CDOC Substance Use Disorder Social Worker​/Counselor II

CDOC Substance Use Disorder Social Worker / Counselor II

Recruitment began on January 16, 2026 and the job listing expires on February 16, 2026. Substance Use Disorder SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELOR II (Sterling, Buena Vista). This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Closing Date: 01/26/2026 4:00 PM Mountain

This position provides substance use disorder services to the inmate population, to include formal and informal behavioral health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as consultant for unit staff regarding assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning;
• Collaborates with other mental health professionals to ensure co-occurring issues;
• Provides substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment services under clinical supervision;
• Monitors inmate treatment and documentation to assure compliance with standards and to assure continuity of care;
• Assures accurate Information System behavioral health needs levels, and provides group, brief, and individual treatment;
• Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in behavioral health care and treatment of inmates;
• Assures continuity of care for inmates 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;
• Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive inmate behavioral health records;
• Communicates directly with inmates regarding their behavioral health care such as consequences of maladaptive behavior and desired and undesirable effects of prescribed behavioral health medication;
• Listens to inmate concerns and provides counseling and direction;
• Communicates to advise, counsel, inform and/or guide staff within the clinical unit, the facility, clinical and administrative supervisors and outside agencies to ensure continuity and direction of behavioral health care;
• Communicates and responds to complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and inmate behavioral management issues;
• Responsible for maintaining standards of the program or work unit through compliance with all applicable professional, departmental, organizational and unit standards;
• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Licensure/Certification/

Experience:

Applicant must possess a current, valid license from the State of Colorado as:

A Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) or Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC)

OR

Applicant must possess a certification as a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAT)
and a license as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CSW), or Licensed Psychologist (PSY).

In addition to a rewarding, meaningful career, state employment offers:

• 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. Member Contribution Rates Correctional Officers I-IV qualify as “Safety Officers” and are eligible for increased PERA benefits.
• Short and long-term disability coverage;
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick time;
• Employee wellness programs;
• Tuition Reimbursement;
• Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Programs;
• Training opportunities and more.

For more info and to apply: