CDOC Mental Health Counselor Social Worker/Counselor II (Buena Vista)

About the role

This position provides professional mental health services to inmates, including formal and informal evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions. It also involves ensuring accurate information system mental health needs levels, providing group, brief, and individual therapy, crisis intervention, and managing inmate treatment.

Responsibilities

• Provides professional mental health services to inmates
• Affirms accurate information system mental health needs levels
• Provides group, brief, and individual therapy, and crisis intervention
• Affirms both emergency and non-emergency transfers for inmates experiencing acute mental health needs
• Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in mental health care and treatment of inmates
• Affirms continuity of care for inmates by making appropriate referrals 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 inmate mental health records
• Maintains clinical observations and listens to inmate concerns, providing counseling and direction
• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment
• Informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process

Requirements

• Current, valid permit or license from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as one of the following: Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, Psychologist Candidate or Psychologist
• Graduation with a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field from a program accredited by CACREP, CSWE, COAMFTE, or APA
• Experience providing mental health treatment in a correctional environment

Qualifications

• Ability to provide professional mental health or sex inmate treatment to inmates
• Efficient individual
• 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
• Maintain required registration/permit/licensure as applicable to this assignment
• Ability to work with a diverse population of inmates
• Ability to provide professional mental health treatment as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind
• Self-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations
• Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure and observant throughout their shift
• Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction