CDOC (SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELOR III) - Substance Use Disorder Treatment - PUEBLO

Colorado; Pueblo (CO); On-site; USD 25,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team making a difference in the lives of individuals in need. This role focuses on providing essential substance use disorder services within a supportive environment. You will engage in assessments, therapy, and crisis intervention, ensuring continuity of care for offenders. The position offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute to public service while enjoying a range of benefits, including a hiring incentive and strong retirement plans. If you're passionate about helping others and possess the required qualifications, this is the perfect chance to advance your career in a meaningful way.

Benefits

Distinctive career advancement opportunities

Strong retirement benefits

Medical and dental health plans

Short and long term disability coverage

Paid life insurance

11 paid holidays plus vacation and sick leave

Wellness program

Tuition reimbursement

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Must possess a current, valid Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential.
• One year of experience with substance use and mental health populations.

Responsibilities

• Provides professional behavioral health services to offenders.
• Conducts assessments and clinical interventions for substance use treatment.
• Monitors inmate treatment and ensures compliance with standards.

Skills

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

Substance Use Disorder treatment

Mental Health standards and guidelines

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to provide direct patient care

Education

High school diploma or GED

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CSW)

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)

Job description

Colorado Department of Corrections Mission:

$25,000 HIRING INCENTIVE FOR FULL-TIME CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS!

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and builds greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.

In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans;
• Medical and dental health plans;
• Short and long term disability coverage;
• Paid life insurance;
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;
• Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more.

This classification (if working within a 24/7 facility) may be eligible for non-base building temporary pay differential of 2.8% through June 2025.

$25,000 Hiring Incentives for SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELORS:

Payout will be as follows:
$5,000 after successful completion of the CDOC Training Academy
$5,000 after successful completion of 4 months of service
$5,000 after successful completion of 8 months of service
$10,000 after successful completion of 12 months of service.

Who May Apply: This position is only open to Colorado state residents.

Location: This position is located in PUEBLO, CO. This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

This position provides substance use disorder services to a special population of offenders, participating in a parolee intensive treatment program operated by the department, to include behavioral health assessments, individual and group therapy, clinical management of offenders with mental illness, and substance abuse issues.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides professional behavioral health services to the offender population, to include formal and informal behavioral health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions.
• Serves as consultant for unit staff regarding assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
• Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in behavioral health care and treatment of offenders.
• Assures continuity of care for offenders by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies.
• Provides crisis intervention in conjunction with clinical standards regarding mental health professional privilege level.
• Informs offenders regarding substance use treatment.
• Communicates regarding complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and offender behavioral management issues as it relates to substance use treatment.
• Monitors inmate treatment and documentation to assure compliance with standards, assures continuity of care, completes assigned tasks in compliance with overtime exempt status.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicant must possess a current, valid Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential issued by the Colorado State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners.
• AND
• Applicant must have one (1) year of experience, with current valid licensure from the State of Colorado to include Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC), and experience must be with the substance use, mental health and/or sex offender population.

Substitutions:

• A valid license from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT),
• AND
• A valid certification from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) or Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC) will substitute for the Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) requirement.

Required Competencies:

• Must possess and maintain a valid license from the State of Colorado as a Licensed Addiction Counselor.
• Knowledge and a thorough understanding of Substance Use Disorder treatment standards and guidelines;
• Knowledge and a thorough understanding of Mental Health standards and guidelines;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.
• Ability to provide direct patient care to inmates;
• Must maintain required licensure.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Possession of a current, valid Professional Counseling License (LPC) issued by the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners or a Clinical Social Worker License (CSW) issued by the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners, or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) issued by the Colorado State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners;
• Experience providing mental health treatment and discharge planning with the severely mentally ill and developmentally disabled population;
• Experience providing Substance Use Disorder treatment in a therapeutic community;
• Experience providing Substance Use Disorder treatment to an incarcerated population.
• Experience conducting suicide risk assessments;
• Experience working as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be 21 years of age;
• Possess a valid driver’s license;
• Possess a high school diploma or GED;
• Have NO felony convictions.
• Successfully pass all modules of the Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training.
• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position.
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete Defensive Tactics.
• Will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and will be exposed while on assignment.
• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security.
• Successful completion of a background investigation is required.

The CDOC is committed to a work environment free from illegal drugs and alcohol. Employees may use marijuana in their personal time but are prohibited from working while under the influence of any substance, including marijuana. A drug test will be administered to all new employees; employees must successfully pass.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive 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.