Forensic Community Based Services Legal Assistant I

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Forensic Community Based Services Legal Assistant I

Salary

$2,219.54 - $3,551.54 Biweekly

Location

Statewide, CO

Job Type

Part Time

Job Number

IIB 05206 9/12/24

Department

Colorado Department of Human Services

Division

OBH - CMHIP

Opening Date

09/12/2024

Closing Date

9/29/2024 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

1600 W 24th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Jazzma Gamboa jazzma.gamboa@state.co.us

Salary Note

Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position has Hybrid work arrangements

About the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH)

Located within the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH) is responsible for policy development, service provision and coordination, program monitoring and evaluation, and administrative oversight for the public behavioral health system. OCFMH funds, supports and monitors numerous mental health and substance abuse community programs and providers. OCFMH also operates the Colorado Mental Health Hospitals at Fort Logan and Pueblo and the Forensic Services Division. OCFMH executes the States’ federal responsibilities as the State Mental Health Authority and State Substance Abuse Authority to administer federal mental health and substance abuse block grant funds.

The Forensic Services Division is responsible for six departments including Forensic Community Based Services (FCBS), Jail Based Evaluation and Restoration (JBR), Outpatient Restoration (OPR), the Forensic Support Team (FST), the Court Services Department, and the Operations Department. The Court Services Department employs forensically practicing psychologists to provide evaluative services statewide, with staff in Pueblo, Denver, and other locations. Evaluators complete all court ordered forensic evaluations for defendants in criminal cases as so ordered by the court. These evaluations are performed in the jail, in the community, at CMHHIP, or at CMHHIFL and are performed by psychologists and psychiatrists, as mandated in the Colorado Statute, 16-8.5. This work unit exists to carry out the statutory obligations of the Department of Human Services to supervise compliance with court-ordered conditions for individuals who have been adjudicated Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) and who are subsequently released by the courts from their commitment to CDHS (Conditional Release) and at times when they are granted extended leave from the hospital into the community (Temporary Physical Removal/ Conditional Placement). Additionally, the work unit provides oversight care coordination, and in select cases treatment interventions, for individuals who have been found NGRI and who remain committed to the custody of CDHS, but who have been released by the courts to reside in the community. Our teams work within various settings including community agencies, jails, courts, and hospitals. The locations can include locked units and secure facilities and our clients may at times be unpredictable due to their mental health needs. Our team must make critical decisions in dynamic and fast-paced environments to ensure a high level of accountability for patient care. Our staff are required to maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and discipline and team development. This position may be required to travel throughout Colorado to meet the needs of the department.

Description of Job

About the Position:

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director, this position provides legal and administrative support for the FCBS program. This position is responsible for researching and maintaining up-to-date legal statutes and codes specific to the Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) acquitted population and maintaining an organized system for all staff members to access such documents. In collaboration with team members, this position drafts all correspondences with the court including court orders and a variety of notifications and is the primary liaison for such matters with the courts and is required to ensure the timely filing of all documents. The Legal Assistant must do a final review of any documents compiled on behalf of the department by other team members prior to submission for Director approval and subsequent submission to the court to ensure legal compliance and organization. The Legal Assistant will need to monitor all communications with the court and make sure follow-up is received, engage in outreach as needed, and monitor all FCBS client court date hearings via the court database system and the established tracking system. The Legal Assistant also serves as the Department’s secondary administrative support for general program needs including timekeeping, purchasing, personnel action forms, mail, travel, and other such needs. Lastly, this position may act as a liaison with internal and external stakeholders on behalf of the work unit. Duties in this position include:

Court Documentation and Communication:

