Division Director of Social Services - Fitzsimons Veterans Community Living Center

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

About the Division of Veterans Community Living Centers

The Division of Veterans Community Living Centers (VCLC) offers holistic skilled nursing care for veterans, surviving spouses, and Gold Star parents who need short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, or domiciliary living. The division focuses on providing individualized, respectful care in a safe and comfortable environment, identifies and addresses residents’ diverse needs from admission to discharge, including social, emotional, psychological, and medical assistance

This is an in-person position; you are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times. 

The Division Director of Social Services (DDSS) position develops, implements, and maintains division-wide processes for behavioral health programs, dementia care programs, quality improvement, survey readiness, MANE investigations, and training to ensure excellence and regulatory compliance with applicable state and federal regulations for the social services departments within the VCLCs. This position is required per VA regulations for buildings with over 120 beds and therefore will be based out of VCLC at Fitzsimons. While simultaneously promoting the mission and philosophy of the Division of Veterans Community Living Centers (VCLCs), this position maintains understanding of regulatory requirements and has expertise in behavioral health-related clinical practice within long-term care. This position works directly with Nursing Home Administrators (NHAs), nurse leadership, social services, division leadership, and external providers to ensure positive outcomes. This position helps form the culture of excellence in quality of care and quality of life for VCLC residents.  This position will be the required consultant for all VCLC homes and will provide the required frequency of visitation in person, virtually, or via chart reviews. This position will act as a consultant to the four VCLCs. 

• As the subject matter expert, this position has comprehension of various behavioral health needs, diagnoses, and interventions.   
• Provide oversight, consultation, direction, and recommended interventions to social services, Nursing Home Administrators, and others on clinical and psychosocial care and quality improvement.
• Advise division leadership regarding how to address quality of care issues in the context of staff and organizational culture.
• Create and educate VCLC Division and Facility staff on policies and procedures that meet the expectations of regulatory bodies and provide ample guidance to facility staff to implement
• Perform site visits at each VCLC as needed. Make recommendations and provide instruction, guidance and development of action plans with facility leadership to address concerns regarding systems, quality improvement, and regulatory survey readiness.
• Identify division-wide benchmarks, thresholds, and standards for comprehensive behavioral health services.  Implement processes for tracking and trending. Use data to improve/maintain the delivery of health care services and address trends, issues, and concerns at the facility and division level.
• Be available to respond to and provide guidance to social service staff as needed.
• Review and approve ongoing MANE allegations and investigations. Evaluate intervention successes, monitor trends, lead teams on MANE investigation procedures.
• Provide educational resources, identify trends, and provide education / procedural changes as necessary. 
• Provide consultation and clinical supervision services/reports to any of the homes who do not meet the CMS, VA, or CDPHE requirements for qualified personnel within the Social Work department. 
• Help lead, contribute, and participate in decision-making during specific VCLC meetings such as psych pharm, QAPI, and resident care conferences at the request of the NHA or Division leadership.
• Provide assistance to individual buildings with challenging residents, family members, or other legal representatives where the interdisciplinary teams have exhausted efforts or request assistance
• Keep NHAs, social service staff, and others current on changes and expectations within federal or state legislation/regulations and determine best practices for ensuring survey readiness
• Coach and train all necessary and appropriate entities in the implementation of policy changes, rules, and current long-term care trends
• As the staff authority, senior management relies on the position to implement changes on division-wide compliance practices with the Veterans Administration, The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and state regulatory agencies that will be adopted in the VCLCs and complied with across the division.
• Provide guidance and direction to division leadership, DONs and NHAs to address non-compliance.
• Collaborate with nursing home leadership in conducting root cause analyses for occurrences, incidents, and sentinel events and lead improvement efforts
• Participate in creating a division-wide onboarding experience for VCLC staff
• Develop and provide education and training to VCLC staff regarding behavioral health, dementia care, trauma-informed care, and other areas of psycho-emotional health
• Offer clinical supervision to existing and new social service staff for the purpose of achieving new licensure or to deepen their skills and understanding. This can be done in-person and remotely.
• Audit charts at VCLCs for consistent, accurate, and appropriate documentation 
• Audit and evaluate the work of social service staff for accuracy and compliance and will share outcome reports with the Nursing Home Administrators and Social Service Directors.
• This position will report to and work directly with the Director of Clinical Operations and will have a dotted line relationship to the Social Service Directors at the VCLCs

• Other duties as assigned by appointing authority. 

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker requirement required by CMS, VA and CDPHE
  

• Nine (9) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position in a long-term care setting

OR

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to nine (9) years

Preferred Qualifications:

• Long Term Care Experience and or Multisite/team leadership or consulting experience

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, TRAILS (child abuse / neglect database system check), Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Out-of-State Driver’s License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License within 30 days of employment start date
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

• Disclose that information on the application.

• Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

• Provide your employee number from your 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.

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements. 

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

• Relevant years of state service experience.

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position.  You must complete the official State of Colorado online application.  Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process.  Part-time work experience will be prorated.

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing. 

Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications. 

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.     

Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers  based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated.  You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.  

• You can find the official appeal form here. 

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

  • By email ([email protected]), or

  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, 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.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or

•  Refer to the  Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

• How to apply to the State of Colorado(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)

• The Assessment Process

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join 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. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. 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 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

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• 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.

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• 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.

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for 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. 

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing 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 [email protected].

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.  The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).  Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.