MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I - Continuity of Treatment Office- CMHHIP

Mental Health Clinician I

This position is open only to Colorado state residents. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies, including full- and part-time vacancies. Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) is a 24 hour behavioral health acute care facility that is intended to provide a safe, secure, and therapeutic setting for patients with both psychiatric and medical issues. The services provided include evaluation and treatment for patients who are severely mentally ill, and the goal of this facility is to return patients to their optimal level of functioning and assist them in returning to the community as appropriate.

The purpose of the Continuity of Treatment Department is to enhance, increase and support treatment programming in all CMHHP patient units by managing clinical staff call-offs and deployment in order to minimize clinical treatment and activities cancellations. The goal of the department is to maintain clinical staffing levels which will assist with patient stabilization, treatment and discharge preparedness. The department provides clinical training and education on specific treatment approaches, therapeutic and group facilitating skills to mental health clinicians and other clinical staff within the hospital to enhance patient treatment outcomes. The work unit develops and implements staffing systems to assure treatment and activities are ongoing and not canceled. The department tracks group/activities compliance, clinical staff call-off and backfill data as well as data on treatment/activities groups cancellations. The department maintains all clinical programming schedules, staff schedules, protocols and group tracking systems. Staff have an understanding of and experience working with patients with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, developmental disabilities, physical handicaps, legal issues and multiple psychiatric diagnoses. The legal status of patients may include incompetent-to-proceed, competency exams, not guilty by reason of insanity, short-term or long-term admission or long-term extension. The unit goal is to assist in treating the severely mentally ill, return them to their optimal level of functioning and assist them in returning to the community as appropriate.

100% In-Person Working Arrangements

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo is a 24-hour facility Sunday (8 am-5 pm), Monday - Thursday (11 am - 8 pm) OR Tuesday - Friday (11 am - 8 pm), Saturday (8 am - 5 pm)

This position will comply with the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health/Division of Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo /Unit: Continuity of Treatment current working arrangements. Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

About the Position: As a Mental Health Clinician I, the incumbent's primary goal is to help patients with mental illness build the skills they need to recover. In this role, the incumbent will work directly with adults and adolescents, leading educational groups and activities that support their treatment goals. The incumbent, isn't just a teacher; but the key part of the safety net, keeping the treatment environment calm, responding to emergencies, and acting as a vital link between the patients and the medical team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Working with Patients and Managing the Environment

• Talk and connect with patients to help support their journey toward getting better.
• Run educational classes and activities once trained and cleared to do so.
• Help senior staff lead specialized therapy groups (like DBT) if you have the right training.
• Start scheduled programs on time and lead patients through exercises.
• Help patients with their concerns. If unable to fix it, point them to a patient rights advocate.
• Walk patients safely to and from different treatment areas or "malls."
• Use knowledge and training to calm down tense situations or disruptive behavior. If a patient has a mental health emergency, respond immediately.
• Watch for changes in a patient's mood or physical health (like pain) and tell the Nurse (RN) right away.
• Know which patients need extra 1-on-1 supervision or have special medical needs before you start your shift.
• Respond quickly whenever a distress or "duress" alarm goes off.
• Keep the treatment areas orderly and make sure all paperwork is finished.

Rules, Safety, and Accountability

• Know and follow the hospital's safety, infection control, and emergency manuals.
• Follow the staff Code of Conduct and ethics rules at all times.
• Safely walk patients to the yard, gym, family visits, or court hearings.
• Log patient attendance and progress in the digital tracking systems (BEHR).
• Make sure all your mandatory training and certifications are up to date.
• If harassment or violence is seen in the workplace, report it to a supervisor or security immediately.
• Join morning team meetings and treatment planning sessions when schedule allows.

Communication

• Listen well and keep teammates and supervisors in the loop to prevent problems before they happen.
• Communicate verbally depending on who you are speaking to (patients vs. doctors) to keep the environment positive.
• If there is an allegation of abuse, tell the Charge Nurse and supervisor immediately and contact public safety.
• Tell the Nurse right away if a patient mentions hurting themselves or others.
• If something is broken or dangerous in the building, report it to the person in charge.

Other Duties

• Complete any other tasks assigned that fit within your general job level and skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only: Three (3) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position OR Education and Experience: A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position (i.e., Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Counseling, Criminal justice, Sociology, or Education) equal to three (3) years Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience starting and leading behavioral health groups or activities.
• Experience following, updating, and documenting progress on a patient's personalized treatment plan.
• Experience working within a locked facility
• Experience working with the State of Colorado

Conditions of Employment:

• Full background and reference checks 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.
• Must have a valid, unrestricted US Driver's License.
• May be required to work evening or weekend shifts, holidays, voluntary or mandatory overtime, both in the clinic, or on patient units throughout CMHHIP
• May be required to work overtime as needed on a shift or weekend, not part of scheduled hours
• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with patients either during or at any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship. All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application
• Successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments, and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;
• Possess the physical ability to complete MANDT and CPR successfully;
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled containment to the floor;
• Withstand impact on own body using an ASP shield;
• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic;
• Kneelon one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions;
• Must be able to see and hear to observe, address, and respond to potential breaches in safety;
• Seize, hold, control, or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;
• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs, and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;
• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person, and/or restraint situations;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing;
• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold), which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings
• Willing and able to travel;
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening
• Influenza vaccination
• Other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
• Disclose that information on the application.
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