On behalf of the FCBS Program, this position is responsible for compiling and ensuring legal compliance with all FCBS related court submissions. This includes but is not limited to proposed court orders, conditions for placement/release, quarterly reports, annual reports, travel requests, violations, revocations, and any other filings. In doing so, this position must ensure that all documentation received is completed accurately, in full, timely, and in accordance with the applicable Statutes. In ensuring compliance, this position tracks the timeliness of all documents that may be due and any subsequent outcomes and/or court communication. Given such duties, this position serves as a primary liaison for the court and offers excellent customer service on behalf of the department to both internal and external stakeholders. The Legal Assistant will offer support and liaison with attorneys and judges when there are questions or concerns pertaining to the program and when there are legal objections to proposed conditions and/or interventions. In doing all duties, this position is required to understand and apply all State and Federal laws and regulations associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Protection Act (HIPAA) and Title 16, Section 8 of Colorado Revised Statutes. The Legal Assistant serves as the primary point of contact for all FCBS client-related court orders and subpoenas. This may include uploading documentation into various electronic health record platforms and retaining paper records in accordance with law and internal policy.

Court Hearings:

Utilizing the established procedures and tracking systems, this position must monitor all court hearings and engage in intermittent review of all FCBS client cases to ensure the Department is aware of all possible legal statuses and procedures occurring for each client and communicates those to Department staff and leadership. This includes hearing minutes, court orders, subpoenas, and general trends within the case regarding progression/regression/discharge.

Duty to Warn, Restraining/ Protection Orders and Victims Notification:

This position must utilize the established procedures and tracking devices to input and monitor all duties to warn and restraining orders associated with FCBS clients. This information is critical to upholding the courts’ orders, ensuring FCBS team members maintain ongoing awareness of client restrictions, and supporting the clients in successful community living. Should clients violate such orders, this position shall communicate with the CMHHIP NGRI coordinator and/or the court as so directed by the Director. This position also monitors patient-specific information associated with discharge and shall alert the Director and any community provider should a client be nearing unconditional release to ensure any duty to warn assessments are completed and discharge accommodations are in line with all restraining/protection orders. Additionally, this position provides notification to the CMHHIP NGRI Coordinator that the client is under consideration for unconditional release for purposes of victim notification.

Administrative Duties:

Under the guidance of the Director, the Legal Assistant serves as a secondary staff for FCBS administrative duties, supporting the Program Assistant when needed. This includes but is not limited to PAF’s, timekeeping, purchasing, invoices, budget, travel, collaboration with the Human Resources Department, entering data, pulling data reports, evaluation assignments, contracts, projects, and meeting coordination.

Other Duties as Assigned:

Other Duties as Assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

Paralegal certificate obtained through either an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal studies program or an accredited institution

AND

One (1) year of paralegal experience

Substitutions

Two (2) yearsof work experience in a paralegal capacity which included conducting

legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data

from legal references and resources will substitute for the required certificate.

A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school may substitute for the required

certificate.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written communication

• Knowledge of Legal Statues

• Experienced with MS Access

• Excellent public service skills

• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft suites

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets

• Experience with JBITS, Court Data Access

Conditions of Employment:

The successful candidate in this position must be willing and available to submit to the following conditions:

• Must be willing to submit to and able to successfully pass a criminal background check

• Travel – May travel to various locations statewide for program needs

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

  Appeal Rights:

  If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

  An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail 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.

  For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#how-to-apply)

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact jazzma .gamboa@state.co.us

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (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 Plan www.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 MotivateMe

• 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 ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

  THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#eoe)

  Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

At the bottom of this job posting are links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

• This information is available to me and I have read this information.

• I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

  02

  If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number and/or the years that you were employed with the State:

  03

  Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position.

  04

  Describe your paralegal experience and/or your work experience in a paralegal capacity which included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources . Please include how many months/years of experience you have performing these duties.

  05

  Describe in detail your experience, qualifications, and/or knowledge base in regards to coordinating deadlines with multiple stakeholders within an organization. Please include how many months of experience you have performing these duties.

  06

  Describe in detail your experience, qualifications, and/or knowledge base in regards to handling sensitive information. Please include how many months/years of experience you have performing these duties.

  Required Question

Agency

State of Colorado

Address

See the full announcement by clicking

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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