Department Information

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 rewarding and meaningful work, we offer excellent benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org 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

• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

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.

*** Note: This posting may fill more than one vacancy for available positions that now exist or may exist in the future. Including both part and full time positions.***

Description of Job

Work Unit:
The purpose of this work unit is to provide supervised and secured centralized and standardized transportation services for criminally and civil committed patients and convicted felons on and off grounds, including the transportation of medical information, equipment and other transportation needs related to the quality care provided to these patients in regards to that transportation.

Job Assignment:
To provide a safe, secure environment for all persons on the grounds of the Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Pueblo and within the surrounding community, by enforcing laws and regulations involving the custody of criminally insane patients of the Institute and of convicted felons from the Department of Corrections and the Division of Youth Corrections. To be aware of and adhere to prevailing legal standards, CDHS Policy, DPS Policy and CMHHP specific procedure. Specific duties and expectations of the job are detailed in the 5 sections below: Safety/Security; Programming; Documentation/Recording; Training and Organizational Accountability.

Job duties:

• Work involves providing the direct care, safety, security and supervision of adjudicated and/or pre-adjudicated patients in a locked setting.
• Supervision for safety is a function of appropriate staff location, mobility and continual observation of patients.
• Provide immediate intervention in crisis situations.
• Employ sound judgment and emotional control when evaluation possible crisis in a timely manner taking into consideration the physical and mental well-being of all patients and staff.
• Participate in defusing and debriefing of all incidents.
• Monitor movement of patients in the units or throughout the building.
• Escort and transport to activities or appointments internal and/or external.
• Conduct searches of persons property or areas according to schedule or as needed.
• Check windows, doors, all aspects of locking mechanisms and building grounds to minimize escape risk.
• Actively use effective communication skills, verbal de-escalation skills and CTI skills when interacting with patients and staff in a positive and respectful manner.
• Provide interior security within the facility by patrolling the patient areas on irregular patrols establishing preventative enforcement through Officer presence.
• To provide for and promote a safer, more therapeutic environment by meeting expectations to provide both a deterrent to assaults as well as an additional resource to manage actual assaults and crisis situations.
• Actively and with positive engagement, implement and follow policies and program procedures.
• Observe, monitor, detect, record and report problem behaviors.
• Communicate expectations for behavior, events, rules, or other milieu requirements.
• Use prevailing techniques to establish rapport with patients, overcome resistance to change, communicate more effectively in stable circumstances as well as unsettled circumstances.
• Support CMHIP/DPS initiatives and strategies as it relates to patient programming and crisis intervention.
• Provide officer presence in common areas providing a safer and more therapeutic environment.
• Respond to crisis situations and assist staff in gaining control of hostile situations.
• Document observations of patient behavior and response to treatment.
• Document all unit activities and relevant information on daily shift log.
• Ensures validity and continuity in the security accounting and reporting system by accurately reporting all pertinent security information in log books and by attaining and preserving all essential patient documents.
• Report known or suspected incidents of abuse as mandatory reporters pursuant to prevailing statute.
• Through all communications and behaviors employee will demonstrate, support and contribute to a healthy, positive and respectful cultural climate throughout the facility. Communicates with internal/external customers, residents, subordinate staff and co-workers in a professional manner; ensuring to communicate with respect and dignity.
• Adhere to the CDHS Code of Conduct and DPS Policy and Procedures.
• Be aware of and adhere to prevailing legal standards, CDHS Policy and implementing Procedures.
• Will adhere to CDHS, DPS Policy and CMHIP Procedures regarding work schedule, timekeeping and leave practices.
• Perform continuous, irregular patrols within facility.
• Attend and actively participate in all assigned training and successfully complete any/all testing or other requirements for such training.
• Maintain required certifications as appropriate.
• Successful completion may be known or recorded by score or demonstration of skill.
• Meet and keep current all mandatory training pursuant to prevailing CMHIP/DPS Policy.
• Participate in monthly CTI drills.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:
High school diploma or General Education Diploma, (GED).

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience in dealing with persons with mental illness
• Able to demonstrate problem-solving abilities
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral
• Previous experience working in a facility that serves mentally challenged individuals

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process. Felony convictions, convictions 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.
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver's license
• Transport of patients in State vehicles; Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
• Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency
  services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• May get pulled to other shifts to cover minimum Officer management which may include weekends, holidays and evenings.
• Must successfully pass a TB (tuberculosis) Test.
• May have access to SDS in support of the hazardous waste management program for department and team use.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
• Flu vaccination.
• On or after October 31, 2021, each facility shall ensure all newly hired employees or support staff members are fully vaccinated at the time of hire or receive their first dose of a two-dose protocol, or a single-dose vaccination, prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services for the facility and/or its clients.

• Employees will be required to attest to and verify whether or not they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated may be required to submit to serial testing in the future. Upon hire, new employees will have three (3) business days to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination. Vaccinated employees must provide proof of first dose prior to providing care.

• Note: Fully Vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

• Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation shall be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance. If you would like to request a medical or religious exemption, please contact CDHS_HumanResources@state.co.us

Supplemental Information

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Selection Process:

How to Apply (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the screening of this position. ALL application materials must be submitted with your application before this job posting’s closing date. All application materials are considered complete at the time of application. It is paramount to clearly describe all of your relevant experience on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" will not be considered.

Your application will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications for the position. If your application demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to the comparative analysis process, which is described below.
After submitting an application, you should receive an email acknowledging your submission. If you do not get the email, please check to ensure you have actually submitted the application and typed the correct email address on the application.

Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time sensitive correspondence WILL take place via email. You may receive email notifications from a Colorado Department of Human Services employee or from this email address info@governmentjobs.com It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email; if you do not receive correspondence soon after the closing date, please contact the "Department Contact" listed in this announcement.

Comparative Analysis 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.

SCHEDULED DATES of INTERVIEWS WILL NOT BE MADE UP. IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW AT THE APPOINTED DATE/TIME, MAKE-UPS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

Note: Transfers, voluntary demotions and reinstatements are required to apply and participate in the selection process.

For Recruiting questions, please contact joel.drahos@state.co.us

ADAAA 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 ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.usor call 1-800-929-0791.

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 upload (attach) it.