Behavioral Health Specialist, Social Work​/Counselor III - Campus at Mount View

Overview

Department Information

This position is open only to Colorado state residents. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies at the locations below.

Division and Location
Youth Services Center, Division of Youth Services - Campus at Mount View

About the Division of Youth Services: The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities serving youth aged 10 to 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed.

The Division also contracts with private service providers throughout the state. DYS administers juvenile parole services statewide and manages Colorado Youth Detention Continuum for pre-adjudicated youth.

Description Of Job: You are required to work at your assigned work location during scheduled times. Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

Summary Of Work Unit: The Division of Youth Services seeks to build skills and competencies of youth to become responsible citizens. Behavioral Health Specialists provide evidenced-based therapeutic intervention services to youth who are committed or detained. They support therapeutic care and opportunities for growth for youth and caregivers, align with the DYS treatment model and Sanctuary principles, and collaborate with medical, education, security, and administrative staff.

Specialists stay current on literature and emerging practices related to complex mental health populations and behavioral and sensory interventions.

Summary Of The Position: This position functions as a mental health counselor, providing mental health and case management services to committed and detained youth. Services include clinical assessment, monitoring medication with the facility psychiatrist, individual/group/family/milieu therapies, suicide risk assessment, report writing, and MDT coordination. The role includes crisis management, family services as applicable, and use of approved DYS evidence-based curricula.

Job Duties

• Maintain a caseload and conduct individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories for adolescents.
• Understand adolescent development and appropriate interventions, considering age, ethnicity, culture, religion, and sexual issues to support behavior change.
• Document and assess the effectiveness of interventions toward program progression and youth stability.
• Provide therapy addressing substance abuse, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, and services for sexually abusive or violent youth, with attention to protective factors and cultural considerations.
• Provide therapy using a strength-based and holistic approach.
• Collaborate with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication assessment or continuation for youth stability.
• Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services.
• Identify additional resources to tailor treatment to developmental and neurocognitive needs.
• Deliver therapy in ways appropriate to trauma, substance abuse, brain injury, and mental health disorders.
• Support agency services of cognitive behavioral-based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
• Actively engage family/caregivers in stabilization and transition planning.
• Assess progress and barriers, documenting case management and therapeutic services in the Fusion Electronic Health Record system.
• Follow Sanctuary/ROCK Program and facilitate Community Review Teams as needed for Individual Growth and Change Plans.

Assessment and Treatment Planning

• Address mental health and other needs with consideration of estimated length of stay.
• Review assessment data, develop therapeutic rapport, maintain confidentiality, and evaluate symptoms safely and sensitively.
• Engage family members and guardians to obtain collateral data and enhance understanding of the youth’s situation.
• Moni…