Job Description
We are recruiting for a motivated Counselor, Addictions Specialist to join our team!
We are here for life’s journey.
Where is your life journey taking you?
Being the heartbeat of Denver means our heart reflects something bigger than ourselves, something that connects us all:
Humanity in action, Triumph in hardship, Transformation in health.
Department
Denver CARES Providers
The following positions within Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatry, Inpatient Adult Psychiatry, Psychiatric Emergency Services, CARES, and Outpatient Behavioral Health Services are offering the opportunity to enroll in a new program offering a cash incentive to recognize your work treating patients with substance use disorders. This program is sponsored through the ACCESS (Advancing Careers, Competencies, and Equity in Substance Treatment Services) grant. Employees must be >0.6 FTE to be eligible. 50% of the bonus will be received +0 days after signing the program contract.
• Registered Nurses (RNs) may earn up to $7,500 by December 2026
• Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs) may earn up to $3,500 by December 2026
• Care Navigators may earn up to $3,500 by December 2026
Job Summary
Under general supervision, performs counseling, care plan development, case management, family intervention, and referral work for ******* and drug abuse clients receiving treatment at Denver Health. Facilitate group education for clients enrolled in treatment. Provides addiction education to assist patients to gain a better understanding and acceptance of the addictive disease process. May act as clinical lead for CAC I, II and III clinicians.
Essential Functions
• Performs assessments to identify client’s condition, problems, and determine disposition. (10%)
• Interviews clients to obtain health history and/or complete intake evaluation which may include necessary paperwork. (10%)
• Obtains and records patient vital signs including temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. (10%)
• Assesses and adjusts staffing to accommodate sick calls, admissions, changes in patient census or care needs. (10%)
• Coaches counselor staff regarding behaviors and performance issues. (10%)
• Acts as patient advocate in dealing with patient or family concerns. (5%)
• Facilitates individual counselor and group treatment sessions, guiding group behavior. (5%)
• Completes continued education units (CEU) as required to maintain certification/employment. (5%)
• Completes service plan at time of first session. (5%)
• Ensures documentation is legible and service plan reflects all identified problems, interventions, and client response to treatment and documenting changes in service plan in a clinical note. (5%)
• Performs according to all standards of care and policies and procedures for the department. (5%)
• Completes state, federal, and agency mandated documentation. (5%)
• Assists with filling in shifts as requested for PTO. (5%)
• Participates in performance improvement by maintaining charts in proper order and participates in chart audits. (5%)
• Helps maintain a safe environment for patients by responding to staff supports. (5%)
• Utilizes a variety of crisis intervention techniques to respond to aggressive behavior. (0%)
• Makes attempts to re-engage any client who seeks a premature discharge from the program. (0%)
• Ensures clinical supervision records are current. (0%)
• Ensures all duties, responsibilities, and competencies are conducted in a manner that is effective and appropriate to patients/clients who care/service is being delivered/provided. (0%)
• Demonstrates knowledge and applicability of the principle of growth and development over the lifespan, as well as demonstrating the ability to assess data reflecting the patient’s status and interpreting appropriate cultural information of the patient(s) to whom care/service is being delivered/provided. (0%)
Education
• High School Diploma or GED Bachelors degree preferred. Required and
• Post High School Diploma or Certificate Program Pass NCAC II exam Required
Work Experience
• No experience required.
Licenses
• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association Required
• CAS-Certified Addiction Specialist - NAADAC - The Association for Addiction Professionals Required
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
• Knowledge of safety and infection control requirements.
• Knowledge of state, federal, and agency mandated documentation.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance.
• Logic and reasoning skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Ability to provide personal assistance, emotional support, or other personal care to patients.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients’ treatment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint
Shift
Work Type
Regular
Salary
$24.86 - $36.14 / hr
Benefits
• Outstanding benefits including up to 27 paid days off per year, immediate retirement plan employer contribution up to +.5%, and generous medical plans
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer
Our Values
• Respect
• Belonging
• Accountability
• Transparency
All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made.
Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s +11 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 1+ school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Public Health Institute, an HMO and The Denver Health Foundation.
As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net institution, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided billions in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health is viewed as an Anchor Institution for the community, focusing on hiring and purchasing locally as applicable, serving as a pillar for community needs, and caring for more than 185,000 individuals and 67,000 children a year.
Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.
We strongly support diversity in the workforce and Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).
Denver Health values the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. For more about our commitment to diversity visit: https://www.denverhealth.org/for-professionals/careers/diversity-and-inclusion
Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.
We are here for life’s journey.
