CDOC (Social Worker/Counselor III) Mental Health Clinician - (DENVER)

Posting number: DEN SWC III 08.2026

Department: Department of Corrections

Job classification: Social Work/Counselor III

Posting type: Open

Categories: Corrections, Mental Health, Counseling, Rehabilitation Services

Summary

WHO MAY APPLY:   A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to include licensure through the State of Colorado. 


LOCATION:  There are several positions located at multiple facilities in DENVER, COLORADO.  This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

Examples of duties

• Assigned case load will consist primarily of inmates with moderate to high mental health treatment needs.
• Develop Mental Health treatment plans to serve as the basis for treatment.
• Provide individual and group therapy.
• Perform routine mental health assessments and interviews to determine progress.
•  Update diagnosis and psychiatric needs levels.
• Refer inmates to psychology for more complex psychological assessment.
• Provide information to psychiatry to include client history, previous diagnoses, and alternative treatment available.
• Participation in 24 hour On Call System.
• Assures both emergency and non-emergency transfer for inmates experiencing acute mental health crisis.
• Renders 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 transition to receiving units, facilities, or agencies.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicant must possess one or more of the following valid, active license from the State of Colorado; 
  •  Licensed Professional Counselor
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker 
  • Licensed Psychologist or 
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. 
• AND
• Applicant must have one (1) year of licensed or license candidacy experience, with current valid licensure from the State of Colorado, to include Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate  (LPCC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Candidate (SWC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate, and experience must be with the mental health and/or sex offender population.

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.  


Required Competencies:

• 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.
• Must possess and maintain a valid license from the State of Colorado as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist;
• Knowledge of and ability to conduct crisis assessment and counseling utilizing therapist manuals and protocols and agency/facility security policies;
• Ability to effectively interact with offenders;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• 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;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;

Preferred Qualifications:

• Mental health counseling with the inmate population and crisis intervention experience;
• Experience conducting suicide risk assessments;
• Experience working as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
If you have any questions regarding this job announcement, contact Stacey Hibpshman at stacey.hibpshman@state.co.us or 719-723-3973.

The Assessment Process: Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis. The comparative analysis for this position will include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions. Applications and responses will be reviewed 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.

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.

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 the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.

Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution. 

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.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).  Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

Conditions of Employment: All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying the 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. 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 6 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;

  • Swing a baton in a striking technique;

  • Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;

  • Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions;

• Will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and will be exposed while on assignment;

• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security;

• 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;

• Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner;

• Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders;

• Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments;

• 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;

• Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule;

• TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required. Should applicant’s background reveal criminal charges, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Department of Corrections with written/official disposition of any charges.

The CDOC is committed to a work environment free from illegal drugs and alcohol. Employees (see exception below) may use marijuana in their personal time but are prohibited from working while under the influence of any substance, including marijuana. A drug test will be administered to all new employees; employees must successfully pass.  Random drug screening will occur throughout employment. 

Exception: Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified employees are prohibited from the use of marijuana. Health care professionals must check their licensing requirements regarding marijuana use.

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 (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) 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 spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; 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 spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental information