Social Work III at Clinical Services Department in Fort Logan
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Salary
$82,620.00 Annually
Location
Denver, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
IIC 05889 6/23/2026
Department
Colorado Department of Human Services
Division
OBH - CMHIFL
Opening Date
06/23/2026
Closing Date
7/7/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Type of Announcement
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address
3520 W Oxford Ave, Denver, CO 80236
FLSA Status
Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
Jeru Marshall: jerusalen.marshall@state.co.us
How To Apply
Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Description
Benefits
Questions
Department Information
This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
The Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (CMHH-FL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHH-FL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental illness within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMH-FL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-59. The hospital currently has 154 adult inpatient beds, over seven treatment milieus serving civil and forensic individuals. Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital.
Through our core values listed below, CMHH-FL 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
The Social Work III position works in the 24-hour State psychiatric hospital with individuals voluntarily and involuntarily committed for treatment. Patients receiving treatment at CMHI-FL have severe and persistent mental illness and may have traumatic brain injury, trauma disorders, and other complex dynamics. Each treatment team is multidisciplinary, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, addiction specialists, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, creative arts therapists, nurses, physicians, and mental health clinicians. In addition, the hospital offers dietary, peer, and chaplain services
Description of Job
You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.
Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
The Social Work unit provides comprehensive psychiatric treatment interventions, from clinical assessment and multidisciplinary treatment planning to individual/group/family therapy, as well as comprehensive aftercare planning with placement. The unit serves as a liaison between the hospital and external stakeholders, including Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC's) and other governmental entities.
The purpose of this position is to manage the full cycle of patient care, beginning with comprehensive clinical assessments (biopsychosocial and re-assessments) within an acute inpatient psychiatric setting. The Social Worker III delivers evidence-based clinical interventions, including targeted individual and group therapy, and specialized competency restoration education when applicable. This role coordinates multidisciplinary treatment planning, leading the team in developing Interdisciplinary Plans of Care (IPOC) with specific, measurable goals. The position leads discharge planning and case management, which involves securing community resources, coordinating with external partners and court systems, and engaging support networks through psychoeducation and family therapy.As a Social Worker III, this position acts as a designated Field Supervisor for Master of Social Work (MSW) students, providing clinical mentorship, academic feedback, and evaluating student performance. Other duties include:Comprehensive Clinical Assessment & Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning:
Responsible for conducting detailed, ongoing clinical assessments and serving in a lead role within the acute inpatient psychiatric setting to coordinate, develop, and revise the patient's Interdisciplinary Plan of Care (IPOC). This role bridges frontline clinical insights with collaborative, evidence-based treatment execution.
Biopsychosocial & Re-Assessments: Completes comprehensive Biopsychosocial assessments for newly admitted patients within strict timeframes (including intake interviews, collateral information gathering, and clinical formulations). Conducts targeted, brief clinical re-assessments as indicated to monitor shifting psychiatric presentation.
Interdisciplinary Treatment Planning: Coordinates with treatment team disciplines (Psychiatry, Psychology, Nursing, Therapeutic Activities, etc.) to develop and monitor patient treatment plans. Leads multidisciplinary treatment planning meetings, translating clinical findings into specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based (SMART) goals while actively integrating input from the patient and their support system.
Cultural Competence ensures treatment plans reflect the patient's unique values, age, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Serves as an advocate for cultural competency and individualized care within the multidisciplinary team.
Evidence-Based Clinical Intervention & Support System Engagement:
Delivers direct, specialized therapeutic services aimed at acute symptom reduction and psychiatric stabilization, while simultaneously acting as the primary therapeutic bridge between the hospital, the patient, and their external support network to foster long-term recovery.
Individual & Group Therapy: Provides targeted individual therapy tailored to acute psychiatric needs and routinely assesses clinical progress. Formulates evidence-based curricula and leads group sessions addressing the shared clinical needs of the milieu, rapidly responding to emergent behavioral crises with trauma-informed de-escalation interventions.
Competency Restoration Education: Delivers specialized Forensic Competency Restoration Education for individuals on the forensic track, directly addressing deficits in legal system understanding and developing rational decision-making as related to their legal case.