Where is your life journey taking you?
Being the heartbeat of Denver means our heart reflects something bigger than ourselves, something that connects us all:
Humanity in action, Triumph in hardship, Transformation in health.
Department
Denver CARES Providers
The following positions within Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatry, Inpatient Adult Psychiatry, Psychiatric Emergency Services, CARES, and Outpatient Behavioral Health Services are offering the opportunity to enroll in a new program offering a cash incentive to recognize your work treating patients with substance use disorders. This program is sponsored through the ACCESS (Advancing Careers, Competencies, and Equity in Substance Treatment Services) grant. Employees must be >0.6 FTE to be eligible. 50% of the bonus will be received +0 days after signing the program contract.
• Registered Nurses (RNs) may earn up to $7,500 by December 2026
• Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs) may earn up to $3,500 by December 2026
• Care Navigators may earn up to $3,500 by December 2026
Job Summary
Under general supervision, performs counseling, care plan development, case management, family intervention, and referral work for ******* and drug abuse clients receiving treatment at Denver Health. Facilitate group education for clients enrolled in treatment. Provides addiction education to assist patients to gain a better understanding and acceptance of the addictive disease process. May act as clinical lead for CAC I, II and III clinicians.
Essential Functions
• Performs assessments to identify client’s condition, problems, and determine disposition. (10%)
• Interviews clients to obtain health history and/or complete intake evaluation which may include necessary paperwork. (10%)
• Obtains and records patient vital signs including temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. (10%)
• Assesses and adjusts staffing to accommodate sick calls, admissions, changes in patient census or care needs. (10%)
• Coaches counselor staff regarding behaviors and performance issues. (10%)
• Acts as patient advocate in dealing with patient or family concerns. (5%)
• Facilitates individual counselor and group treatment sessions, guiding group behavior. (5%)
• Completes continued education units (CEU) as required to maintain certification/employment. (5%)
• Completes service plan at time of first session. (5%)
• Ensures documentation is legible and service plan reflects all identified problems, interventions, and client response to treatment and documenting changes in service plan in a clinical note. (5%)
• Performs according to all standards of care and policies and procedures for the department. (5%)
• Completes state, federal, and agency mandated documentation. (5%)
• Assists with filling in shifts as requested for PTO. (5%)
• Participates in performance improvement by maintaining charts in proper order and participates in chart audits. (5%)
• Helps maintain a safe environment for patients by responding to staff supports. (5%)
• Utilizes a variety of crisis intervention techniques to respond to aggressive behavior. (0%)
• Makes attempts to re-engage any client who seeks a premature discharge from the program. (0%)
• Ensures clinical supervision records are current. (0%)
• Ensures all duties, responsibilities, and competencies are conducted in a manner that is effective and appropriate to patients/clients who care/service is being delivered/provided. (0%)
• Demonstrates knowledge and applicability of the principle of growth and development over the lifespan, as well as demonstrating the ability to assess data reflecting the patient’s status and interpreting appropriate cultural information of the patient(s) to whom care/service is being delivered/provided. (0%)
Education
• High School Diploma or GED Bachelors degree preferred. Required and
• Post High School Diploma or Certificate Program Pass NCAC II exam Required
Work Experience
• No experience required.
Licenses
• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association Required
• CAS-Certified Addiction Specialist - NAADAC - The Association for Addiction Professionals Required
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
• Knowledge of safety and infection control requirements.
• Knowledge of state, federal, and agency mandated documentation.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance.
• Logic and reasoning skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Ability to provide personal assistance, emotional support, or other personal care to patients.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients’ treatment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint
Shift
Work Type
Regular
Salary
$24.86 - $36.14 / hr
Benefits
• Outstanding benefits including up to 27 paid days off per year, immediate retirement plan employer contribution up to +.5%, and generous medical plans
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer
Our Values
• Respect
• Belonging
• Accountability
• Transparency
All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made.
Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s +11 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 1+ school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Public Health Institute, an HMO and The Denver Health Foundation.
As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net institution, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided billions in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health is viewed as an Anchor Institution for the community, focusing on hiring and purchasing locally as applicable, serving as a pillar for community needs, and caring for more than 185,000 individuals and 67,000 children a year.
Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.
We strongly support diversity in the workforce and Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).
Denver Health values the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. For more about our commitment to diversity visit: https://www.denverhealth.org/for-professionals/careers/diversity-and-inclusion
Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Counselor| Addictions Specialist position is now open for candidates interested in the Health Jobs sector. This role in Denver offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Health Jobs is a plus.
