Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) - Clinical Therapist II
State of Colorado
FreshPosted Jan 13
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Posted: January 12, 2026 (3 days ago)
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Clinical Therapist II - Full-time Fitzsimons Veterans Community Living Center - Aurora
State of Colorado
Colorado Department of Human Services
Location
Aurora, Colorado, --
Salary
$4,227 - $4,227
per month
Type
Full Time
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Job Description
Summary
This full-time clinical therapist role at a Colorado veterans' nursing facility involves planning and leading recreational activities to help residents stay active, social, and independent in their daily lives.
The job focuses on creating personalized programs that cover physical, emotional, and social needs, including one-on-one sessions and group outings.
It's a great fit for someone passionate about supporting older adults, especially veterans, with strong organizational skills and a flexible schedule for varying shifts.
Key Requirements
- Current Colorado residency required
- Availability for varying shifts including weekends, evenings, and holidays (Monday-Saturday or Sunday-Thursday)
- Experience or education in recreational therapy, social work, or related fields to plan and facilitate programs
- Ability to conduct initial assessments, quarterly/annual reviews, and develop care plans
- Skills in documentation, including daily participation records and 1:1 resident visits
- Commitment to person-centered care in a skilled nursing environment serving veterans
- Flexibility to work on-site at the Fitzsimons facility in Aurora
Full Job Description
This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
This is a full-time position
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services
Colorado Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons
Colorado Veterans Community Living Center (VCLC) at Fitzsimons is a beautiful 180-bed, skilled nursing facility serving Colorado’s veterans. We strive to honor and respect those in our community through companionship and person-centered care while providing a comfortable and safe place to live. At Fitzsimons, we provide long-term care, short-term rehab, and have a secured memory care neighborhood, and are conveniently located on the medical campus with UC Hospital and the Aurora VA Medical Center. Fitzsimons celebrates a low 14% staff turnover rate and substantial longevity among staff.
Visit us online at: www.colorado.gov/cdhs/veteranshomes/fitzsimons
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Requirements
You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.
The shifts covered by this position may vary to include weekends, evening shifts, and holiday coverage.
Shifts are Monday through Saturday OR Sunday through Thursday (as available)
Please note: Shifts are subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
The purpose of this position is to enable individuals to enhance their lives utilizing leisure and recreational skills. This is done through assisting individuals to identify their leisure values, attitudes, needs, and goals. To keep the residents functioning at the highest level possible in all dimensions of life, cultural, educational, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. Leisure and recreational pursuits promote independence and provide opportunities for socialization. Recreational interests are important to their physical health and provide opportunities for residents to make a contribution to others and eliminate boredom. The recreational calendar also provides multiple opportunities to make choices.
Job Duties:
- Plans, facilitates, and evaluates a diversified program of recreation and leisure that is designed to met the interests and needs of each individual resident and/or neighborhood
- Develops calendar with assistance from staff
- Ensure programs include: cognitive stimulation, cultural, social, educational, recreation, physical, spiritual, psychological, and creative endeavors
- Provide 1:1 visits with residents per care plan
- Completes daily documentation for resident participation
- Conduct and assist with outings
- Complete initial assessments, quarterly/annual reviews, write/review care plans, and complete MDS
- Coordinate services for programs with dietary and/or housekeeping
- Secure coordinating supplies for programs
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:Experience Only
Five (5) years of experience working with seniors/memory care, and/or in a long-term care setting
OR
Education and Experience
A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to five (5) years. (i.e. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Recreation, Social Work, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, or a closely related field of study AND one year of experience).
Substitutions:
None
Preferred Qualifications:
- 5+ years experience in memory care, long-term care, and/or assisted living care center
- Experience facilitating or assisting with programming for seniors (or any population) with recreational activities.
- Experience in art therapy and/or music therapy
- Experience in documentation, charting, and writing skills, experience in those areas and/or facilitation
- Experience with electronic medical records
FULL BACKGROUND CHECK: This position will have direct contact with vulnerable persons (as defined by C.R.S.27-90-111: "Direct contact" means providing face-to-face care, training, supervision, counseling, consultation, or medication assistance to vulnerable persons, regardless of the level of supervision of the department employee.
"Direct contact" may include positions in which persons have access to or unsupervised time with clients or patients, including but not limited to maintenance personnel, housekeeping staff, kitchen staff, and security personnel.)
- CBI & FBI fingerprint check, Colorado Court Database check, Medicare Fraud Database, TRAILS Database check.
This position will also provide direct care to vulnerable adults requiring a CAPS check (as defined by C.R.S. 26-3.1-101, position provides services & support care to at-risk/vulnerable adults including case management, clergy, physical or mental health services, safety or welfare services)
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
Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License or a 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.
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
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. 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 a review and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from an eSkills Test.
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 acknowledgment 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.
Additional Information
How to Apply (YouTube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)
For additional recruiting questions, please contact christine.koter@state.co.us
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.
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 ApplicationToll-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.
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.
Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes