CDOC Mental Health Counselor Social Worker/Counselor II (Denver)

Mental Health Professional

This listing closes on 6/10/2026 at 4:00 PM Mountain Time (US & Canada).

Employer: State of Colorado

Salary: $6,245.00 - $8,744.00 Monthly

Location: Denver, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: Den SWC II 34809 MH 5.2026

Department: Department of Corrections

Division: Clinical and Correctional Services

Opening Date: 05/27/2026

Closing Date: 6/10/2026 at 4:00 PM Mountain Time (US & Canada)

FLSA: Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address: Denver, Colorado FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information: Kaylie Purcell at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io

A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. However, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed in this job announcement.

Position located in Denver, Colorado. This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and build greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient. 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.
• Medical and dental health plans; State of Colorado Benefits
• Paid life insurance;
• 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 questions regarding this job announcement please reach out to Kaylie Purcell at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Description of Job

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides professional mental health services to inmates to include formal and informal mental health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions;
• Assures accurate Information System mental health needs levels, including Psychiatric and Developmental Disability needs level codes;
• Provides group, brief, and individual therapy, and crisis intervention to include participation in 24 hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation;
• Assures both emergency and non-emergency transfer for inmates experiencing acute mental health needs;
• Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in mental 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;
• Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive inmate mental health records;
• Monitors inmate treatment and listens to inmate concerns and provides counseling and direction;
• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control;
• Informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process, attends training programs as assigned, including self-defense course to ensure self protection skills.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current, valid Colorado license or registered candidate as a:
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR
• Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) OR
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Candidate (LMFTC) OR
• Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC)

Ensure that the 'Work Experience' section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. 'See resume' statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the 'work experience' section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.

Employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation will return at either their previous pay rate if hired into the same class level or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Graduation with a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field such as counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy or psychology from a program accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT or COAMFTE) or American Psychological Association (APA).
2. License eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Work, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Psychologist.
3. Experience providing mental health treatment in a correctional environment.

Required Competencies:

• Ability to provide professional mental health or sex inmate treatment to inmates;
• Individual must be efficient;
• Able to participate in 24 hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external agencies;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation;
• Must maintain required registration/permit/licensure as applicable to this assignment;
• Ability to work with a diverse population of inmates;
• Ability to provide professional mental health treatment as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.
• Self-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations;
• Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure and observant throughout their shift;
• Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction.

ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

The Assessment Process: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ's will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

Be sure the 'Work Experience' section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and'see resume' statements will not be accepted in lieu of the 'Work Experience' section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.

If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.

If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at