CDOC Addiction Specialist II

Job Title

Substance Use Disorder Services Provider

Job Description

Current vacancies: Buena Vista, Canon City, and Limon; however, we are accepting applications for all locations. The eligibility list created from this posting will be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout the state. This position provides substance use disorder services to the inmate population, to include formal and informal behavioral health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serving as consultant for unit staff regarding assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning;
• Monitoring inmate treatment and documentation to assure compliance with standards and to assure continuity of care;
• Assurance of accurate Information System behavioral health needs levels, and providing group, brief, and individual treatment;
• Providing clinical direction to non-clinical staff in behavioral health care and treatment of inmates.
• Assurance of continuity of care for inmates by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies;
• Providing crisis intervention in conjunction with clinical standards regarding mental health professional privilege level;
• Documenting both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive inmate behavioral health records;
• Communicating directly with inmates regarding their behavioral health care such as consequences of maladaptive behavior and desired and undesirable effects of prescribed behavioral health medication;
• Listening to inmate concerns and providing counseling and direction;
• Communicating to advise, counsel, inform and/or guide staff within the clinical unit, the facility, clinical and administrative supervisors and outside agencies to ensure continuity and direction of behavioral health care;
• Communicating and responding to complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and inmate behavioral management issues;
• Responsible for maintaining standards of the program or work unit through compliance with all applicable professional, departmental, organizational and unit standards;
• Promoting and being accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience: Applicant must possess a current, valid certification from the State of Colorado as:

• a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) OR
• an Addiction Counselor Candidate (AC-C) OR
• a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

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.

Required Competencies:

• Ability to provide direct behavioral health care to inmates;
• Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation;
• Ability to work independently;
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external stakeholders;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Must maintain certification/licensure as an addiction counselor;
• Ability to work with a diverse population of inmates;
• Strong organizing, planning and prioritizing skills;
• Keen ability to multi-task and demonstrate flexibility;
• Ability to provide addiction counseling as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
• Ability to be creative when implementing therapeutic interventions;
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing addiction treatment to an incarcerated population;
• Experience providing addiction treatment to a diverse population;
• Experience working with highly resistive clients;
• Experience administering multidimensional substance use assessments;
• Experience providing addiction counseling in an inpatient and outpatient setting.

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

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. Those rehired or reinstated after six months' separation will be calculated using the same formula for new hires and promotions.

Please note that while this change in role may constitute a promotion in title and/or responsibility, salary adjustments are not guaranteed and may be influenced by factors such as internal pay equity, budget constraints, market benchmarks, or the individual's current compensation level. Any changes to compensation will be determined separately and communicated accordingly.

In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least (10) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than (10) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process.

Conditions of Employment: All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC's consideration of application for employment.

• Must be 21 years of age;
• Possess a valid driver's license. Drivers must maintain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record consistent with Colorado Division of Human Resources Universal Policy Driving Standards (Download PDF reader). Eligibility to drive a State-owned vehicle, includes holding a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of employment or residency change and meeting specific driving record criteria. Serious traffic violations, including DUIs or reckless driving, can disqualify drivers for up to seven years. All State Vehicles are monitored by telematics for safe operation and employees have no reasonable expectation of privacy while using an agency State Fleet vehicle.
• Possess a high school diploma or GED;
• Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 15601-15609. The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior, in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in the above paragraph. The agency shall consider any incidents of sexual harassment in determining whether to hire anyone who may have contact with offenders or residents.
• Applicants must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of application; DOC cannot provide H-1B sponsorship at this time.
• Successfully pass all modules of the six-week Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete Defensive Tactics;
  • Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
  • Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;
  • Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;
  • Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;