Licensed Clinical Therapist/Mental Health Provider

Posting No.: 20260014
Division: Behavioral Health & Therapeutic Services
Department: Las Animas County Department of Human Services
Reports To: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Must complete a minimum 90 day probationary period.

Benefits: Full-time permanent employees are eligible for health insurance, retirement, vacation/PTO, sick leave, personal leave, and other County-authorized benefits.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Licensed Clinical Therapist provides professional behavioral health services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, caregivers, and families served by or referred to the Las Animas County Department of Human Services Behavioral Health & Therapeutic Services Division. Services may support individuals involved with child welfare, adult protective services, public assistance programs, courts, substance-use services, domestic-violence intervention, and other Department or community programs.

Using trauma-informed, evidence-based, family-centered, and culturally responsive practices, the therapist conducts clinical and psychosocial assessments, develops treatment plans, provides individual, family, and group interventions as appropriate, supports crisis stabilization, and coordinates care with multidisciplinary partners.

The therapist works collaboratively with Department staff, courts, schools, medical and behavioral health providers, legal professionals, and community organizations to promote safety, well-being, family functioning, treatment continuity, and access to appropriate services. All services are provided within the scope of the employee's Colorado professional license and applicable ethical and professional standards.

This position is not a 24-hour emergency behavioral health response service. Limited after-hours support may be required. Emergency behavioral health needs are coordinated with appropriate crisis, emergency medical, law-enforcement, or other emergency resources in accordance with Department procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides evidence-based individual, family, and, when appropriate, group behavioral health services to children, adolescents, adults, caregivers, and families.

Conducts behavioral health and psychosocial assessments to identify clinical needs, strengths, risks, protective factors, and appropriate levels of care.

Develops, implements, reviews, and updates individualized treatment plans with measurable goals and clinically appropriate interventions.

Provides trauma-informed services addressing abuse, neglect, family disruption, grief and loss, behavioral concerns, substance use, interpersonal or domestic violence, and other circumstances affecting individual or family functioning within professional scope and competency.

Conducts clinically appropriate suicide, self-harm, violence, abuse/neglect, and other risk assessments; develops safety plans and coordinates emergency or higher-level care when indicated.

Provides crisis intervention, stabilization, consultation, and clinical support within established Department procedures and professional scope.

Develops discharge, transition, and aftercare plans and coordinates referrals and continuity of care with behavioral health, substance-use, medical, educational, social-service, and community providers.

Coordinates treatment with multidisciplinary partners and participates in family meetings, case consultations, staffing, multidisciplinary teams, and court-related processes as clinically appropriate.

Provides clinical consultation to Department personnel regarding trauma, behavioral health, family dynamics, engagement, treatment needs, and service recommendations without replacing statutory case-management or supervisory decision-making.

Provides services in County offices, homes, schools, community settings, or through authorized telehealth modalities when clinically appropriate.

Prepares assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, clinical summaries, treatment recommendations, reports, releases, referrals, and other required clinical records accurately and timely.

May provide factual or professional testimony in judicial or administrative proceedings when appropriately subpoenaed, authorized, or directed.

Distinguishes therapeutic treatment and consultation from forensic evaluation or expert opinion and does not provide services or opinions outside professional scope, competency, or assigned role.

Obtains appropriate informed consent and releases of information and maintains confidentiality consistent with applicable privacy, records, information-security, professional, and HIPAA requirements.

Complies with mandatory-reporting requirements and Department procedures regarding suspected abuse, neglect, threats to safety, and other reportable circumstances.

Completes documentation necessary to support authorized billing, Medicaid or other public-payer reimbursement, private insurance, self-pay/sliding-fee services, grants, and other applicable funding requirements.

Uses clinical outcomes and case information to evaluate progress and modify interventions as appropriate.

Participates in clinical consultation, peer and case review, administrative supervision, quality assurance, utilization review, performance improvement, continuing education, training, and program development.

Maintains professional boundaries, independent clinical judgment, and compliance with ethical and scope-of-practice requirements applicable to the employee's license.

Performs other related duties and special assignments as directed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of behavioral health, child and adolescent development, adult and family systems, trauma, evidence-based clinical interventions, crisis response, risk assessment, and treatment planning.

Knowledge of professional ethics, confidentiality, informed consent, mandatory reporting, documentation, and scope-of-practice requirements.

Ability to establish effective therapeutic relationships with individuals and families experiencing complex or high-stress circumstances.

Ability to assess clinical risk, exercise sound professional judgment, maintain appropriate boundaries, and respond effectively to urgent situations.

Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary environments while maintaining professional accountability and independent clinical judgment.

Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, documentation, and time-management skills.

Ability to communicate effectively with clients, Department personnel, courts, attorneys, schools, medical and behavioral health professionals, and community partners.

Ability to use electronic health records, case-management systems, telehealth technology, and standard office applications.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND LICENSURE

Master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or another discipline qualifying the individual for independent clinical practice in Colorado.

Current, active, and unrestricted Colorado professional license appropriate to the services provided, including LCSW, LPC, LMFT, Licensed Psychologist, or other qualifying independent clinical license.

Professional experience providing behavioral health or clinical services to children, adolescents, adults, and/or families.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Three or more years of post-graduate clinical experience in behavioral health, child welfare, family services, community mental health, or a related setting.

Experience providing trauma-informed and evidence-based services to individuals involved with child welfare, courts, public systems, substance-use services, or community behavioral health.

Training or demonstrated competency in evidence-based treatment modalities.

Experience with crisis assessment, safety planning, multidisciplinary teams, rural behavioral health, and community-based services.

Bilingual English/Spanish skills desirable but not required.

Demonstrated ability to effectively serve individuals and families from varied backgrounds and life experiences.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Must maintain required Colorado professional licensure in good standing throughout employment.

Must meet applicable County, payer, licensing, or program professional-liability requirements.

Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, or ability to travel throughout Las Animas County and surrounding areas as required.

Successful completion of County-required background, employment, and other applicable screening requirements.

Ability to attend training, provide community-based services, travel outside the primary office, and work limited non-standard hours when operationally necessary.

Must maintain continuing education and other requirements necessary for professional license renewal and competent clinical practice.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in office, community, and client-service environments and may include travel to homes, schools, courts, provider locations, and other community settings. Duties require frequent communication, computer use, and periods of sitting, standing, and walking. The employee may encounter emotionally charged, stressful, or crisis situations and must respond professionally and safely. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

POSITION CLASSIFICATION NOTICE

FLSA classification will be determined by Las Animas County Human Resources based on the position's actual duties, salary basis, and applicable law. This description identifies the general nature and level of work expected and is not intended to contain every duty or responsibility. Duties may be modified based on law, policy, funding, program requirements, licensure standards, or operational need.

*** Please submit cover letter, resume, transcripts, and references ***