Colorado Springs - Clinical Care Coordinator

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

About the Department

Civil and Forensic Mental Health Services (CFMH) operates Colorado’s two mental health hospitals, the Forensic Services Division, the Division of Mental Health Transitional Living, and the Outpatient Services Division. The office provides a continuum of mental health care for both Civil and Forensic clients.

• Civil clients are individuals who are committed by a civil court into the care of the Colorado Department of Human Services because they have serious and persistent mental health conditions.
• Forensic clients include those who are charged with a crime and have a mental or developmental disability that prevents them from assisting in their own defense or rationally understanding the criminal court proceedings, and those who have been charged with a crime but found not guilty by reason of insanity.

CFMH works across the legal system to provide evaluations, treatment, and case management for these clients. Outpatient Services is the newest part of this continuum, working to support clients stepping down or being diverted from hospitals and jails, and giving them the care they need in the community.

About the Role

This position is remote. The work location will be your home address, with on-location work and travel for in-person meetings, primarily in the Colorado Springs area. Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic interventions, including psychosocial therapies, administration of evidence-based clinical assessments within scope of practice and licensure, and complete clinical care coordination for patients with serious mental illness in the jail and hospital settings.
• Individualize psychosocial therapy approaches to meet the specific needs of the patient population.
• Provide training and consultation to other professional staff. Participate in individual patient plans of care when deemed necessary.
• Interpret and apply clinical assessment results, within scope of practice and licensure, incorporating collateral information, to identify the required complementary treatment or social services.
• Provide other medically necessary behavioral health interventions, including psychoeducation, psychotherapy, targeted case management, and life skills training, as needed.
• In collaboration with the Care Coordination Program and other internal and external stakeholders, develop case plans designed to ensure coordination of care and placement acquisition for short-term certifications.
• Through the established case plan, provide and/or refer individuals for indicated services by facilitating, obtaining, and executing all necessary documentation related to care needs and placement.
• Use clinical licensure, expertise, and treatment of the individual to support level of care, medical necessity, and a treatment record for review by the receiving provider.
• Coordinate access to identified needs within various systems, such as medication evaluation and management, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, case management, and other treatment services related to the client’s behavioral health needs and related court orders.
• Remain in close contact with the Care Coordination Program, jails, hospitals, courts, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity of care and clear communication regarding cross-agency clients.
• Serve as both a clinical expert and an intermediary between the healthcare and behavioral health systems, social assistance programs, county jails, courts, and the community, facilitating access to services in support of appropriate placements and community transitions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge about various service options throughout Colorado, the associated processes, and the requirements.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders to support an understanding of our population's needs and positive outcomes.
• Transport individuals using State vehicles to engage with placement as needed.
• Serve as the clinical subject-matter expert regarding benefit options, processes, and requirements and provide consultation on behalf of the Care Coordination Program in this domain regarding benefits tied to mental health care.
• Identify clients in need of benefit acquisition to support mental health care placement, accept referrals from the Care Coordination Program and other stakeholders, and oversee the benefit acquisition lifecycle, specifically for behavioral health benefits.
• Track all benefits-related needs, submissions, and outcomes on behalf of the program and Division.
• Communicate with the Program and various stakeholders regarding the status of benefit acquisition and its implications for potential placements.
• Serve as a liaison between case managers and coordinator staff to ensure continuity of care through strong communication with courts and receiving agencies/entities to support the maintenance of behavioral health benefits and avoid coverage lapses.
• Be familiar with stakeholder policies, processes, and federal, state, and local regulations and requirements.
• Meet directly with clients and other stakeholders in various locations.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with stakeholder agencies, including those specific to benefit acquisition needs and placements, such as the Behavioral Health Administration, Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations, the Regional Accountable Entities, and the Department of Healthcare Policy and Finance.
• Handle a high volume of various clinical and administrative documents, including sensitive client information and legal documents.
• Complete necessary clinical or related administrative paperwork to create or obtain mental health, medical, general treatment, and legal records.
• Understand and adhere to various privacy laws, federal and state confidentiality laws, and ensure secure record retention.
• Utilize established processes to safeguard client information and release it only when authorized by legal and regulatory requirements.
• Generate comprehensive and timely documentation of all client interactions, including face-to-face visits, collateral contacts with clinical teams, and system partners, in an established EHR or equivalent.
• Complete documentation after each contact, including the client's status, needs, ongoing referral status updates, and any identified barriers.
• Responsible for formal court documentation submissions and accurate internal database tracking related to client engagement and system coordination efforts, as applicable.
• Maintain records in a centralized data system and share them with the courts and other authorized stakeholders to support legal and clinical decision-making.
• Use clinical expertise to inform the generation of progress summaries, assessments, and dispositions.
• Perform additional duties not specifically outlined in the duty statements to meet the operational needs of the agency and CFMH.
• Provide coverage or support for other positions during vacancies or when program needs arise, which may include case management activities, administrative support, and direct client contact.
• Based on Care Coordination Program staffing levels, jail and hospital availability, and at the discretion of the Department and/or Leadership, assist with complex care coordination needs that fall outside the Consent Decree framework, participate in competency docket activities, provide psychoeducation/restoration education, and other such system-wide initiatives impacting this population.

Requirements

• Current, valid Colorado licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC).
• One (1) year of licensed experience in direct care behavioral/mental health treatment.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 2 years of behavioral health experience.
• Experience supporting individuals with serious mental illness.
• Experience with short-term certifications, M1 holds, crisis intervention, and related work.
• Experience with hospital admissions, inpatient placements, care coordination, or clinical case management.
• Jail or prison experience.
• Bilingual in Spanish (strongly preferred).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong clinical documentation and administrative skills.
• Located within 45 miles of 81501.

Conditions of Employment

• Upon hire, a 2-Step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required.
• Annual Influenza vaccination and other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.
• Ability to pass a jail background check.
• Frequent county jail visitation; must be able to pass a jail background check, attend and participate in any mandatory training required by the jail, and adhere to all rules and regulations as outlined by the respective county jail.
• This position designates the employee's residential address as their sole and permanent workplace, serving as the traveler's regular work location. Employees are required to maintain a functional home office and a dependable internet connection to fulfill all necessary job duties.
• Reside in a 40-mile radius of Fort Logan campus (80236 zip code).
• Unrestricted license and eligibility to bill Medicare and Medicaid without restriction.
• Full background check and reference check required.
• State of Colorado residency at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an ongoing capacity or on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License or a non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border. Out-of-State Driver’s License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License within 30 days of employment start date.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose that information on the application, explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify them from the current position, and provide their employee number from prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.