Switchboard/PBX Operator - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (Denver)

CDHSCareer

The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The

vision of CMHHIFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and

persistent mental illness within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their

recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHHIFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally

between the ages of 18-59. The hospital currently has 94 adult inpatient beds, over four treatment units and opened 44 beds (2 units) in late 2022 and 2023. The two forensic units will be dedicated to providing

psychiatric stabilization and restoration treatment to individuals 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.

Through our core values listed below, CMHHIFL staff is committed to:

• Individual dignity and respect;

• Person-centered, evidence-based care;

• Trauma informed recovery;

• Multidisciplinary collaboration;

• Diversity and inclusion;

• Strong family and community partnerships.

About the Unit: 

The Communications Department exists to provide professional support to the director and supervisory staff to meet the safety, security, and communication needs of all resident patients and staff within each department by performing administrative, technical, detail, and routine work. Provides critical communications in crisis situations (i.e., physical and verbal assaults against persons or property, suicidal behavior) and adheres to hospital policies and procedures in order to

Purpose of this position: 

This work unit exists to provide Safety and Communication services to the staff and client population at CMHHIFL-Fort Logan. Executes emergency procedures for the Fort Logan Campus. 

Job Duties include, but are not limited to: 

Switchboard Operator: 

Answers and directs incoming outside telephone calls to the appropriate person/unit, answers general questions regarding Fort Logan, and greets after-hours CMHHFL visitors ensuring proper and courteous screening before permitting entry to CMHHIFL and its patient treatment areas. 

Dispatch: 

Dispatches the Clinical Safety Officers using a band radio for emergency and routine calls. Coordinates/initiates response to medical emergencies, tornadoes, bomb threats, and triage. Calls local law enforcement for serious or criminal offenses occurring on CMHHFL grounds. 

Vehicle Management: 

Checks out/assigns the use of State vehicles after business hours, weekends, and holidays. Keeps a log of staff needing to be picked up during emergency situations. 

Documentation / Briefing Staff at Shift Change: 

Maintains a log of all Safety calls, medical staff calls, nursing supervisors, housekeeping, outgoing patient calls, Code blue alarms, Panic alarms, and Fire alarms occurring on shift. Passes information on at shift change. 

Receptionist: 

Provides directions to CMHHIFL for outside callers. Greets visitors and routes them to the appropriate location. Receives deliverables (parcels, mailings) for CMHHIFL, notifies appropriate personnel of item received, and signs acknowledgment of receipt for the deliverable carrier as requested. 

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: 

Two (2) years of administrative and clerical experience in medical, clinical or office settings. 

Substitutions: 

Appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Conditions of Employment:

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges.

• Current and Valid unrestricted Colorado Driver's License or non-restricted U.S. Driver License for positions within 30miles of CO state border.

• Motor Vehicle Check , if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.

• 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.

• May be required to provide local transport for patient care

• Travel to assigned trainings and/or work sites

• Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.

• Must take and pass a Tuberculosis (TB) test  

• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship. All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application;

•  Successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIFL New Employee Orientation core curriculum to include:

  •  English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;·  Possess the physical ability to successfully complete CPI and CPR;·  Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;· Stabilize another person to accomplish a take down. Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to  potential breaches in safety;·  Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;· Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;·  Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;· Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing;

• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;

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

How to Apply

How to apply to the State of Colorado

The Assessment Process

For Statewide Hiring Freeze NON-EXEMPTED position ONLY: 

This job offer is contingent upon funding availability from all sources, including state and federal (if applicable), to start or continue.

About Us & Benefits: 

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining 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. 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 Planwww.copera.org 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

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• 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. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

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.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~