Posting number: IIC 03725 08/12/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH (Office of Behavioral Health)
Job classification: Health Professional V
Posting type: Open
Categories: Human Services
Located within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Civil and Forensic Mental Health Services (CFMH) operates Colorado’s two mental health hospitals, the Forensic Services Division, the Division of Mental Health Transitional Living (MHTL), Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, the Outpatient Services Division, and Enhanced Placement, Incompetency, and Civil Commitment (EPICC) services. CFMH provides a continuum of mental healthcare services for civilly- as well as justice -involved individuals. Civilly certified patients are individuals who have been committed by a civil (probate) court into the care and custody of CDHS because they have serious and persistent mental health conditions. Justice-involved individuals are those who are charged with a crime and have been determined to have a mental or developmental disability that prevents them from assisting in their own defense or rationally understanding the criminal court proceedings, a mental condition that significantly impairs their ability to form a specific intent or understand the full impact of their choices, or have been found not guilty by reason of insanity. CFMH works across the legal system to provide evaluations, treatment, placement, and case management for these individuals.
EPICC is the newest part of this continuum and presently encompasses two subdivisions which include the Bed Utilization Management section and Care Navigation Services. Bed Utilization Management is responsible for the oversight, coordination, metrics, and communications related to the overall inpatient bed capacity managed by CFMH (i.e., MHPs, Jail-Based programs, and private hospital contractors). That section also provides project coordination and necessary admissions-related information in fulfillment of Federal Consent Decree requirements, as well as consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to represent CFMH within Show Cause hearings. Care Navigation Services (CNS) has been created to address recent changes to Colorado’s statutory framework governing competency to proceed in criminal cases, which established new processes to transition certain defendants from the criminal justice system to the civil judicial system when criminal prosecution is no longer the most appropriate disposition. These new processes include transitioning from restoration commitments to civil commitments for individuals with mental health disorders, and enhanced protective placements (EPP) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities [IDD] or neurocognitive disorders. The mission of the Care Navigation team is to provide supervision and care coordination for individuals who have been formally charged with a felonious crime of violence or unlawful sexual behavior and who have been found by a presiding court to be both Incompetent to Proceed to adjudication (ITP) and Not Restorable to competency within the foreseeable future (ITP-NR) – at which time the courts are required to release such defendants from their restoration commitments.
The CNS team works within a variety of community, criminal justice, and secure settings (e.g., mental healthcare agencies, jails, courts, hospitals, etc.). The team is responsible for coordinating placement, ensuring a high level of accountability for patient care, providing clear and relevant communications with judicial stakeholders on issues related to progress as well as risk, and (when appropriate) advocating for changes to court-ordered conditions with respect to least-restrictive settings for the provision of services. Furthermore, team members are required to ensure that the skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies necessary to fulfill their position duties remain current through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and employee development.
This position is 100% remote.
Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.
What You'll Be Doing:
Program Implementation, Monitoring and Auditing
The Care Navigation Supervisor implements ongoing and routine auditing of each Care Navigator for the purposes of ensuring that division processes are consistently followed, confidentiality is maintained, necessary information is entered into the appropriate data systems in accordance with department policies and procedures as well as with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), placement recommendations meet the least-restrictive needs of the clients, required reporting to judicial stakeholders includes all the necessary information / documentation, and that all communications with the judicial system as well as internal and external stakeholders is professional, timely, and responsive. This position also confirms that each client ordered for an EPP or Civil Commitment is assigned to and monitored by a Care Navigator throughout the entire placement process and that appropriate information is provided for continuity of care. This position may attend in-person meetings with stakeholders (e.g., judges, treatment teams, placement care providers, etc.) as needed at the request of the division to ensure client care and may be responsible for case coverage. These duties may require travel throughout Colorado.
This Health Professional regularly identifies and reports process impediments to the Care Navigation Services Director, creates solutions to address such issues, audits results and outcome data, and responds to requests for information from the division director. This position reports problems with data management systems to the data management team for resolution. The Care Navigation Supervisor may be required to attend court proceedings and/or visit clients in custody or in placements in order to answer stakeholder questions about their care navigation. To ensure high quality and consistent practice implementation, monitoring, and auditing, this position also engages in site visits, stakeholder consultation, and feedback from the individuals court-ordered to placements.
Supervision, Training and Coverage:
The Care Navigation Supervisor is the direct supervisor for the four (4) full-time Care Navigators (HP-III) within the work unit. As such, this position provides oversight to their associated processes, documentation, and legal submissions in partnership with the director. Supervisory duties may also include individual supervision, group supervision, training, onboarding, professional development, staff scheduling, reviewing position descriptions, participation in the hiring process (e.g., recruitment, interviewing, evaluating fit, etc.), retention of current team members, facilitating a sufficient level of position-related competencies, performance reviews, performance plans, consultation, and guidance to ensure all supervisees are functioning within statute, policy, and procedure. This position may participate in various department trainings, contribute to such training, review statutes and offer suggestions.
As a supervisor, this position is obligated to attend in-person required meetings, trainings, and as directed by department leadership. The Care Navigation Supervisor is also responsible for determining and contributing to staff coverage. This team has obligations directly tied to statute, which includes strict timeframes. As such, this position may at times be required to provide coverage for cases and therefore would be responsible for maintaining all of the obligations that the Care Navigator position holds for that time frame. This position may be required to travel to county jails and placement sites to observe clients and report back to the director with limited notice depending on the severity of the client’s situation. This may require significant travel within the state of Colorado.
