CDOC - Unlicensed Mental Health or Sex Offender Counselor (Canon City and Sterling)

• Provides professional mental health services to offenders to include formal and informal mental health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions;
• Assures accurate Information System mental health needs levels, including Psychiatric and Developmental Disability needs level codes;
• Provides group, brief, and individual therapy, and crisis intervention to include participation in 24 hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation;
• Assures both emergency and non-emergency transfer for offenders experiencing acute mental health needs;
• Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in mental health care and treatment of offenders;
• Assures continuity of care for offenders by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies;
• Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive offender mental health records;
• Monitors offender treatment and listens to offender concerns and provides counseling and direction;
• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control;
• Informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process, attends training programs as assigned, including self-defense course to ensure self protection skills.

• Review records and interviews offenders to assess sexual violence level, treatment needs, and treatment amenability;
• Develop and modify individual treatment plans and goals as required by individual needs of the offenders;
• Provide offense specific treatment to sex offenders by conducting group therapy (Track I, Track II, Intensive Treatment Community, etc.) and supplemental individual therapy, status reviews, homework assignment reviews and feedback, and evaluations according to the Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring Program (SOTMP) program design;
• Document assessment and treatment interventions, progress or lack of, utilizing the appropriate department forms and codes for mental health files and departmental data bases;
• Assure continuity of care for sex offenders by providing written reports for consideration of community corrections placement and Parole Board hearings, following SOTMP therapist manuals and protocols, providing necessary information to receiving agencies, providers and facilities; provide consultation to staff, other agencies, and boards inside and outside DOC; workshops and follow up contact for the family and community support systems of sex offenders;
• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control;
• Informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process, attends training programs as assigned, including self-defense course to ensure self-protection skills;
• Participate in Sex Offender Treatment & Monitoring Program meetings to design and update program content, receive training, conduct staffings on offenders throughout the DOC to determine treatment recommendations for SOTMP and other mental health services to ensure consistent delivery of sex offender treatment services throughout the DOC;
• Review sex offender specific evaluations; provide training for the correctional system regarding the philosophy, rationale, treatment and management of sex offenders' high risk behaviors in a therapeutic community; participate in sub-committees; research, maintain and analyze program statistics. 

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applicant must possess a master's degree from an accredited institution in a mental health field such as counseling, social work, psychology or marriage and family therapy.  You must attach a copy of your transcripts that contain your name, name of the accredited institution, type of degree received and date degree was conferred. 
• At the minimum, applicant must possess a current, valid registration with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as a Registered Psychotherapist as required by C.R.S. 12-43-702.5.   

Preferred Qualifications (preferred, but not required):

• Graduation with a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field such as counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy or psychology from a program accredited by CACREP, CSWE, COAMFTE or APA. 
• Possession of a current, valid permit or license from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as one of the following:  Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate, Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, Psychologist Candidate or Psychologist.
• Experience providing mental health or offense specific treatment to offenders in a correctional environment.

Required Competencies:

• Ability to provide professional mental health or sex offender treatment to offenders;
• Individual must be efficient;
• Able to participate in 24 hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external agencies;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation;
• Must maintain required registration/permit/licensure as applicable to this assignment;
• Ability to work with a diverse population of offenders; 
• Ability to provide professional mental health or offense specific treatment to sex offenders as part of a multi-disciplinary team;

LOAN REPAYMENT/FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS:  The Colorado Department of Corrections participates in the National Health Services Corps (www.nhsc.hrsa.gov), the Colorado Health Services Corps (www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/colorado-health-service-corps), and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: 
The 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.

In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least (10) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than (10) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process.

• All job offers are contingent on a satisfactory urinalysis (UA) within 24 hours of contingent offer and a successful medical screening by a health care professional, certifying candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position.  Both the UA and the medical screening will be completed at the applicant's expense (cost is approximately $100).  Out of state applicants must perform their UA either pre or post offer at the direction of the department.  Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the collection of specimens, testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC's consideration of application for employment;
• Must be 21 years of age;
• Possess a valid Driver's License;
• Possess a High School Diploma or GED;
• Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 15601-15609. The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior,  in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in the above paragraph. The agency shall consider any incidents of sexual harassment in determining whether to hire anyone who may have contact with offenders or residents;
• Successfully complete the Department of Corrections Basic Training upon hire, initial drug screening, and random drug screening throughout employment;
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics);
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;
• Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;
• Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;
• Swing a baton in a striking technique;
• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;
• Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions;
• Positions that have direct contact with offenders may be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum;
• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security;
• 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;
• Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner;
• Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders;
• Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments;
• 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;
• Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule;
• TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire;
• Successful completion of a background investigation is required. Should applicant's background reveal criminal charges, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Department of Corrections with written/official disposition of any charges;
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws.  A pre-employment drug test will be administered at any part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, including marijuana, will be disqualified from consideration.  Random drug screening will occur throughout employment. 

APPEAL RIGHTS:
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination.

Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging.

Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb.

A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.