Mental Health Technician Jobs in Denver, CO

Department Information

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies within the Ft. Logan (Denver) Mental Health Hospital (morning, afternoon, and evening shifts)

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

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.

Description of Job

• Act as patient advocate and provides patient and their family with support and education on patient’s rights. Address and resolve patient issues when possible and refer issues to the hospital Patient’s Rights Specialist, as indicated. Model solution-focused problem-solving strategies.
• Supports patient in accomplishing activities of daily living (ADLs) through monitoring, teaching, supporting and assisting as needed. This includes such activities as personal hygiene, shaving, brushing teeth, care of personal items, laundry, toileting, and showers, as needed, based on the patient’s ability and current status. Assures that patient is treated with dignity and respect, maintaining patient’s privacy
• Escort patients to activities and appointments on grounds and in the community, including driving patients to appointments.
• Assumes responsibility for paperwork, assuring confidentiality. Communicates patient’s whereabouts to charge nurse and treatment team though sign-out/sign-in systems on the unit.
• Communicate to provide or exchange information while keeping registered nurse and other staff informed of patient status and patient issues. Documents patient care and patient response to treatment as required by hospital policy. Supports patients to develop a list of positive supports which may include family, friends, agencies, and staff members
• Rover/Internal Float duties

• assures a safe and therapeutic treatment environment through effective Milieu Management. Closely monitors and maintains surveillance of the unit to assure a safe milieu. This position models professional interactions with patients, families and staff. Facilitates solution oriented problem-solving strategies, and encourages patient input and self-determination, whenever possible. Monitors, identifies and addresses safety violations in patient care areas. Using therapeutic clinical skills, anticipates and initiates intervention at an appropriate level in crisis situations (i.e., physical or verbal assault against a person or property, suicidal behavior, etc.) by adhering to nursing standards and hospital policies and procedures in order to provide a safe and therapeutic environment
• monitors the milieu, conducts safety checks and monitors for unsafe items and/or unsafe conditions, and acts promptly to secure unsafe items and corrects unsafe conditions. Utilizes appropriate techniques from Verbal Defense and Influence (VDI) and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) to manage aggressive patient behavior, and de-escalate situations whenever possible, reducing the potential for physically aggressive behavior or injury. During episodes of patient physically aggressive behavior, minimizes risk of injury to patient and staff by utilizing CPI approved methods
• engages patients in unit activities, including impromptu groups, discussions, and games that support patient’s well-being and builds appropriate interpersonal skills. Monitors patient’s needs for structure and/or downtime and works in collaboration with unit staff to intervene as indicated. Monitors patients during meals including monitoring for issues with swallowing/choking, food intake, and interactions with others. Intervenes as indicated and communicates any concerns to the registered nurse. Facilitates patient meetings and groups utilizing appropriate group facilitation techniques

• work as part of the interdisciplinary team and participate in treatment planning and the development of the plan of care for patients
• contribute information and treatment approaches to support patient health and wellness
• incorporate information from multiple sources and provides input into treatment planning. Advocate for patient’s interest and input into their plan of care

• any other duties that aren’t covered in the above duty statements but need to be completed to meet the mission of the division and the department

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

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

OR

Education and Experience:

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

This experience must be clearly documented on your application.

Part-time experience will be pro-rated.

Substitutions:
Professional work experience that focuses on the specific experience described above, demonstrating the competencies equivalent to the competencies learned through completion of the required education may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

A Bachelor's Degree will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1+ years Knowledge and Experience as Mental Health Care Clinician I at a State of Colorado Mental Health Institute.
• 1+ years professional inpatient mental health-care experience in a psychiatric locked/secure setting,
• Experience developing and running treatment groups
• Knowledge and experience with Trauma Informed Care and Recovery Principles and practices
• Outpatient mental health experience running groups, case management etc., and
• College or university education in nursing, psychology, sociology, human services, or education.

Highly Desirable Competencies:

• Knowledge of oral and written communication skills,
• Knowledge and professional inpatient mental health-care experience
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting departmental and institutional policies and procedures,
• Ability to work with and communicate with internal and external clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous, and cooperative manner and committed to quality service,
• Ability to perform with a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently,
• Ability to encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity,
• Ability to foster commitment and team spirit.
• Ability to express information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information,
• Ability to listen to others and respond appropriately,
• Ability to problem solve,
• Ability to execute decisions, Integrity, and Accountability

Conditions of employment:

• Full Background check and reference check required
• Shift Work – may work days, evenings, or nights
• Essential Services Designation – Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare
• must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver's License
• must be at least 21 years of age or older
• may be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination, or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

• 
  Disclose that information on the application.
• Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
• 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.

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

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.

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.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form here (Download PDF reader).
• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:
  • By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or
  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

• At (303) 866-3300, or
• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• • Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

• 
  We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• 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.

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.