Human Services Clinician

Human Services Clinician

Employment Type: 0 - Full-time Regular
Pay Range: $68,953.00 - 103,429.00
Location: Castle Rock, Lone Tree, or Highlands Ranch, CO
Overtime Exempt: Y
Elected Office / Department: HUMAN SERVICES

The role of a Human Services Clinician involves providing support, counseling, and case management services to individuals and families facing a variety of challenges. This professional works in a range of settings, the department of human services, family and client homes, other county business locations, helping clients navigate personal, emotional, and social difficulties. The clinician's primary goal is to enhance the well-being and quality of life for their clients by offering direct services, therapeutic interventions, and connecting them with community resources. This position supports employees and clients in all areas of Human Services: Child Welfare, Adult Protection, Customer Service, Child Support Enforcement, Child Care, Mental Health Division and Eligibility Programs (Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, etc.).

Generally, the hiring range is $68,953- $86,191 annually. Qualifications, education and experience as it relates to the position will be taken into consideration when determining hiring salary.

Douglas County offers an excellent comprehensive benefit package including but not limited to: Medical/Dental/Vision. For a more detailed overview please view the full Employee Benefit Guide.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.)

• Short Term Bridge Services: Facilitate the connection of clients to appropriate community resources and services to ensure continuity of care and individual/family support during transitional periods. Provide case management and coordination to help clients overcome barriers to service access.
• Short Term Bridge Family Preservation: Work directly with families to provide intensive support, focusing on preventing the need for out-of-home placements. Offer short-term family counseling, conflict resolution, and resource linkage to strengthen family dynamics and improve overall well-being.
• Human Services De-escalation and Coaching: Provide de-escalation services to clients both in-person and via phone, using evidence-based strategies to manage crisis situations. Coach clients in effective coping strategies and emotional regulation to support their mental health and stability. Serves as a resource for clients (children, youth, adult parenting/caregiving for children and youth) involved with the co-response Community Response Team (CRT) and care coordination teams (Care Compacts) Function as part of an interdisciplinary team as well as develop and maintain effective relationships with other community professionals.
• Provide one-on-one or group support sessions to staff who may be experiencing secondary trauma as a result of their work. Create a safe space for staff to express and process their experiences, while offering guidance and coping strategies. Design, develop, and deliver training programs to educate staff on the effects of secondary trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Ensure that training content is relevant, up-to-date, and aligns with best practices in trauma-informed care. Work collaboratively with leadership to develop and implement initiatives that promote staff well-being, resilience, and self-care practices within the workplace. Consulting with leadership during critical events and incidents to support and message properly to staff.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Under general and routine supervision of the Assistant Director of Protection Programs, the employee receives individual supervision while operating with a high degree of independence during day-to-day assignments. Work is reviewed for adherence to professional standards, instructions, accuracy, completeness, and conformance to best practices in co-response and crisis intervention.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position has no supervisory authority.

INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT: Work is highly independent under the guidance of the Assistant Director of Protection Programs. Worker chooses courses of action in consultation with supervisor and others as appropriate. Incumbent has wide range to use individual judgment in selecting the proper means to achieve the desired results. The worker impacts the community interest by preventing disruption in necessary Human Services, preventing harm to client's physical or emotional status, and strengthening the family systems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree in psychology, counseling, or social work required.
• Must be licensed (LPC, LMFT, LCSW). Must be in good standing with Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
• At least two years of treatment experience post licensure in a mental health setting.
• Must have crisis experience.
• Experience with military and/or law enforcement is a plus.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:

• Human Services and Social Work Practices: Understanding of human services practices, including child welfare, adult protection, mental health support, and eligibility programs (e.g., Medicaid, SNAP, TANF). Knowledge of family dynamics, trauma-informed care, and effective intervention techniques.
• Cultural Competence: Awareness and knowledge of cultural, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and linguistic factors that affect the delivery of services. Understanding the diverse needs of clients and adapting services to be inclusive and respectful.
• Mental Health and Behavioral Health: Knowledge of mental health conditions, including trauma, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Familiarity with therapeutic interventions, crisis management, and de-escalation strategies.
• Legal and Ethical Guidelines: Understanding of confidentiality regulations (e.g., HIPAA), mandated reporting requirements, and ethical standards governing social work and human services practice.
• Government Programs and Resources: Knowledge of public assistance programs, eligibility criteria, and procedures related to Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and other governmental aid. Familiarity with local, state, and federal human services regulations.
• Case Management and Documentation: Knowledge of case management procedures, documentation standards, and record-keeping practices to ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and organizational guidelines.

Skills:

• Assessment and Evaluation: Ability to conduct thorough client assessments, evaluating needs, risks, and challenges. Skill in developing goals based on comprehensive evaluations.
• Crisis Intervention and De-escalation: Proficient in using de-escalation techniques, managing high-stress situations, and providing immediate support during crises. Ability to remain calm and focused in emergency situations.
• Counseling and Therapy: Strong therapeutic skills in individual, group, and family counseling. Knowledge and application of various therapeutic models and techniques to address emotional and behavioral challenges.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact with clients, families, team members, and community partners. Ability to clearly explain complex information, maintain rapport, and demonstrate empathy.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to navigate complex cases, identify barriers, and find creative solutions to client challenges.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams, coordinating care and services across various human services departments. Collaboration with medical, social work, legal, and community organizations.
• Organization and Time Management: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple cases, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines. Ability to handle case documentation and reporting efficiently while maintaining attention to detail.

Abilities:

• Client Advocacy: Ability to advocate on behalf of clients, ensuring they receive appropriate resources, services, and support. Ability to navigate systems on behalf of clients and work towards achieving their goals.
• Empathy and Compassion: Ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion while working with vulnerable individuals and families. Show understanding and patience when dealing with clients facing challenging circumstances.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Ability to understand and respond appropriately to clients' diverse cultural backgrounds. Respectful of clients' values, beliefs, and practices, and able to adapt services accordingly.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing client needs, policies, and organizational environments. Flexible in adjusting treatment plans and interventions based on evolving circumstances.
• Decision-Making: Ability to make informed, timely, and sound decisions in situations that may require quick judgment. Ability to balance client needs with available resources while following regulations and policies.
• Self-Management: Ability to manage personal stress and emotional responses, maintain professional boundaries, and practice self-care in a demanding and emotionally charged work environment.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS: Must be licensed and in good standing (LPC, LMFT, LCSW). Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License upon hire, with complying insurance. Review of motor vehicle record is required at time of hire and periodically throughout employment. This position requires successful completion of a criminal background check including fingerprinting through a national database.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Essential work environment is in an office environment and in the community.
• Some meetings for case staffing's, training and other relevant meetings.
• Contact with Douglas County community members/clients under a wide variety of circumstances, including unpredictable situations.
• Subject to schedule changes based on the needs of the program.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Closing Date: 04/25/2025 5:59PM MST. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

The job details outlined in this posting may represent amodified summary of the full job description. For a full copy ofthe job description CLICK HERE toview our job classifications.

In the event of an emergency/disaster in or near the County, all County employees are expected to make every effort to be available to assist the County Manager, Elected/Appointed Officials and Department Directors to ensure the continued operation of any and all necessary County functions. This may mean being available to perform additional duties and hours beyond what is normally required. In the event that an exempt employee does work more than 40 hours a week in support of County operations during an emergency, such employee may receive overtime or other appropriate wage compensation in accordance with existing County policies or at the discretion of the County.