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

Job title: Client Care Aide II - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (South Denver) in Denver, CO at State of Colorado
Company: State of Colorado
Job description: This position is open to current Colorado residents onlyPlease note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.***This position will receive a short-staffing temporary pay differential of 3.17%from July 1st, 2024 - June 30th 2025***About Fort Logan: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.Opt-in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events!About the Position:This position works under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse and assists with psychiatric and medical nursing care of mentally ill patients; observes, reports, and documents patients' behavior, physical condition (including vital signs, blood pressure, weights, patient reports of pain, etc.), and reactions to medications and treatment; and provides input into planning patient treatment plans; monitors and intervenes to ensure a safe and therapeutic patient milieu; and provides immediate crisis intervention when indicated. Provides basic hands-on care in a safe, clean, infection-controlled manner, including bathing, dressing, grooming, personal hygiene, skin care, range of motion, positioning, ambulating, transferring, toileting, feeding, transporting, and assistance with patients' laundry, safety checks and documenting all of the above. Duties in this position include:
Provide Therapeutic Patient Care:

• 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

Milieu and Unit Safety:

• 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.

Maintains and Updates Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, and Competencies:

• 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

• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:A high school diploma or General Educational Diploma (GED)ANDOne year (1) experience in an mental health or inpatient hospital settingSubstitutions: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 requirementPreferred 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

Conditions of Employment:

• Full Background check. Name check, TRAILS and Fingerprinting, CAPS
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• A Tuberculosis Test (TB), and other required immunizations will be required upon hire.
• May be required to work overtime as needed on a shift or weekend not part of scheduled hours (days, evenings, or nights).
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver's License
• Use, handling, or exposure to hazardous materials (may be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals)
• Travel-May need to travel to other state locations; transports patients to appointments within community
• Shift work- May work days, evenings and nights
• May be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals

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.
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 ([email protected]), 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 ; 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 under Rules.For additional recruiting questions, please contact jazzmaAbout Us:If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the (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 plus 401(k) and 457 plansEmployer supplementedPaid life insuranceShort- and long-term disability coverage11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leavestate employee discount programExcellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and moreRemote work arrangements for eligible positions*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For moreinformation, go to .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 ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at [email protected] or call 1-800-929-0791.
Expected salary:
Location: Denver, CO
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