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NEOGOV · 22 hours ago

Behavioral Health Specialist, Social Work / Counselor III - Prairie Vista Youth Services Center

Brighton, CO

Full-time

Onsite

Entry, Mid Level

$83K/yr - $83K/yr

1+ years exp

NEOGOV is seeking a Social Work / Counselor III for the Prairie Vista Youth Services Center, a part of the Colorado Department of Human Services. This role involves providing mental health and case management services to youth, conducting therapy sessions, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support the therapeutic care and reintegration of youth into their communities.

GovTechHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologySoftware

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories in mental health treatment for adolescents

Maintains a clear understanding of adolescent development, appropriate interventions for this population, and developmental needs

Uses theories relevant to the needs of the youth and their individual history, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual issues to affect behavior change. Interpret treatment issues, problems, expectation, and changes in behavior for residents and families

Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward program progression and youth stabilization

Therapy needs may include substance abuse, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, and specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth. Clinical services are relevant to the needs of the youth and the individual needs and protective factors, when identified, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious, and sexual issues to affect behavior change and the reduction of substance abuse activity and symptoms in the individual and family

Provides therapeutic services using a strength-based approach and holistic manner

Collaborate with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication assessment or continuation to aid in youth stability

Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided

Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treating the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability

Provide therapy in a manner that is consistent with the youth’s ability, taking into account any necessary modification needed as a result of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury, and mental health disorders

Support agency services of cognitive behavioral-based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing

Position actively engages family/caregivers in the process of stabilizing and transitioning youth to placement

Assess progress, and barriers to progress, and document all case management and therapeutic services in the Fusion Electronic Health Record system

Follows Sanctuary/ROCK Program

Facilitate Community Review Teams as needed for Individual Growth and Change Plans and other interventions as they are developed

Review assessment data, when completed, and recommendations with youth, gather additional historical information from youth, develop therapeutic rapport, ensure the youth is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized and problematic symptoms are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner

Engage parents/family members, significant others, guardians and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the youth’s situation

This position recognizes signs and symptoms of serious mental illness (per DSM-5) standards), exacerbation of symptoms, decompensation or improvement of mental health status is imperative for monitoring each youth’s progress

An ability to complete a brief mental health status exam is expected

This position places an emphasis on, making recommendations, and developing alternate interventions for youth not responding positively to programming. Knowledge of suicide risk indicators is required, with ability to offer on-going suicide risk assessments of youth

Providing input in conjunction with other transition specialists to transition planning and services to aid in successful reintegration of youth into the community. Coordination with YSSIII, Client Managers and milieu staff in the implementation of milieu interventions in order to achieve program success. Collaborate with client manager and MDT initial MDT staffing when needed. Refer to psychiatrists as needed

Determine appropriate, strengths-based treatment goals and objectives for youth

Determine appropriate individuals to provide treatment and other services to youth per treatment plan

Takes responsibility for being current on literature and emerging research in the best practices of treating juvenile mental health, substance abuse issues and co-occurring disorders with a complex population

Trains others in the facility in best practice treatment delivery approaches

Participates in orientation, educational workshops, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and substance abuse discipline meetings, and trainings to assure and maintain competency in the provision of evidence-based substance abuse treatment services

This position guides staff by modeling interventions, recommending practices and resident assignments that may be implemented

Participates in initial case reviews of all new youth, assists in group placement, and assists in case consultation

Provides trainings and consultation on a local/agency level. Is responsible for maintaining all professional certifications and licensure

Actively participates in own professional growth and continued trainings, research and CEU’s

Participates in clinical supervision with the clinical director

Participates in supervision to remain in good standing for license renewals. Participates in treatment team meetings and briefings

Provide input on decisions around milieu programming

Provide input on implementation of treatment goals and objectives within the milieu

Provide input in the development of additional treatment program options

Document in approved EHR a treatment note for all individual and group sessions in DAP format

Group documentations must be individualized, reflecting how each particular youth participated in each group session

Identifying appropriate information to be recorded and the appropriate place to record it

Identifying appropriate parties to receive information on youth treatment and most appropriate mode of communication

Qualification

Licensed Social Worker (LSW)Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Licensed MarriageFamily Therapist (LMFT)Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)Mental health counselingCrisis managementTherapeutic interventionsReport writingTeam collaborationCommunication skills

Required

Current, valid Colorado or State participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact licensure as a: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) OR Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

One (1) year of experience with current, valid licensure from a state participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact based on the work assigned to the position

Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence

Full background check and reference check required

This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position

Motor Vehicle Check, if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc

Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License or an non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border

Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas

The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained