DOC Mental Health Counselor SW​/C II Gender Affirming Care; Sterling

DOC Mental Health Counselor SW/C II Gender Affirming Care Sterling is a position with the Colorado Department of Corrections located in Sterling Colorado. This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

Sterling, Colorado

This position is open to Colorado state residents only. However vacancies located within 30 miles of the state border are exempt from the residency requirement. Therefore, applications will be considered from residents and non residents of Colorado for Sterling.

Colorado Department of Corrections Mission: We are a team of dynamic and diverse professionals building a safer Colorado by cultivating transformative opportunities for those under our supervision.

Our Vision: Building a safer Colorado for today and tomorrow.

• Community Safety
• Dignity, Diversity and Respect
• Opportunity
• Collaborative partnerships

• 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
• Medical and dental health plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short and long term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick time
• Employee wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Training opportunities and more

For questions regarding this job announcement please reach out to Brenda Valdez at  or

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Provides professional mental health services to inmates including formal and informal mental health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, gender affirming care 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 including 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

• Applicant must possess a masters degree from an accredited institution in one of the following mental health fields: counseling, social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy. You must attach a copy of your transcripts that contain your name, name of the accredited institution, type of degree received and date degree was conferred.
• Possession of a current, valid permit or license from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as one of the following:
  Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, Psychologist Candidate or Psychologist. Substitutions may apply.

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. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.

• Graduation with a masters or doctoral degree in a mental health field from CACREP, CSWE, AAMFT or COAMFTE or APA accredited program
• License eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Work, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Psychologist
• Experience providing mental health treatment in a correctional environment

• Ability to provide professional mental health treatment to inmates
• Ability to be efficient and work in a team
• 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 across facility programs and external agencies
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation
• Must maintain required registration or licensure as…