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Posted: March 31, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Mental Health Clinician III - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (Denver)

State of Colorado

Colorado Department of Human Services

Fresh

Salary

$27.11 - $27.11

per hour

Closes

April 14, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job is for a mental health clinician in a state psychiatric hospital in Denver, where you'll help adults with serious mental illnesses by leading group therapy sessions, building trusting relationships, and supporting treatment plans under a nurse's guidance.

It's ideal for someone passionate about recovery-focused care who works well in a team and enjoys hands-on patient support in a hospital setting.

Shifts vary, including days, nights, and weekends, and it's only open to Colorado residents.

Key Requirements

  • Current Colorado residency
  • Unlicensed mental health clinician role under nurse supervision
  • Experience or knowledge in evidence-based mental health practices
  • Ability to lead psychoeducational and clinical treatment groups
  • Skills in building therapeutic rapport with patients
  • Contribution to creating treatment materials and schedules
  • Commitment to multidisciplinary team collaboration in a 24-hour inpatient setting

Full Job Description


This position is open to current Colorado residents only

This position is open to current Colorado residents only

Please note: This posting will be used to fill multiple postings. Position shifts available for: Days, Nights, Weekend, and Float.

This is on-site only.



About Us
The Colorado Mental Health Institute in Fort Logan (CMHHFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHHFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental illness within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHHIFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-59. The hospital currently has 138 adult inpatient beds and over six treatment milieus serving civil and forensic individuals. Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital.

Through our core values listed below, CMHHFL 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 Clinical Mental Health Clinician III works in the 24-hour state psychiatric hospital with individuals voluntarily and involuntarily committed for treatment. Patients receiving treatment at CMHHIFL have severe and persistent mental illness and may have traumatic brain injury, trauma disorders, and other complex dynamics. Each treatment team is multidisciplinary, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, addiction specialists, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, creative arts therapists, nurses, physicians, and mental health clinicians. In addition, the hospital offers dietary, peer, and chaplain services.
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Requirements


Purpose of this position:

The Clinical MHC III is an unlicensed staff member who operates under the supervision of a licensed nurse within Nursing Services. This position is generally responsible for utilizing knowledge, evidence-based research, and interpersonal skills to establish therapeutic rapport and assist in treatment provision. The MHC III is responsible for the provision of psychoeducational treatment groups and assistance with clinical treatment groups. This position will contribute to the creation of group materials, evidence-based treatment interventions, and the establishment of treatment schedules across the hospital. The Clinical MHC III will support the psychology team in the creation, training, and maintenance of support and behavior plans across the hospital. In addition, this position will be responsible for assisting with group assignments, patient movement to and from treatment group locations, documentation, and safety checks throughout off-unit events. The Clinical MHC III may assist with off-campus clinical outings for those in our care and in partnership with other disciplines. This position will work under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist and/or other licensed clinical professional. In order to best support the patients across the hospital, the Clinical MHC III may attend and contribute to various treatment team meetings, including treatment planning and debriefings.


Primary Job Duties:

Group Intervention:
The Clinical MHC III will be responsible for the provision of psychoeducation/didactic group intervention, may assist in clinical group programming, and assist with the facilitation of the assignment and treatment provision process. This requires the position to research best practices, evolving interventions, and create group materials in partnership with the licensed clinician for a variety of group interventions and psychiatric needs. The Clinical MHC III will assist in the creation and execution of a treatment group assignment process for each treatment unit and hospital wide, which will focus on patient specific needs, clinician skill-set, and safety. Treatment intervention may occur in the treatment unit, in the treatment mall, and/or in the community. During the provision of group treatment, the Clinical MHC III is responsible for assessing patient responsivity, appropriateness of materials, and real-time decision making to ensure the intervention is optimally received by those in attendance. This position also shares responsibility in development of treatment schedules, which evolve over time to meet patient needs. Lastly, this position will assist in escorting patients throughout the hospital and possibly into the community in order for them to participate in group treatment.
  • Determines if group intervention is adequate for evolving patient needs
  • Determines group materials for psychoeducation/didactic group interventions
  • Determines when and how to maneuver group intervention in a variety of settings
  • Determines when one may need to change treatment assignment (under supervision of licensed clinician)

Individual Intervention:
The Clinical MHC III will be responsible for assisting with the creation of support and behavior plans, which consists of research, consultation, drafting interventions, plan-related documents, assist with training staff members, and assist with refresher training and data collection for plan maintenance. These plans are the responsibility of the licensed psychologist and the Clinical MHC III will work under that supervision to support the process, as opposed to lead the process. There may also be times when an individual intervention is approved by the licensed psychologist to be facilitated by the Clinical MHC III after adequate training is received (i.e., cognitive remediation).
  • Determines select materials for support and behavior plan creation, initiation, training, and maintenance
  • Determines real-time needs when facilitating an individual intervention
Documentation:
The Clinical MHC III is responsible for documenting all patient contact interactions, including group and individual intervention. Documentation is also required for other clinically relevant interactions, collateral engagement, team meetings, and training or consultations. All documentation is completed in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and should adhere to HIPAA requirements and privacy laws. Documentation is expected to be neutral, unbiased, and based on FAIR charting principles.
  • Determines when and how to complete documentation in the EHR
  • Determines how to apply FAIR charting principles
Consultation and Training:
The Clinical MHC III is required to support hospital-wide clinical intervention and treatment needs, including via consultation with individual team members, teams, and departments. Similarly, the Clinical MHC III will support training specific to clinically driven individual and group treatment interventions. This position may accompany the licensed clinician overseeing the intervention or may independently lead consultation or training for an aspect of it.
  • Determines what training is needed and how to offer it
  • Determines if any support materials may be needed for consultation
Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications


Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's degree in psychology, sociology, social work, behavioral science, clinical mental health, nursing, human services, or in a field of study related to the work assignment.

AND

Experience: Four (4) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position.



This experience must be clearly documented on your application.

Part-time experience will be pro-rated.


Substitutions:


Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.


Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelors Degree
  • 1+ years Knowledge and Experience as Mental Health Care Clinician II at a State of Colorado Mental Health Institute.
  • Experience providing therapeutic and related services to mental health patients in a mental health setting
  • 1+ years professional inpatient mental health-care experience in a psychiatric locked/secure setting,
  • Experience developing and running treatment groups
  • Knowledge and experience with Trauma Informed Care and Recovery Principles and practices
  • Outpatient mental health experience running groups, case management etc., and
  • College or university education in nursing, psychology, sociology, human services, or education.


Highly Desirable Competencies:

  • Knowledge of oral and written communication skills
  • Knowledge and professional inpatient mental health-care experience
  • Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting departmental and institutional policies and procedures,
  • Ability to work with and communicate with internal and external clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous, and cooperative manner and committed to quality service,
  • Ability to perform with a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently,
  • Ability to encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity,
  • Ability to foster commitment and team spirit.
  • Ability to express information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information,
  • Ability to listen to others and respond appropriately,
  • Ability to problem solve,
  • Ability to execute decisions, Integrity, and Accountability



Conditions of employment:


    • [Standard/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 on-going 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 (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s 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.


    Additional 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.


Required Supplemental Questions:

(Multiple Choice) The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer.

Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.This information is available to me and I have read this information.

  • I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

  • Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application? If not, please update your information before submitting your application. Yes/No

  • If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997…). Your application may be considered incomplete if you do not provide this information.

    An incomplete application may not move forward in the Selection process.

    If you are a former or current state employee, please identify what state agency you work(ed) with and how many years of relevant state service you have related to the position you are applying for.

    (Ensure this is listed on your application under work experience).

  • Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application.

  • In the space below, please explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify your application from the current position.

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    Posted on NEOGOV: 3/31/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/1/2026

    Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-colorado-5290993