Social Work/Counselor I - Golden Peak Ysc.

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies at the location below.

Golden Peak Youth Services Center

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CDHSCareers

About the Division of Youth Services: The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.

We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys

My Why

Description of Job

Summary Of Work Unit

This work unit exists to provide clinical services to committed and detained youth in a secure facility. It provides individual, family or group services in support of and in alignment with the Division of Youth Services (DYS) strategic plan and DYS treatment model within a trauma informed environment. This work unit identifies youth needs and develops interventions to mitigate risk and enhance protective factors to ensure successful reintegration into the community. It works collaboratively with milieu staff, education, family, client management, and community stakeholders to provide evidence based services to youth with complex mental health needs.

Summary Of The Position

This position has a master’s degree in the field of mental health as a Social Worker, Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist.

This position exists to provide clinical services to youth in the facility that experience complex mental health, trauma, substance abuse, and other related issues. In addition, this position is experienced in addressing criminogenic risk factors in adolescent population as well as family interventions. This unit will understand criminal conduct in adolescents and be able to treat the youth from the perspective of lowering the criminogenic risks and increasing protective factors the youth present with and addressing the relationship between mental health issues and criminal conduct. This position is skilled in the use of a strength-based perspective, systems theory, and trauma informed care.

This position exists to provide approved mental health services treatment services to youth who have engaged in delinquent behaviors, in a secure state operated facility. This position provides mental health services, intervention planning, individual sessions that focus on brief solution interventions, psychoeducation groups, ongoing assessment, case management, record keeping, and service coordination. When applicable this work unit will be a member of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), which is responsible for the overall treatment, supervision and transition of the youth.

Youth that are committed or detained often have behavioral and psychiatric issues resulting from trauma related exposure such as abuse or severe family problems. They also can present with severe behavioral issues and aggression.

This position works with medical staff to determine if any medical conditions are impacting emotional and psychological health. The position also refers youth for psychiatric services when appropriate. This position utilizes the Youth Assessment Screening Instrument (YASI) and other validated assessment tools to address criminogenic risk factors that are driving underlying behavior by using a strengths-based approach and a youth’s protective factors. This position will utilize a case conceptualization model which gathers the facts about the youth, determines needs, identifies strengths and develops treatment / intervention plans. This position provides training and consultation to staff regarding treatment and milieu interventions specific to juveniles who have complex mental health needs. This position is responsible for the development and implementation of Individual Growth and Change Plan (IGCP) plans / chronic care plans in coordination with the multidisciplinary team of client manager (if appropriate), family, youth facility staff and community stakeholder team (when appropriate).

Job Duties

Assessment and Treatment Planning

This position utilizes and presents a case conceptualization model of youth on caseload upon entering the facility, and discusses this with supervisor and presents to Department chairs for collaboration and decision making around appropriate services. Within the first 30 days of a youth’s arrival, this position thoroughly assess youth’s treatment needs by reviewing the youth’s main and medical files and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate.

When applicable within the first 30 days of a youth’s arrival, this position thoroughly assess youth’s treatment needs by reviewing the youth’s main and medical files and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate or when applicable this position completes a mental health screening within 14 days of a youth’s admission. The position will identify if a youth meets criteria for chronic care services or have special needs that impact the youth while in a DYS facility.

• This position places an emphasis on facilitating a review, making recommendations, and developing alternative interventions to be implemented by team staff and client for cases that represent a negative or no change response to treatment.
• Implement evidence-based mental health curriculum ranging from assessment through aftercare along with curriculum components for an integrated treatment approach. Decides the nature and extent of modifications to the treatment plan to address failures in treatment resulting from the persistence of risk behaviors including aggression that may require the need for Special Management Programming. Refer youth for Special Management, or medication evaluations.
• Treatment plan objectives will include skills that youth is working on in addition to individual and group session objectives.
• A multi-disciplinary integrated and comprehensive approach will be applied to treatment planning, involving the youth, and family members as well as professionals utilizing best practice strength based approach.
• Collaborate and coordinate treatment needs of youth with DYS client manager, and assessment services to match treatment with estimated length of stay and client need, within 30 days of admission into a treatment program.
• Treatment planning will be cognizant of gender, cultural, religious or spiritual and sexual identity issues to affect behavior change and reduction of symptoms in the adolescent and family. This position guides transition planning and services to aid in successful youth reintegration into the community.
• Coordinate on the development, implementation and monitoring of committed and detained youth treatment plans goals and objectives. Anticipates potential problems that may arise associated with the client needs and behavioral situation before they may result in a barrier to success. Assist staff in deciding what supports must be put into place and what interventions and responses must be utilized to assure that treatment will be successful utilizing information gained through knowledge of and experience with adolescents with criminal conduct and mental health issues.
• Participate in the assessment of safety and intervention/and monitoring plans for suicidal youth, with the direct supervision of a licensed behavioral health specialist, only for youth on their caseload.
• Collaborate with client manager and MDT in recommending transition and aftercare programming as appropriate.
• Interview the resident ensuring that the assessment data is as reliable as possible, that the resident is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized, and that problematic symptoms and behaviors are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner.
• This position utilizes a case conceptualization model in gathering facts about the youth, determining needs, identifying protective factors and developing treatment needs, this will be presented to supervisor and discussed with multi-disciplinary team.
• Collaborate with and coordinate with direct staff, education, client manager, youth, and other pertinent treatment team members in the development of a treatment service plan.
• Provide oversight to the treatment plans and identify goals and measurable objectives, interventions and those responsible for providing them, frequency of interventions, and responsibility of the youth.
• Coordinate with other staff and entities within the facility in the areas of strategic planning, training, and overall best practice models for mental health treatment services. Decides how to apply and utilize clinically appropriate techniques in the treatment process within this unique environment. Assess risk factors including the potential for aggressive behavior.
• Contact/engage parents/family members, significant others, guardians, and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the youth’s situation.

