Mental Health Clinician I - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan - Adolescent Unit

This position is open only to Colorado state residents. Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. We offer shift differentials for Nights and Weekend between 14 – 20% above base pay! Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefits package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details! About Fort Logan: Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (CMHHFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHHFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental health illness within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHHFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-49. The hospital has 94 adult inpatient beds, over four treatment units and opened an additional 44 beds (two units) in December 2022, with one unit currently occupied, the other unit awaiting occupancy. These two forensic units will be dedicated to providing psychiatric stabilization and restoration treatment to individuals opined incompetent to proceed as a result of their mental illness. Medical services, o ccupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital. Through our core values, CMHHFL staff is committed to: Individual dignity and respect Person-centered, evidence-based care Trauma informed recovery Multidisciplinary collaboration Diversity and inclusion Strong family and community partnerships Each treatment unit provides psychiatric treatment services to adult clients through the use of a Milieu Treatment Program based on models of milieu therapy and group therapy. The focus of treatment is ongoing assessment and interventions designed to assist individual clients to resolve the specific problems that brought them to the hospital and to return them to the least restrictive environment in the community. Approaches are strength-based, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented enabling patients to learn more effective coping and living skills in order to function more effectively in the community upon discharge from the hospital. The psychiatric care and treatment modalities include milieu management, group therapy, activity therapy, health education and medication management with the goal of providing a consistent and safe environment for clients and to assist them with the amelioration of presenting problems and symptoms and improve problem-solving and coping skills. Opt-in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events! CDHSCareer About this Position: This position exists to provide therapeutic work in the psychiatric care and treatment of adults with acute and chronic exacerbation of a mental illness. Primary responsibilities are the application of knowledge, expertise and experience to establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient and provide safe and effective patient care. Mental Health Clinicians utilize psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery principles and techniques in all aspects of their job duties. This position works under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse and assists with psychiatric nursing care of mentally ill patients; observes, reports, and documents patient's behavior, physical condition, and reactions to medications and treatment; participates in designing and implementing patient treatment plans; monitors and intervenes to ensure a safe and therapeutic patient milieu; and provides immediate crisis intervention when indicated. Duties in this position include: Provide Therapeutic Patient Care: Under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse, engage with patients to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship which supports the patient’s psychiatric recovery and mental health. Model and maintain professional boundaries with patients and their families. Assist patients in developing insight into their mental illness while exploring symptoms and ways of decreasing, coping with, or eliminating distress while eliciting ways to live a more productive, satisfying life. Engage in one-on-one interaction with patients regularly and guide therapeutic psycho-educational groups and activities with a focus on assisting patients to build interpersonal and life management skills. 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 Milieu Management: 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 Interdisciplinary Team Treatment Implementation: 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 Other Duties as Assigned: 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 This entry level position offers great opportunity for advancement! Ask us how! M inimum Qualifications Experience Only: Three (3) years of relevant experience in customer service or in a hospital or mental health setting OR Education and Experience: A combination of related education in psychology, sociology, human services or biology with experience equal to three (3) years Special Qualifications: Due to the juvenile population served at the MHI facilities, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age Preferred Qualifications: 1+ years of Knowledge and Experience as a Mental Health Care Clinician I at the State of Colorado Mental Health Institute. 1+ years of professional inpatient mental health-care experience in a psychiatric locked/secure setting, working with patients who may become verbally or physically abusive. 1+ years experience in inpatient adolescent psychiatric care. 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. 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. Conditions of Employment : 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. 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. <span style="color