Intake and Resource Specialist - Social Services Specialist IV - Remote.

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Description Of Job

Important: This position is designated remote. Employees must have reliable access to high speed internet service as well as a work setting which permits privacy and confidentiality. This position required to travel to multiple locations throughout the state as well as regularly scheduled meetings typically in the Denver Metro Area.

About This Unit

The position is located in the Division of Child Welfare, Provider Services Unit. The Division is responsible for the ongoing implementation of child welfare services in Colorado and supervises county departments of human / social services in the administration of Child Welfare programs, as well as privately operated 24-hour care facilities. The Provider Services Unit exists to license, manage, supervise and provide statewide oversight for privately operated 24-hour childcare facilities and agencies, to include Qualified Residential Treatment Facilities, Residential Child Care Facilities, Secure Residential Treatment Centers, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Centers, Homeless Youth Shelters, Specialized Group Homes and Centers, Child Placement Agencies, Adoption Agencies, Day Treatment Facilities, state-contracted residential programs, and family foster care homes across the State of Colorado. The goals of the unit are to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the youth served in those facilities, programs, and homes. The work unit is responsible for comprehensive integrated (Interagency) licensing and monitoring of the 24-hour childcare facilities and to audit and investigate reports/allegations involving licensing violations, facility or agency culpability, and to ensure the safety of children in out-of-home placements.

About This Position

The contracts administration team within the Division of Child Welfare operates several innovative programs designed to address unmet complex needs of children and youth with mental and behavioral health concerns. These programs identify and support intensive and dynamic supports for children and youth who otherwise would be unable to access placement in Colorado. The Intake and Resource Specialist position analyzes assessments and application materials to determine fit within these contracted programs. When the contracted programs are not a fit for a child or youth, this specialist partners with client teams to identify alternative supports and action steps. The team is looking for creative, resourceful, organized professionals with a commitment to person-first service and a passion to help those in need.

This position is the staff authority for determining if referred children are eligible for the state contracted Acute Residential QRTP (Qualified Residential Treatment Program) facility. This position supports the Acute Residential Program QRTP through referral evaluation, assistance with the admissions process, ongoing resource and case management, policy development and education to the community and partner agencies, and authorization of program eligibility. This position evaluates referrals submitted for the Acute Residential QRTP for program eligibility, communicates with referring entities to ensure applications are comprehensive and determines eligibility. This person holds sole responsibility for authorizing access to the contracted programs and determining appropriateness of program funding. This position then provides this information to the facility and Acute Residential Program QRTP Administrator for admission planning. This position assists the referring entities in identifying supportive services and placement options for children with acute mental health and behavioral needs. This position produces an annual report on demographic and outcomes data for the Acute Residential QRTP as required by statute to report to the legislature.

Eligibility Evaluation

Summary of Job Duties:

This position is the staff authority for developing the procedures and strategies necessary for determining if referred children are eligible for the state contracted Acute Residential Program QRTP. This position is the expert in interpreting and applying eligibility criteria as set forth in Volume 7 and within these operating procedures. This position’s judgement of eligibility is the single entry point for clients to access the contracted programs and subsequent funding and services through these programs.

