As a cornerstone of the Pueblo community for over a century, Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) is a leading employer, provider of quality mental health services, and a community partner.
CMHHIP is a 24 hour behavioral health acute care facility that is intended to provide a safe, secure, and therapeutic setting for patients with both psychiatric and medical issues. The services provided include evaluation and treatment for patients who are severely mentally ill, and the goal of this facility is to return patients to their optimal level of functioning and assist them in returning to the community as appropriate.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

We are seeking an exceptional individual interested in working with Adults, both men and women ages 18 and over. This population of patients have psychiatric disorders with concurrent criminal involvement or are highly dangerous, requiring inpatient care in a secure setting. Patients included in this population have high acute symptoms of mental illness. Severe and persistent mental illness and/or personality disorders concurrent with criminal involvement. 
Under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse (RN), engage with patients to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship that supports the patient's psychiatric recovery and mental health.
Additionally, as a Mental Health Clinician II you can expect to:  

• Provide specific and individualized therapeutic interventions per the patient’s Plan of Care (POC) and Individual Behavior Plans (IBP). Provides continuous proactive support and intervention using approaches designed to reduce the occurrence of problematic behaviors
• Utilizes therapeutic interventions to manage crisis situations and management of assaultive and disruptive behaviors and provide communication to the treatment team regarding the patient’s response to treatment interventions and the effectiveness of those interventions
• Effectively communicates by actively listening and sharing relevant information with co-workers, supervisor(s), and patients so as to anticipate problems and ensure the effectiveness of the department and work as the point of contact for patient’s IBP who are not specifically on 1:1 monitoring
• Works with other disciplines to create group protocols, cohesive programming schedules, and ways to encourage active patient participation
• May lead or co-facilitate other groups with appropriate training/education and after competency determined
• Assist in creating, initiates, and leads alternate programming exercises
• Address and resolve patient issues when possible and refer issues to the patient’s rights advocate as indicated interventions which assist the patients toward meeting POC treatment goals
• Provides safe/secure transport of patients to programming and treatment areas such as yard, gym, visits, administrative conference room, staffing/disposition reviews, court/community reintegration sites
• Promptly responds to patient’s psychiatric and/or medical crisis and appropriately 
  responds to duress alarm
• Partners and communicates with Mental Health Clinician I (MHC I) & Nurse Manager to ensure the curriculum is current
• Other duties as assigned 

Minimum Qualifications:
Experience Only:
Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to
this position
OR
Education and Experience:
A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation
related to the work assigned to this position equal to four (4) years
Substitution:  

• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis
• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with initiating/leading behavior health group/activities.
• Experience with initiating/conducting individual patient one to one sessions.
• Experience with review, adherence, and documentation toward a patient's Individualized Plan of Care.
• Experience/ability to identify and develop groups based on patient specific treatment needs.

Conditions of Employment:

• May be required to work evening or weekend shifts, holidays, voluntary or mandatory overtime both in the clinic, or on patient units throughout CMHIP
• May be required to work overtime as needed on a shift or weekend not part of scheduled hours
• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship. All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application;
• Successfully pass all modules of the CMHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete CTI and CPR;
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled containment to the floor;
• Withstand impact on own body using an ASP shield;
• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic;
• Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions;
• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety;
• Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;
• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;
• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing;
• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;
• Willing and able to travel;
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening
• Influenza vaccination
• Other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado to include.
• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges.
• Former employees of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) who were disciplinary terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on your application and may not be eligible for employment at CDHS.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

How to Apply (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
Applicants are required to attach a cover letter and resume to their application. Applications without a cover letter and resume will not be considered.
Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the initial screening; if you submit a resume and cover letter, they will be reviewed in later stages of the selection process. Therefore, it is paramount that you clearly describe all of your relevant experience on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" will not be considered.
Your application will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications for the position. If your application demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to the comparative analysis process, which is described below.
Note: Current and former employees (transfers, voluntary demotions and reinstatements) are required to apply and participate in the comparative analysis process.Comparative Analysis ProcessThe Assessment Process:Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis. The comparative analysis for this position will include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions. Applications and responses will be reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.Be sure the "Work Experience" section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and "see resume" statements will not be accepted in lieu of the "Work Experience" section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.Note: Transfers, voluntary demotions and reinstatements are required to apply and participate in the selection process.If you have recruitment questions about this position please contact leticia.tavarez@state.co.us"The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment Guidelines for EDI Compliance for Job Announcements in CO-Jobs Prepared by: Department of Personnel & Administration Division of Human Resources, Consulting Services Page 1 of 3 January 29, 2020 opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

About Us: 

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Planwww.copera.org 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

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations:CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~