willing and able to travel and work various shifts, including a rotating schedule.

Requirements

• Current, valid Colorado license or registered candidate status as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Candidate (LMFTC), or Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC); a current full Colorado license in any of these fields also qualifies.
• Ability to provide direct behavioral health care to inmates and comprehensive clinical documentation.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; ability to read and communicate fluently in English.
• Must maintain certification or licensure as an addiction counselor.
• Ability to work with a diverse inmate population and provide addiction counseling as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organizing, planning, prioritizing, multitasking, and flexibility skills; ability to implement creative therapeutic interventions.
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content following plain-language guidelines.
• Self-control and ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations while remaining alert, emotionally stable, mentally resilient, and observant under pressure.
• Tolerance for stress, confinement, and high-stakes interactions.
• Must be at least 21 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and meet applicable Colorado driving requirements.
• Must have no disqualifying felony convictions and satisfy applicable background and sexual-abuse-related eligibility requirements.
• Must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of application; H-1B sponsorship is not available.
• Must successfully complete all modules of the six-week Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training, including reading comprehension, competency assessments, and defensive tactics examinations.
• Must meet the stated physical requirements for defensive tactics, observation, responding to safety and security breaches, and controlling or subduing violent or assaultive persons.
• Must be willing and able to travel and work various shifts, including days, afternoons, graveyards, and a rotating shift schedule.
• Must complete required tuberculosis screening, medical screening, drug testing, and background investigation; random drug screening occurs during employment.
• If selected and accepting the position, must establish residence in Colorado.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing addiction treatment to an incarcerated population.
• Experience providing addiction treatment to a diverse population.
• Experience working with highly resistive clients.
• Experience administering multidimensional substance use assessments.
• Experience providing addiction counseling in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment services under clinical supervision.
• Collaborate with other mental health professionals to address co-occurring issues.
• Consult with unit staff regarding assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
• Monitor inmate treatment and documentation to ensure compliance with standards and continuity of care.
• Maintain accurate behavioral health needs levels in the information system and provide group, brief, and individual treatment.
• Provide clinical direction to non-clinical staff regarding behavioral health care and treatment of inmates.
• Ensure continuity of care through appropriate referrals and necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies.
• Provide crisis intervention in accordance with clinical standards and professional privilege level.
• Document behavioral health care accurately and promptly, by handwritten and electronic means.
• Communicate with inmates about behavioral health care, consequences of maladaptive behavior, and desired and undesirable effects of prescribed behavioral health medication.
• Listen to inmate concerns and provide counseling and direction.
• Communicate with clinical-unit staff, facility personnel, clinical and administrative supervisors, and outside agencies to support behavioral health care.
• Respond to complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and inmate behavioral management issues.
• Maintain applicable professional, departmental, organizational, and unit standards.
• Promote and maintain safety and security through conscientious observation and sensitive-item contraband control.

Benefits

• Career advancement opportunities throughout the state system.
• PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401(k) and 457 plans; correctional officers qualify as Safety Officers for increased PERA benefits.
• Medical and dental health plans.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid life insurance.
• 11 paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave.
• Wellness program.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Training opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED