Client Care Aide II - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (Denver)

About the Department

This position is open to current Colorado residents only

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies (morning, afternoon, and evening shifts).

Colorado Mental Health Hospital 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 health illnesses within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHHFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-49. The hospital has 94 adult inpatient beds, and over four treatment units and opened an additional 44 beds (two units) in December 2022, with one unit currently occupied, the other unit awaiting occupancy.  These two forensic units will be dedicated to providing psychiatric stabilization and restoration treatment to individuals who opined incompetent to proceed as a result of their mental illness. Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital.

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Position Duties

•  Under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse, engage with patients to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship that supports the patient’s psychiatric recovery and mental health.
• Supports and assists patients in accomplishing activities of daily living (ADLs) through monitoring, teaching, supporting, and direct assistance, when needed. Provides direct patient care including bathing & showering, personal hygiene, shaving, brushing teeth, care of personal items, laundry, toileting, dressing, undressing, assisting in and out of bed, feeding programs, toileting programs, range of motion, transporting, and interacting socially to meet patients’ basic needs
• Prepares patients by explaining actions and interventions before providing care, whenever possible
• Assists RN and MHC to complete precaution levels and accountability sheets.
• Documents observations, care provided and patient response on flowsheets or other charting formats as assigned and required by hospital policy
• Maintain professional boundaries with patients and their families
• Assures that patient is treated with dignity and respect, maintaining patient’s privacy
• Communicates to provide or exchange information while keeping registered nurses and other staff informed of patient status and patient issues
• Escorts patients to appointments on grounds and transports within the community

• In collaboration with other team members and under the supervision of a registered nurse, supports a safe and therapeutic treatment environment through effective Milieu Management
• Maintains cleanliness and safety of the work environment for patients by disinfecting washing machines, tubs, and showers between use, directing and assisting patients with keeping their room and space clean and free of obstacles. Utilizes Universal Precautions in managing waste personal care items
• Monitor, identify, and address safety violations in patient care areas
• Monitors for unsafe items and/or unsafe conditions, and act promptly to secure unsafe items and correct unsafe conditions
• Utilize appropriate techniques from Verbal Defense and Influence (VDI) and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) as needed, with the support of staff. Engage patients in unit activities intervene as indicated and communicate any concerns to the registered nurse
• Assists with preparing snacks and meals, serving meals, observing for choke risk, supervising and feeding patients (when needed), and documenting intake & output.
  
  

• Maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies necessary to the position through staff training, supervision, and participating in team development.
• Responsible for utilizing supervision with the supervisor to apply learning to direct practice
• Actively participates in team meetings utilizing a solution-focused approach. Learns, completes, and maintains competency in patient care, including taking vital signs, patient hygiene, and personal care
• Share own learning and ideas with others and support.

• Other duties as assigned
  

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
 
A high school diploma or General Educational Diploma (GED)

AND

One year (1) experience in an mental health or inpatient hospital setting  

Substitutions:

Current, valid certification as a Nurse Aide (CNA) from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies will substitute for the high school diploma or GED.

Current, valid licensure as a Practical Nurse (LPN) from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies or any state participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact will substitute for the experience requirement

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a mental or behavioral health setting
• Possession of CNA License
• Experience assisting residents/patients with their Activities of Daily Living (ADL) care with the mentally ill population.
• 1 year experience in an inpatient setting 
• Previous State experience

1. Disclose that information on the application.

2. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

3. 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.
  
  

You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process.  Part-time work experience will be prorated.

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. 

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.     

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 ([email protected]), 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.

Other Qualifications

How to apply to the State of Colorado

The Assessment Process

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

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• 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.

• 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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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.

Benefits

NA

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information