SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELOR IV-CoT-CMHHIP

Salary: $87,612.00 - $122,664.00 Annually
Location : Pueblo, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIB 03648 10/08/26
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIP
Opening Date: 10/08/2026
Closing Date: 11/8/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not 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 recruitment is only open to current Colorado Residents Only

This posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)
Social Work/ Counselor IV

To facilitate patient stabilization, behavioral rehabilitation, and discharge readiness, CoT strategically manages hospital-wide clinical staff deployment, scheduling, and backfilling to minimize therapeutic group and activity cancellations. Additionally, the department develops and maintains high-volume deployment tracking systems, analyzing call-off data, backfill trends, and group compliance to ensure strict adherence to federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Joint Commission "Active Treatment" standards. The target patient population includes forensic and civil individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, cognitive impairments, and complex legal statuses (e.g., incompetent-to-proceed, not guilty by reason of insanity, and civil commitments).
Description of Job
You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

Full-Time, 100% In-Person Position

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

Work Location: 1600 W. 24th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
About the Position:

This position serves as the Clinical Supervisor and programmatic authority for the CoT unit. It provides full supervision and performance management to a multidisciplinary team. The position is responsible for the oversight of clinical liaison processes, ensuring that all clinical recommendations and interdepartmental communications provided by CoT staff to Unit Treatment Teams meet professional standards. While maintaining a caseload of high-acuity psychotherapy groups for modeling, the primary focus is personnel management, quality assurance, and clinical system oversight.

Clinical Supervision and Personnel Management

• Functions as the formal supervisor
• Responsible for the full cycle of supervision, including hiring, performance planning, and administering corrective/disciplinary actions
• Determines staff competencies and authorizes specific unit assignments based on an assessment of staff expertise and current hospital-wide patient acuity
• Responsible for ensuring assigned subordinates provide high-quality groups/activities within their scope of practice to the CMHHIP patients
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., social workers, recreational and physical therapists, administrative assistants and nursing) to obtain feedback on subordinate job performance and responsibilities

Programmatic Quality Assurance and Auditing

• Conducts systematic, data-driven audits of the work unit's clinical output to ensure compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, and hospital standards
• Conducts Chart Audits, In-Person Schedule Audits, and In-Person Group Audits
• Analyzes data to identify systemic trends and develops formal "Plans of Action to Prevent Recurrence" (PAPR) to report to the Hospital Quality Council

Group Facilitation and Clinical Modeling

• Serves as the primary facilitator for a focused caseload of individual and group therapy sessions
• Facilitates high-acuity groups that require a superior level of clinical expertise and licensure, serving as a model for subordinate staff in the application of evidence-based theories and trauma-informed interventions
• Will transport patients to and from groups, both on and off campus, at times utilizing a state vehicle

Liaison Oversight and Clinical System Consultation

• Provides oversight and validation of the liaison duties performed by subordinate Social Worker/Counselor IIIs
• Serves as the clinical authority and mediator for the relationships between the CoT unit and the Unit Treatment Teams
• Validates clinical recommendations made to units, resolves high-level interdepartmental conflicts, and ensures that CoT staff are integrated effectively into the hospital's multidisciplinary treatment structure

Professional and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participates in orientation, educational workshops, discipline meetings, and training to assure and maintain competency in the provision of their license and treatment services
• Provides consultation and training regarding 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
• Participates in various hospital projects or committees to enhance project success by providing expert insight and knowledge of specialized topics
• Responsible for the performance of assigned tasks and duties within the scope of practice for this position that do not fall within the realm of duty statements above

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:
Current, valid Colorado Licensure as a:

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

And two (2) years of licensed experience based on the work assigned to the position.

Applicants for supervisory positions must have licensure that meets the legal requirements to perform supervisory responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two plus (2+) years of facilitating psychotherapy/psychoeducation groups
• Two plus (2+) years of working in a locked or high-acuity unit
• Two plus (2+) years working with a forensic population
• Two plus (2+) years of documented supervisory experience

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-adopted physical interventions (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
• May be required to work evening or weekend shifts, holidays, voluntary or mandatory overtime in on patient units throughout CMHHIP
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening
• Influenza vaccination
• Other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado

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).

Appeal Rights
You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals