Certified Addictions Specialist

Department Information

This position is only open to Colorado Residents

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)

As a cornerstone of the Pueblo community for over a century, Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) is a leading employer, provider of quality mental health services, and a community partner.

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.

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Description of Job

About the Department:

This work unit exists to provide the direct delivery of substance use disorder assessment, evaluation, treatment, education, and program development to patients throughout CMHHIP.

This position is an advanced practice assignment which designs and implements psychosocial, substance disorder treatment and new techniques related to this area for CMHHIP patients utilizing a high degree of expertise and independence.

Evidence Based treatment interventions provided include: 1) individual, family, and group therapies; 2) affective education; 3) collateral contact with community agencies and individuals; 4) discharge planning including financial benefits development, placements, and other resource development; 5) assessment of substance use disorders; 6) active participation in the development of individual treatment plans; 7) active participation and further development of the CMHHIP Recovery Continuum; 8) Interface with the Trauma Informed Care Department; 9) potentially provide Acudetox if trained.

Job Duties:

• As a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, position assesses mental health and behavioral characteristics to include direct substance abuse, assess treatment needs, develop treatment plans, educate and counsel patients directly in individual and group therapy based on professional theories and principles related to addiction.
• Position interviews and analyzes client history, providing advocacy and follow-up services to clients and families, making referrals to other health providers, and consulting with community resources.
• Provide ongoing advanced evidence based psychotherapy to patients in individual, family, and group settings in order to enhance positive mental health growth and stability and to achieve and maintain a substance-free lifestyle.
• Assist in designing and implementing hospital-wide substance disorder treatment activities for CMHHIP. Requires participation in regular meetings of the CMHHIP Recovery Continuum.
• Position is responsible for developing and implementing new techniques for substance abuse.
• Develop reciprocal relationship with CMHHIP treatment teams, especially Plan of Care Liaisons, in order to design individual treatment plans and discharge plans. This requires participation in meetings with the multidisciplinary team.
• Collaborates with team Social Worker in advising mental health centers, substance disorder treatment programs, probation departments, families, Department of Human Services and significant others of progress, anticipated treatment duration and recommended course of treatment.
• Assist in planning patients transition from inpatient hospitalization back into the community through addressing legal issues, linking to support systems, and selecting appropriate placement and follow-up treatment programs.
• Interview patients directly, gather history, review outside information, review previous assessments completed by other disciplines, interview family and complete all required documentation/notes. Compile all gathered information and complete the substance use assessment. The evaluator needs to conduct the clinical interview using developmentally appropriate language that takes into account the patient's level of motivation and his/her progression through the stages of recovery
• Position participates in advanced training to enhance services to CMHHIP patients. Develop and present training to employees working towards licensure or certification in the substance field. All Addiction Counselor training must be approved by OBH.
• Provide weekly clinical supervision to employees working towards license/certification in the substance field.
• Position is responsible for maintaining, staying up to date, and following policies and procedures to ensure the safety of themselves, clients and others.
• Identification of and deployment of resources to insure continuity of treatment activities while participating in training.
• Screens applicants for CAC training.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:
Current, valid certification as a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) from the Colorado State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners.

~AND~

Two years of experience as a certified addiction specialist.

Substitutions:

Current, valid licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) from the Colorado State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners will substitute for the CAS certification and one year of the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with dual-diagnosed clients
• Experience working with clients in a high security environment
• Experience with health related databases

Conditions of Employment:

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Additionally, you will be required take a drug screen.
• This position is deemed a critical position. Individuals in critical positions can be expected to work and/or remain at their worksite in delayed start, early release, or closure situations.
• This position may be required to work evenings and or weekends.
• This position requires travel throughout the state to appear in court to testify/support patient's legal status changing.
• TB (Tuberculosis) testing
• Candidate is required to keep their license (Certified Addiction Counselor III or Licensed Addiction Counselor) in good standing throughout employment in this position.
• Former employees of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) who were disciplinary terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on your application and may not be eligible for employment at CDHS.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative.

This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at ; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at under Rules.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (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.

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 and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• 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. For more

information, go to

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

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.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations:
CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of 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, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform 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 our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at or call

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

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