Documentation:
In accordance with legal obligations and internal policies and procedures, this position is required to consistently document client contacts, relevant collateral information, and case updates within the internal electronic health record system in a timely, thorough, professional, and accurate manner. Additionally, this position is responsible for legal documentation to be submitted to the courts which includes but is not limited to recommendations related to placements as well as treatment, opinions on the appropriateness of modifying court-required conditions, annual reports, termination reports, and other CNS -related court communications and/or reports. In completing such documentation, professional writing, attention to detail and relevant information, and an ability to accurately convey information is expected. In addition to authoring and submitting such documentation, the Care Navigation supervisor is responsible for the review / approval of various documents completed by those they supervise as a matter of quality assurance and in situations where submission of the material to leadership is required.
Legal and Court Involvement:
The Care Navigation Supervisor serves as a primary point of contact for judges, attorneys, guardians, and others affiliated with the judicial system. This involves fielding questions and concerns via email, telephone, meetings, presentations, and training. This also includes testimony when so required on behalf of Care Navigation Services. There may also be times when this position is required to be in contact with law enforcement. When engaging in any such activities, this position is required to maintain professional boundaries, scope of practice associated with the position, and represent the department in a professional manner.
Experience Only:
Eight (8) years of experience in implementation and clinical oversight of behavioral healthcare programs in a supervisory role which includes areas of competency as identified below:
Staff supervision
Clinical supervision
Clinical team leadership
Behavioral health crisis management
Policy and/or program implementation
Collaboration with other teams and leadership
Ensuring service quality and that the needs of the clients/patients, community, and referral sources met
Providing training, onboarding, oversight, and review of employees
Providing mental healthcare services to individuals within a variety of related environments (e.g., inpatient, residential, detention, and/or forensic facilities)
Ensuring professional communication, documentation, and representation to both internal as well as external stakeholders within a variety of contexts including forensic as well as judicial
AND Special Qualification: Current and valid Colorado licensure as a LPC, LCSW, LMFT, LAC, or Licensed Psychologist
OR
Education and Experience:
A combination of education in psychology, social work, counseling, or other comparable mental health related field and/or experience in implementation and clinical oversight of behavioral healthcare programs in a supervisory role which includes areas of competency as identified below equal to eight (8) years.
Staff supervision
Clinical supervision
Clinical team leadership
Behavioral health crisis management
Policy and/or program implementation
Collaboration with other teams and leadership
Ensuring service quality and that the needs of the clients/patients, community, and referral sources are met
Providing training, onboarding, oversight, and review of employees
Providing mental healthcare services to individuals within a variety of related environments (e.g., inpatient, residential, detention, and/or forensic facilities)
Ensuring professional communication, documentation, and representation to both internal as well as external stakeholders within a variety of contexts including forensic as well as judicial
AND Special Qualification: Current and valid Colorado licensure as a LPC, LCSW, LMFT, LAC, or Licensed Psychologist
Preferred Qualifications:
3 years of experience in providing professional clinical supervision within a forensic context
3 years of experience in leadership of professional clinical teams
Quality assurance and auditing experience of supervisees
Data management, tracking, and reporting
Policy implementation and review
Inpatient / Outpatient behavioral health systems knowledge
Experience developing risk management / mitigation plans
Experience working in inpatient, locked, detention, and/or forensic clinical settings
Experience working within and navigating systems where there is often an intersection of conflicting goals (e.g., judicial orders, policy requirements, healthcare provision, and patients’ rights, etc.)
Knowledge of Medicaid/Medicare benefits systems
Knowledge of State benefits systems, especially related to individuals with ID/IDD, neurological, and neurocognitive diagnoses
Management and clinical supervision of multiple employees
Demonstrated skill and experience in leading and supporting collaborative teams and teamwork
Exemplary verbal and written communication skills
Self-directed
Resourceful
Superior critical and analytical thinking skills
Ability to shift focus and juggle multiple priorities
Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with internal as well as external stakeholders to facilitate the achievement of program requirements
Experience representing an employing agency in high stakes, high profile situations like inter/intra -departmental work groups, courtroom appearances, and communications with stakeholders within the judiciary.
Conditions of Employment:
Full background check and reference check required
This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
TB testing and flu vaccinations are required. Any other vaccinations or testing that is required by CDHS.
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
Disclose that information on the application.
Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
CDHS Selection Process Explanation
Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.
Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:
Relevant years of state service experience.
Minimum Qualification Screening Process
A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review
After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.
Your Work Experience/Job Duties
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.
Supplemental Questions
Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).
Appeal Rights
You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.
You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
You can find the official appeal form here
You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:
By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or
Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, 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.
Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:
At (303) 866-3300, or
Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.
How to apply to the State of Colorado (Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)
About Us & Benefits
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join 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. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS 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
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
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
Our Values
We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
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.
ADA Accommodations
CDHS is committed to a Colorado for 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.
This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing 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 cdhs_ada@state.co.us
EEO Statement
The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer
We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives 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.
Additional Support For Your Application
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 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.
Serve the needs of the State of Colorado through a number of subdivisions. The Colorado Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches form the government for the State of Colorado. "A Career should be about believing in what you do and making a positive impact on your community. That is a career that makes you proud; that is a career with distinction."- Mary Mullarkey, Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.