Treatment Provision & Documentation

This position maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family psychotherapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories and curriculum in complex mental health treatment for adolescents. Duties include

(when Appropriate)

• Discusses in supervision and identify any need for additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treatment with the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability.
• Communicates effectively in verbal and written formats, that demonstrates progress youth has completed while in treatment. Position Is able to elaborate on risk, protective factors, progress and barriers to progress in a manner that is understandable to all audiences and partners, to include the youth, family, client management, education staff, parole boards, private providers, courts, etc.
• Consults and collaborate with medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication use in treatment
• Documents summary of progress in monthly treatment plans for youth on caseload. Documents all assessments, sessions, court reports, transition plans, community passes and staffing sessions in a timely manner as indicated in policy.
• Position will actively engage family/care givers in the process of treatment with the youth and transition to the community.
• Facilitates daily groups and multifamily group as necessary. Will assess progress, barriers to progress, collaborate with multidisciplinary team, communicate pertinent information to milieu staff and education, document all case management and therapeutic services in approved electronic health record system.
• Supports agency services of cognitive behavioral based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
• Consults with supervisor about treatment issues, problems, expectation, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
• Documents the youth’s response to specific interventions toward meeting the objectives and goals of treatment plan. Treatment will incorporate and address the youth’s risk/needs and protective factors and how criminal conduct, sex offense specific, substance abuse and mental health issues are related.
• Provides psychotherapy in a manner that is consistent with the youth’s legal status, ability, considering any necessary modification needed as a result of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury and mental health disorders.
• Conducts counseling in accordance with training and expertise gained through specific training and knowledge of Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) standards and ethics.
• Collaborates with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided.
• This position determines treatment / intervention services that are relevant to the needs of the youth and the individual needs and protective factors, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual identity issues to affect behavior change and the reduction of complex mental health behavior and risk to community and symptoms in the individual and family. Treatment will be provided using a strength-based approach and holistic manner and the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Social Learning, and Motivational Interviewing techniques are completed with the youth.
• All treatment services will be conducted in accordance with DORA standards and agency policy in order to mitigate risk and improve overall health.
• Collaborates with client manager and assist in developing wrap-around transition and aftercare services for the youth nearing parole.

Training, Consultation, Other Duties As Assigned

• Other duties as assigned.
• Position decides how to prioritize duties to attend necessary meetings for job knowledge.
• Actively participates in own professional growth and continued trainings, research, and Continuing Education Unit’s. Participates in clinical supervision with the clinical director/assistant clinical director.
• Work in conjunction with the agency clinical director and clinical team in the development of agency treatment programming.
• Supports and promotes Division and agency initiatives and must be knowledgeable of and in compliance with all DORA standards, DYS policies and audit standards.
• Participates in family department meetings and trainings in order assure and maintain competency and possibly attend Ancillary department meeting.
• Provide information to milieu staff to assist in the implementation of youth treatment goals and objectives.
• This position participates in orientation, educational workshops, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and family department meetings, and trainings to ensure and maintain competency in the provision of evidence-based mental health services.
• Position Is responsible for maintaining all professional certifications.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

• YOUR APPLICATION MUST CLEARLY STATE YOUR RELATED QUALIFICATIONS *

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment.

Substitutions

Appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess at least one of the following preferred qualifications. Applicants will be scored on these preferred qualifications.

• A Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) , Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist. You must provide a copy of your transcripts that contain the conferred date, your name and type of degree received.

~AND/OR~

• Current, valid or recently expired licensure as a LSW (Licensed Social Worker). This license must be in good standing.
• Under the direction of Governor Jared Polis, the Division of Professions and Occupations at the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) has conducted a review of existing licensing exemptions that allow for individuals in the healthcare field who either hold licenses in other states or who have allowed their license to expire in Colorado to immediately resume work within their scope of practice, provided their out-of-state or expired license is/was in good standing. Note, this does not alleviate the criteria to transfer licensing or any requirements by the respective board under the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
• Note, nothing in these Minimum Qualifications alleviates the criteria to transfer licensing or any requirements by the respective board under the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

Required Competencies

• Ability to use interviewing skills and techniques effectively
• Knowledge of casework methods, techniques, and their applications to work problems
• Ability to express ideas effectively, orally and in writing
• Knowledge of the principles of human growth and behavior, basic sociological and psychological treatment and therapy practices
• Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions
• Knowledge of interviewing skills and techniques

Conditions Of Employment

• Travel to trainings, conferences, or to discharge patients.
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
• Included in the background investigation is a current/previous employer check. Your current and previous employers within the last 10 years must be listed on your application even if the job duties are unrelated to Correctional Youth Security Officer I position. Incomplete employer information (address, phone, supervisor name) or omission of former employers may result in application disqualification.
• TB (Tuberculosis Test)
• 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. Additionally, you will be required take a drug screen.
• Colorado Driver's License
• Applicant must obtain one of the following mental health professional licenses within 30 months of hire: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Psychologist. Failure to do so may result in corrective or disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. As a condition of hire, candidate must sign a waiver of any and all rights under the state personnel system to appeal a disciplinary action resulting from the failure to qualify for and obtain the mental health professional license within 30 months of hire. When licensure has been obtained and verified, the trainee position will be reallocated to a SW/Counselor II position.
• Included in the background investigation is a current/previous employer check. Your current and previous employers within the last 10 years must be listed on your application even if the job duties are unrelated to Correctional Youth Security Officer I position. Incomplete employer information (address, phone, supervisor name) or omission of former employers may result in application disqualification.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.