**CDOC Mental Health Counselor SW/C II (Canon City and Sterling) Salary $6,245.00 - $8,744.00 Monthly Location Statewide, CO Job Type Full Time Job Number CAA SWC II MH 02.2026 Department Department of Corrections Division Clinical and Correctional Services Opening Date 02/26/2026 Closing Date 5/26/2026 4:00 PM Mountain FLSA Determined by Position Primary Physical Work Address Canon City and Sterling FLSA Status Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation. Department Contact Information kaylie.purcell@state.co.us or 719-714-5230 Type of Announcement A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. How To Apply Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Benefits
Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient. In addition to a rewarding, meaningful career, state employment offers:
• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system • Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans • Medical and dental health plans • Paid life insurance • Short and long-term disability coverage • 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick time • Employee wellness programs • Tuition Reimbursement • Training opportunities and more.
Job Description
Provides professional mental health services to inmates to include formal and informal mental health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions; Assures accurate Information System mental health needs levels, including Psychiatric and Developmental Disability needs level codes; Provides group, brief, and individual therapy, and crisis intervention to include participation in 24 hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation; Assures both emergency and non-emergency transfer for inmates experiencing acute mental health needs; Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in mental health care and treatment of inmates; Assures continuity of care for inmates by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies; Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive inmate mental health records; Monitors inmate treatment and listens to inmate concerns and provides counseling and direction; Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control; Informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process, attends training programs as assigned, including self-defense course to ensure self protection skills.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
• Current, valid Colorado license or registered candidate as a: • Licensed Social Worker (LSW) • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) • Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) • Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Candidate (LMFTC) • Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC)
Work Experience
Ensure that the Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. "See resume" statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the "work experience" section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.
Preferred Qualifications
Graduation with a masters or doctoral degree in a mental health field such as counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy or psychology from a program accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT or COAMFTE) or American Psychological Association (APA). License eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Work, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Psychologist.
Required Competencies
Ability to provide professional mental health or sex inmate treatment to inmates; Individual must be efficient; Able to participate in 24 hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation; Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external agencies; Ability to work independently; Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation; Must maintain required registration/permit/licensure as applicable to this assignment; Ability to work with a diverse population of inmates; Ability to provide professional mental health treatment as part of a multi-disciplinary team; Ability to read and comprehend the English language; Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing; Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.
Assessment Process
Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQs). Applicants that meet MQ's will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.
Conditions of Employment
All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying candidates ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC's consideration of application for employment. Must be 21 years of age; Possess a valid driver's license. Drivers must maintain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record consistent with Colorado Division of Human Resources Universal Policy Driving Standards. Eligibility to drive a State-owned vehicle, includes holding a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of employment or residency change and meeting specific driving record criteria.
Appeal Rights
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail 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.
Certification and Confidentiality Statement
I certify that:
-- I understand that this, my completed Application, the attached Supplemental Questions, and my responses are confidential and that I have neither consulted with others nor received assistance in the preparation, writing, or editing of my responses and the information contained herein is in my own words and was prepared and completed solely by me and only me.
-- All the information I have provided herein is true, complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and is made in good faith.
-- I have not communicated the confidential information of this, my Application and the attached Supplemental Questions in any way to other candidates, potential candidates, subject matter experts, or any person.
-- I understand that if the confidential information in this, my Application and the attached Supplemental Questions and/or my responses, are found to have been falsified, plagiarized, or shared in any way, I may be disqualified or removed from the position if appointed. I agree to the terms and conditions of this Certification and Confidentiality Statement.