CDOC Addiction Specialist II

Description of Job

• Serves as consultant for unit staff regarding assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning
• Maintains accurate Information System behavioral health needs levels
• Provides group, brief, and individual treatment
• Ensures continuity of care for inmates by making appropriate referrals
• Provides crisis intervention in conjunction with clinical standards
• Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner
• Communicates directly with inmates regarding their behavioral health care
• Listens to inmate concerns and provides counseling and direction
• Communicates to advise, counsel, inform and/or guide staff
• Communicates and responds to complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and inmate behavioral management issues
• Maintains standards of the program or work unit through compliance with all applicable professional, departmental, organizational and unit standards
• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience: Current, valid certification from the State of Colorado as a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS), Addiction Counselor Candidate (AC-C), or Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
• Required Competencies: Ability to provide direct behavioral health care to inmates, comprehensive clinical documentation, work independently, excellent interpersonal skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, maintain certification/licensure as an addiction counselor, work with a diverse population of inmates, strong organizing, planning and prioritizing skills, multi-tasking and flexibility, provide addiction counseling as part of a multi-disciplinary team, provide creative therapeutic interventions, read and comprehend the English language, effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing, create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind, self-control, ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations, remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure, tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction.
• Preferred Qualifications: 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 an inpatient and outpatient setting.

Important Information

• The Assessment Process: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process.
• Conditions of Employment: All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the 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. Drivers must maintain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record.