Outreach & Psychoeducation: Contact families, designated support networks, and community stakeholders to gather vital historical clinical data. Provides targeted psychoeducation and routine progress updates to support systems to alleviate anxiety, combat stigma, and involve them in treatment and discharge planning.
Visitation & Family Therapy: Structures, coordinates, and monitors safe on-campus support system visitations and communications. Delivers structured family therapy sessions when clinically indicated to repair systemic dynamics and prepare the network for the patient's return to the community.
Discharge Planning & Case Management:
Manages a comprehensive discharge planning workflow, overcoming systemic barriers to facilitate a safe transition for patients back into the community.
Resource Identification & Acquisition: Secures foundational resources required for long-term community stability. This includes ensuring eligibility for financial/medical benefits (Medicaid, Medicare, SSI/SSDI), identifying supported decision-makers as needed (legal guardianship, payeeship), and procuring vital legal identification documents.
Community Partner Liaison: Links patients directly to outpatient providers and community mental health centers. Identifies, vets, and submits referrals to appropriate community disposition facilities in strict accordance with the assessment for the least restrictive environment.
Forensic Court Coordination: For patients on forensic tracks, this position serves as a liaison to the court system and associated teams (Court Services, Forensic Support Team, Bridges of Colorado). This involves the submission of legally mandated reports documenting the patient's treatment progress, coordination with forensic evaluators, and direct communication with members of the court.
Internship Supervision and Field Instruction:
Guides the professional development of Master of Social Work students.
Field Instruction: Serves as the designated Field Supervisor for Master of Social Work (MSW) graduate students.
Clinical Mentorship: Directs the student learning experience by teaching advanced clinical concepts, modeling evidence-based therapeutic techniques within an inpatient psychiatric setting, assigning appropriate clinical tasks, and evaluating student performance.
Academic Feedback & Alignment: Provides objective clinical and administrative feedback through regular supervision sessions. Collaborates directly with university school liaisons to establish learning contracts, monitor competency benchmarks, and complete formal academic evaluations.
Other Duties As Assigned:
Operational Adaptability: Addresses emergent hospital-wide needs that directly impact patient care and safety, responds to crisis situations to ensure the immediate safety of patients and staff, and provides coverage assignments as operationally directed by leadership.
Milieu Support: Steps in during emergency codes or high-stress periods to provide active, supportive presence and crisis containment within the therapeutic milieu.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:
Current, valid Colorado licensure as a:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
And one (1) year of licensed experience based on the work assigned to the position.
Special Qualifications: Must have one of the licenses below to be considered for the position.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Preferred Qua lifications:
Treatment of adults with severe and persistent mental illness
Experience with inpatient psychiatric environments
Experience working with forensic- or court-involved individual
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor
At least 3 years of experience working with mental health
Experience working within the Competency Restoration system
Previous State experience
Conditions of Employment:
May be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals
2-step TB (Tuberculosis) screening is required, annual influenza, and other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado
Due to the juvenile population served at the MHI facilities, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age
Full Background CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons):
CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults - Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
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.
Minimum Qualification Screening Process A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated. Comparative Analysis Process - Structured Application Review
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.
Your Work Experience/Job Duties
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
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.
Supplemental Questions
Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).
Appeal Rights
You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board (https://spb.colorado.gov/) website.
You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
You can find the official appeal form here (https://spb.colorado.gov/sites/spb/files/documents/Consolidated%20Appeal%20-%20Form%20-%202025.pdf) (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.
Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:
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 (https://spb.colorado.gov/board-rules) webpage.
Supplemental Information
How to apply to the State of Colorado (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKuwGdPpOW0) (Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)
The Assessment Process (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#assessment-process)
About Us & Benefits
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS . In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:
Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-employee-benefits/medical-benefits) and dental (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-employee-benefits/dental-insurance) health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-employee-benefits/disability-insurance)
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center (https://stateofcolorado.benefithub.com/app/home)
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 (https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs) .
Our Values
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.
ADA Accommodations
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.
This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to cdhs_ada@state.co.us .
EEO Statement
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.
Additional Support For Your Application
Toll Free Applicant Technical Support
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.
Employer
State of Colorado
Address
See the full announcement by clickingthe "Printer" icon located above the job titleLocation varies by announcement, Colorado, --
Website
https://careers.colorado.gov/
