Salary: $6,954.00 Monthly
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIC 07521 09/10/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIFL
Opening Date: 09/11/2026
Closing Date: 9/22/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 3520 Oxford Ave Denver CO 80236
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Description of Job
You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
What You'll be doing:
Assessments:

• Complete a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of patients being admitted for outpatient psychiatric treatment. Interview the patient assuring that assessment data is as reliable as possible, that the patient is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized, and that symptoms and behaviors are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner.
• Contact/ engage parents/ family members, significant others, guardians, and referring agency personnel to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supporting information to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the patient's situation.
• Complete the Colorado Client Assessment Record (CCAR) and other components of the Clinic's documentation.
• Additionally complete re-assessments of the patient's situation and response to treatment as frequently as daily and documents patient progress in progress notes, weekly progress notes, and treatment plan reviews.
• Collaborate with and inform team members of relevant assessment information.
• This position puts specific emphasis upon collaboration with and direction of treatment team staff regarding assessment information to address unique cases and cases that necessitates a reduction of risk issues related to hospital objectives including the use of seclusion and restraint, patient assault, and elopement.

Treatment:

• Conduct individual, group, and family therapy sessions using counseling and/or social work theories and concepts relevant to the needs and pathology of patients and their families, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, and sexual orientation consideration to affect behavioral change and the reduction of symptoms in the patient and the family.
• Interpret treatment issues, problems, expectations, and changes in behavior for patients and their families.
• Assess and document the effectiveness of specific interventions towards meeting the goals and objectives of treatment.
• The Social Worker III guides milieu staff by modeling patient interventions, recommending practice and patient "homework" assignments that may be implemented by them.
• Develop a therapeutic alliance with the patient and family to secure their understanding and participation in the treatment process.
• Provide information and education to them and/or community providers about mental illness and treatment and/or refer them to relevant resources to enhance their understanding of the patient's ongoing concerns and needs.
• As needed, this position may need to transport individuals using State vehicles to engage with treatment.

Treatment Planning:

• Participates in the direction and formulation of treatment plans and reviews.
• Collaborates with a multidisciplinary treatment team by recommending and designing treatment interventions, which will meet patient and family education and therapeutic needs.
• Provide required documentation relating to this duty. Document the plan and any issues related to the plan and revise/modify the plan according to the ongoing reassessment of the patient's progress and continuing need for treatment.

Documentation:

• Document in approved electronic database for all individual and group sessions in approved Clinic format.
• Group documentations must be individualized, reflecting how each client participated in each group session.
• All documentation must be completed in no more than 5 business days, including day of treatment provision.
• Document incident reports as indicated, in no more than 24 hours. Document calls to guardians and client managers.

Professional Development:

• Participates in orientation, educational workshops, social work discipline meetings, and training to assure and maintain competency in the provision of social work and treatment services.
• Provides consultation and training regarding social work services and clinical issues on a functional basis with clinical staff and discipline members.
• Participates in clinical and administrative supervision to enhance, ensure, and confirm skills, knowledge, competency, and understanding of assigned cases and team, discipline, and hospital processes.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Other duties as assigned include ad hoc activities, in-clinic crisis response, peers consultation, milieu support, etc.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELOR III (C4L3XX)
Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:

Current, valid Colorado licensure as a:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

And one (1) year of licensed experience as a LCSW, LPC, LMFT or LAC.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, assertive community treatment, or equivalent high intensity outpatient programs.
• Experience with individuals with serious mental illness.
• Experience with group treatment.
• Bilingual preferred.

Conditions of Employment:

• Full background check and reference check required

• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check , if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License or an 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.
• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after treatment, 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 Outpatient Services 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 hospital required physical intervention training and CPR;
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic;
• Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions;
• 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 communicates 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;
• Willing and able to travel; Travel - Explain:Willing and able to travel; may need to transport patients.
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire
• Annual influenza vaccination
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

1. Disclose that information on the application.
2. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
3. Provide your employee number from your 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.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation
Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:
  
  • Relevant years of state service experience.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process
A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process - Structured Application Review
After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions
Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).