Job Description
Posting number: IIC 07524 09/03/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIFL
Job classification: Health Care Technician III
Posting type: Open
Categories: Human Services
Summary
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This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies
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, and now the Outpatient Services Division. The office provides a continuum of mental health care for both Civil and Forensic clients. Civil clients are individuals who are committed by a civil court into the care of the Colorado Department of Human Services because they have serious and persistent mental health conditions. Forensic clients include those who are charged with a crime and have a mental or developmental disability that prevents them from assisting in their own defense or rationally understanding the criminal court proceedings, and those who have been charged with a crime but found not guilty by reason of insanity. CFMH works across the legal system to provide evaluations, treatment and case management for these clients. Outpatient Services is the newest part of this continuum, working to support clients stepping down or being diverted from hospitals and jails, and giving them the care they need in the community.
Through our core values listed below, Outpatient Services staff is committed to:
- Individual dignity and respect
- Person-centered, evidence-based care
- Trauma informed recovery
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Diversity and inclusion
- Strong family and community partnerships
The Lead Behavioral Health Technician (Health Care Tech III) position works in the Outpatient Clinic with individuals involuntarily certified for treatment. Patients receiving treatment through the Clinic have severe and persistent mental illness, criminal legal involvement, and may have traumatic brain injury, trauma disorders, and other complex dynamics. The treatment team is multidisciplinary, including psychiatry, nursing, social workers and counselors, addiction specialists, case managers and other mental health clinicians, all working to help stabilize clients in the community, and transition them to lower levels of care as they recover.
Examples of duties
Description of Job:
You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.
Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
What You'll be doing:
Patient Care and Treatment:
- Counsels patients on psychiatric care needs during group therapies per leadership direction.
- Meets with patients for group and 1:1 therapies, talking and reinforcing behavior on patient and patient's family/significant others on medications and treatment plan.
- Utilizes clean, aseptic technique and sterile technique when required as it relates to medication administration.
- Utilize active and passive patient identification prior to administration of medications, by identifying patients by a minimum of two methods.
- Understands how to: Obtain emergency pack from CSS to include after hours, procuring narcotics from clinic after pharmacy hours, and narcotic control.
- Addresses patient complaints/complaints of family, and resolving patient grievances at the unit level.
- Aware of patient allergies, sensitivities of food/drug interactions, drug/drug interactions.
- Supports client nutrition and meals, as provided by clinic catering. Immediately deliver information to other team members regarding client medical and psychiatric needs.
- Is appropriate in all communications with co-workers.
- Alerts care team to assess the need for PRN (as needed) medication prior to administration.
- Alerts care team and acts on patients expressing suicidal ideation or having issues that could lead to privileges needing to be held. Transports patients from home to clinic and home again, and transports patients off grounds.
Transportation:
- Responsible for therapeutic transportation of clients and, at times, of other staff.
- Drive into the community to engage clients in their home environments and transport them to the clinic, transport clients from the clinic to home, transport clients into the community, and drive to the community for client outreach and engagement.
- During this transportation process, this position will work to engage clients in a therapeutic manner, using basic skills including motivational interviewing and de-escalation and redirection to support clients in their treatment and in compliance with any and all court orders.
- Will require a clean motor vehicle history and good driving practices.
- May transport other staff as part of client and community outreach, and help coordinate transportation for other staff daily.
Documentation:
- Document in approved electronic database for client contacts and group sessions in approved Clinic format.
- Group documentations must be individualized, reflecting how each client participated in each group session.
- All documentation must be completed in no more than 5 business days, including day of treatment provision.
- Document incident reports as indicated, in no more than 24 hours. Document calls to guardians and client managers.
Other Duties as Assigned:
- Any other duties that may arise while completing the tasks of this position to meet the needs of the unit and Clinic
Qualifications
HEALTH CARE TECHNICIAN III (C6R3XX)Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:
- High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
- Two (2) years of work experience working in a direct care role in a mental health or behavioral health field
Substitutions:
Additional appropriate education in human services, behavioral health, psychology, social work, or closely related fields will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual in Spanish is strongly preferred.
- Previous experience as a QMAP.
- Previous experience with serious mental illness.
Conditions of Employment:
- Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship. All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application;
- Successfully pass all modules of the Outpatient Services New Employee Orientation core curriculum to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;
- Possess the physical ability to successfully complete CPR;
- Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic;
- Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions;
- Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety;
- 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;
- Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing;
- 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;
- 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire;
- Annual influenza vaccination;
- Other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.
- 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.
- Motor Vehicle Check, if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an ongoing capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
- Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License or an non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border
- Out-of-State Driver’s License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License within 30 days of employment start date.
- Other Conditions of Employment specific to Program
- 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.
Supplemental information
Supplemental Information:
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:
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.