Related Responsibilities Include

• Develops metrics for assessing what evidence must be demonstrated or measurements achieved to qualify as eligible for admission to the contracted QRTP programs.
• Publishes these metrics in the form of Operation or Information Memorandums to communicate these requirements to county partners and other referring entities.
• Provides public technical assistance through web based trainings, presentations, and town hall opportunities to guide users of these services.
• Ensures that all supporting documentation for applications is provided and request additional information as needed to support eligibility determination.
• Consults with the child’s permanency team and prior care providers to gather information regarding the child’s needs.
• Evaluates applications for eligibility requirements, utilizing complex judgement to determine eligibility and ability to receive services and funding.
• Influences and guides referring entities to exhaust other options for placement or services within Colorado and verify that options have been exhausted before consideration of placement at the Acute Residential Program QRTP. Assists referring entities to include families, Case Management Agencies for waiver services, Regional Accountable Entities for Colorado Medicaid members, and county departments of human and social services.
• Communicate denials of eligibility to referring entities. Is authorized to determine if clients are not eligible for the program based on analysis of independent assessments and other respondent documents. Holds authority to prohibit access to these services and funding.
• Assists referring entities with Medicaid enrollment. Collaborates with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to ensure clients who are eligible for Medicaid are able to receive it, per statute.
• Notify Acute Residential Administrators of approvals and forward complete packet to Acute Residential Program QRTP facility treatment team.
• Notify referring entities of approved admission and anticipated conditions and timeframe for admission or waitlist status.
• Manage the waitlist for the programs by keeping current information on the status and needs of clients on the waitlist.
• Prioritize the waitlist for placement based on needs of youth and program, acuity, and milieu compatibility and determine which clients are next able to access services and funding.
• Communicate with the Acute Residential Administrator and facility clinical team when a client on the waitlist is approaching a possible admission date to establish admission expectations and requirements.
• Conduct a secondary review of referral admission for children on the waitlist based on current status and presentation when admission is pending.
• Draft and submit correspondence to referring entities regarding admission decisions, placement availability, and admission planning.
• Maintain a detailed database of all applications and referrals.
• Prioritizes recommendations for changes in policy or regulatory changes to 12 CCR 2509-5 to align with any practice or operational considerations. Ensures these changes meet the needs of the programs to complete effective admission and discharge procedures to serve the targeted population. Ensures these changes permit oversight authority for the Department’s responsibility for effective service delivery and guardianship of funding for the programs.
  
  

Resource Coordination And Assistance

This position is a technical assistance expert for the Division of Child Welfare in the areas of accessing services for children with acute mental health needs and their families. This position is a discharge specialist for children who have completed treatment at the program.

Duties Include

• Assist county departments of human services, parents, and other case management agencies in identifying resources to meet the diverse needs of children who have prior histories of abuse and neglect, delinquency, mental illness, co-occurring disorders, psychiatric needs, and developmental disabilities.
• Provide targeted guidance for referring entities when a client has been denied eligibility to identify and explore alternate placements and supportive services.
• Research and maintain regularly updated connections with placement and support service providers.
• Maintain a database of available placement providers, community centered boards, regional accountable entities, and other resources to assist children and families in need of psychiatric out of home care or other services.
• Provide case management and support services to children who are not placed by a county department of human services.
• Assist the guardian of children who are not placed by county departments of human services to access historical records, services while in placement, and to navigate support and stepdown options upon completion of treatment.
  
  

Data Collection and Reporting:

• Maintains a database of all referrals, admissions, waitlisted referrals, and discharges for clients referred to the Acute Residential Program QRTP.
• Develops improved data collection systems. Presents this form to public stakeholders and hosts technical assistance opportunities to train on its usage.
• Integrates this data collection system into the development of the Universal Referral Form utilized by all referring entities and providers.
• Monitors data trends
• Develops and presents an annual report to document these and other data points pertinent to stakeholders, the public, legislative liaisons.
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS' hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine meeting minimum qualifications and for the comparative analysis process. Experience is calculated on a full-time equivalency basis, therefore, it is important to accurately notate the hours you averaged per experience section entry. Volunteer work or related type of experience may be used to meet the qualifications, but must be clearly documented. It is paramount that in the experience portion of the application, the applicant describes the extent to which they possess the education, experience, competencies and background as they relate to the duties outlined in the job announcement.

Minimum Qualifications

Option 1 - Experience:

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. Related experience would include case management, assessments, work within a mental health facility, or similar work experience.
• Please note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered.

OR

Option 2 - Experience & Education

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in Social work, sociology, public health, psychology and related fields equal to seven (7) years.
  
  

Substitutions:

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with regulatory processes and procedures as it relates to Medicaid
• County Practice - case management or similar
• Experience working with clients that have had special physical or behavioral needs
• Previous experience as a case worker
• Experience working in residence Qualified Residential Treatment Program
• Social work experience, preference will be given to hospital or educational social work experience
• Ability to understand how to read legislative and complex regulatory information and determine the process or how it applies
• Relevant years of State of Colorado service
  
  

Conditions Of Employment

• This position is expected to travel to contracted providers as needed
• Standard Background – Name check, TRAILS, CMS and JBITS
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
  
  

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.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb . If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact amber.holcomb@state.co.us

About Us

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining 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. 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 www.copera.org 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
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• 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. For more
  
  

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our Values

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

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.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of 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, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform 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 our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~