Clinical Security Officer I - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (Denver).

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

About Us

The Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL) is expanding our hospital by adding 16 forensic beds to our current 138 patient beds. This expansion will assist in our mission of providing Colorado with the best behavioral health care available. CMHHIFL is dedicated to meeting the needs of the community by providing mental health treatment to the adult population in the metro area. The mission of CMHHIFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to adults with complex, serious and persistent mental illness within the resources available. CMHHIFL is dedicated to promoting Trauma Informed Care and promoting the implementation of Trauma Informed Practices within the organization.

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 Culture & Environment

• 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.

Location

3520 W Oxford Avenue, Denver, CO 80236

Full-Time & Part-Time, On-Site

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies and shifts. This is an in-person position requiring shift work.

About The Unit

The Safety Department exists to maintain the safety and security of the CMHHIFL campus. Duties of the Safety Department include maintaining a safe environment for patients, personnel, and visitors, providing assistance to the clinical staff in the various types of patient treatment programs, assisting with the management of aggressive/assaultive individuals, and monitoring and evaluating the impact of applicable laws and regulations. The Safety Department staff follows accepted practices including policies and procedures. The department supports patient care and the safety of buildings, grounds, equipment, occupants, and internal physical systems. This work unit reports and resolves situations that pose a threat to life, health, or property.

Purpose Of Position

This position exists to ensure a safe work environment through application of and adherence to CMHHIFL/CDHS policies, Joint Commission Standards, Life Safety Codes, and Colorado Revised Statutes. The position responds to crisis situations (i.e., physical or verbal assaults against persons or property, suicidal behavior) following hospital policies and procedures, assists nursing and clinical staff to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment. This position assists with environmental safety checks and on unit/campus transports to treatment programming and meals.

Responsibilities

• Safety and Support Services:
  • Respond to hospital staff requests for assistance.
  • Perform supportive actions and approved physical intervention techniques, as necessary.
  • Maintain safety and security throughout the hospital by responding to psychiatric emergencies and non-emergency situations.
  • Exercise sound judgment and emotional control when evaluating possible risk while taking into consideration the physical and mental well-being of all patients and staff.
  • Participate in defusing and debriefing all incidents.
  • Actively use effective communication skills, Verbal Defense Interventions (VDI) skills, and Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) skills when interacting with patients and staff in a positive and respectful manner.
  • Support patient transport needs when appropriate.
• Patrol And Observation/Rounding:
  • Provide hospital security and enforcement by patrol and observation designed to detect, prevent, and control security incidents at CMHHIFL.
  • Document reports of criminal activity.
  • Provide traffic surveillance and parking control.
  • Maintain hospital safety via routine physical checks.
  • Perform monthly safety inspections of clinical units.
  • Identify security violations and safety hazards and take necessary actions to correct the problem (i.e., initiation of work orders, contact DFM personnel, reporting to appropriate person, etc.).
  • Perform monthly fire drills and evaluate staff to ensure efficient training.
• Transports:
  • Transport/escort clients and staff to and from various locations on and off hospital grounds (i.e., Admissions, medical appointments, court, CMHIP, etc.).
  • Perform entries into various security-sensitive areas (After-Hours Pharmacy, Central Medical Supply, Medical Records, Finance/Safe, etc.) with/without staff assistance.
• Police Liaisons:
  • Communicate with other police agencies, acting as liaison between Fort Logan and police and sheriff departments around the metro area, the State, and the Nation.
• Other Duties As Assigned: Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).

Preferred Qualifications

• College education in a behavioral health and/or justice-related field.
• Experience working with adjudicated and/or detained individuals within a secure residential facility and/or a behavioral health setting.
• Experience facilitating psychoeducational groups.
• Education/experience working with adolescents who have trauma.
• Experience utilizing verbal de-escalation and motivational techniques.

Skills

• Skilled in conflict management.
• Strong work ethic, integrity, and dependability.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Self-control, composure, and the ability to manage stressful situations.
• Ability to verbally communicate clearly and respectfully.
• Ability to identify and act on changes, inappropriate activity, hazards, or potential security breaches and verbally communicate pertinent information.
• Ability to study information and recount events in a written, factual, concise, and legible method.

Schedule

Shift work - varying shifts at a 24/7 facility.

Conditions Of Employment

• 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.
• Current and valid unrestricted Colorado Driver's License or non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border.
• Motor Vehicle Check, if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an ongoing capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties or on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• May be required to provide local transport for patient care.
• Travel to assigned trainings and/or work sites.
• Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• Must take and pass a Tuberculosis (TB) test.
• 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 CMHHIFL 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 CPI and CPR.
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist; stabilize another person to accomplish a take-down.
• 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 communicate 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.