SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELOR I - CMHHIP

Salary: $33.01 - $46.21 Hourly
Location : Pueblo, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIB 03220 10/13/26
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIP
Opening Date: 10/13/2026
Closing Date: 11/1/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Primary Physical Work Address: In person position not eligible for remote work reporting to: Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo, 1600 W. 24th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003
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.

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies
Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)
Social Work/ Counselor I

Full Time
CMHHIP units provide comprehensive psychiatric and psycho-social evaluation and treatment by a multidisciplinary treatment team. This includes: 24 hour nursing care and assessment; psychiatric intervention and evaluation; psychological services; psycho-social services; occupational therapy, educational and vocational rehabilitation services and recreational therapy. Patients are admitted from throughout the state from correctional, court, mental health, and other community facilities for long and short term treatment under court authority, as well as transfers from within CMHHIP and other units. Legal statuses of patients include 27-65 civil commitments (M-1, M-3, Short and Long Term certifications); Incompetent to Proceed (ITP); Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity or Impaired Mental Condition (NGRI or NGR-IMC); court ordered evaluations for Sanity, Sex Offender issues, Competency.
Description of Job
You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

This position is full time, scheduled Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on-site at CMHHIP.

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.
About the Position:
This position exists to provide, under an LCSW, therapeutic interventions including psychosocial therapies, individual, family and group treatment to severely emotionally disturbed/cognitively impaired patients and their families. This position completes assessments and disposition planning, interagency communication with residential care facilities, social services, community mental centers, etc., to ensure continued appropriate level services following discharge. Individualizes psychosocial therapy approaches to meet the specific needs of the patient population and provides training and consultation to other professional staff. Duties in this position include:

Assessments:
Under the supervision of a LCSW the Social Worker:

• Completes psychosocial assessments by interviewing, collaborating, analyzing, and assimilating social histories that demonstrate the relationship among current behavior problems, environmental resources, and support systems. This assessment generates a clinical summary and treatment recommendations that predictably affects treatment and continuity of care in the community.
• Provides documentation as required
• If the patient has been in the hospital for over 1 year the social worker completes an annual psychosocial assessment

Community Reintegration:
Under the supervision of an LCSW, the social worker:

• Coordinates discharge planning, through evaluation and assessment of the patient's needs as they relate to available community resources, and exploring and mobilizing those resources
• Is the liaison between the hospital and the community agencies. Identifies and chooses appropriate community placements and treatment programs
• Provides case management by making appropriate referrals to community agencies, networking and directing reciprocal relationships with community agencies, Social Security, Social Services, Court system, jails, DOC, probation, parole, DYC, attorneys, CMHC, CCB, nursing, boarding, and group homes, individuals and families
• Attends meetings with the agencies mentioned above

Treatment Planning:
Under the Supervision of an LCSW, the Social Worker:

• Participates in the direction and formulation of treatment plans and reviews.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary treatment team by recommending and designing treatment interventions, which meet patient and family education and therapeutic needs
• Provides required documentation

Treatment:
Under the supervision of an LCSW, the Social Worker:

• Provides individual, family, group therapy and system interventions utilizing social work theoretical framework and methods with consideration of ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual diversity
• Provides necessary documentation regarding treatment

Professional Development:

• Keeps updated to the state of the art theories for assessment and treatment of the psychiatrically impaired patient, and as
  appropriate, for the patient dually diagnosed with dementia, developmental disability or substance-related disorder.
• Works with other team members to gather appropriate outcome data to assess the effectiveness of treatment.
• Provides necessary documentation

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:
Experience Only:

Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to four (4) years
Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters in Social Work (MSW)
• Knowledge of casework methods, techniques, and their applications to work problems
• Knowledge of the principles of human growth and behavior, basic sociological and psychological treatment and therapy practices
• Knowledge of interviewing skills and techniques
• Ability to express ideas effectively, orally and in writing
• Ability to use interviewing skills and techniques effectively
• Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions

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.
• Other Conditions of Employment specific to Program
• 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.

• 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 CMHIP 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, MANDT, and CPR
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist
• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled containment to the floor
• Withstand impact on own body using an ASP shield
• 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
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire
• Annual influenza vaccination

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).

Supplemental Information
(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)
For additional recruiting questions, please contact ellie.cassio