Mid - level Provider - Grand Mesa Youth Services Center

Mid-Level Provider - Grand Mesa Youth Services Center

Salary: $3,978.92 Biweekly

Location: Grand Junction, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: IKA 02242

Department: Colorado Department of Human Services

Division: OCYF - Grand Mesa Youth Services Center

Opening Date: 08/18/2025

Closing Date: Continuous

Primary Physical Work Address: 360 28 Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81501

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information: Isaac.Phelps@state.co.us

The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State.

Description of Job: The purpose of this position is to deliver health care to detained, pre-trial, and committed youth. Primary care is provided by licensed independent practitioners/Mid Level Providers with responsibility for a continuum of health care from initial assessment through development and maintenance of health care including physical, psychiatric, and dental maintenance.

Primary Job Duties

Clinical Management: Ensuring that health screens, health appraisals, histories and physicals, and SOAP notes reflect accurate assessments and appropriate treatments and referrals. Supervising the health screens, health appraisals, and physical exams of all youth admitted to the facility through observation and review of documentation by medical clinic staff. Ensure that communicable diseases are detected in a timely manner and appropriate action is taken to prevent their spread within the facility. Reports to the CDC/State Health Department per requirements in applicable cases. Serves as the facilities' lead decision-maker during emergency medical situations. Approve and monitor the effectiveness of plans and adjust them as indicated. Responsible for overseeing the accuracy of pharmacy orders. Communicates pertinent and appropriate health information to facility staff, families, supervisors, and administration to ensure ongoing optimal health care for all youth in the youth center. Functions in the medical clinic as the first line resource for staff when evaluating case complexity. Determines the need for referrals to other physicians and/or specialists for medical, dental, and specialty problems beyond the scope of the facility clinic in a fiscally minded manner. Main contact with the DYS Medical Director for consultation and collaboration on individual cases. Oversees and monitors the necessity, coordination, and transportation of youth to specialty medical services off campus. Supervises the coordination of appointments for specialty care and recommendations made by providers. Collaborates directly with the DYS Medical Director and/or other providers to determine referrals to other specialty providers in the community and that necessary follow-up is completed to ensure ongoing and continuing care of youth with special health care needs.

Mental Health: Evaluate mental status, and mental health conditions of youth through interview and observation. Provides basic mental health intervention. Reports mental health information. Reports to supervisor or mental health resources for further evaluation or intervention, and referrals or transfers to Mental Health Hospital.

Documentation and Reporting: Thoroughly documents history, exam, diagnosis, and treatment in medical records. Documents any communication with outside providers, guardians, or other interested stakeholders in the youth record, as appropriate. Completes the medical logs pertinent to the medical department. Provides written guidelines (treatment plans) for staff including emergency care and to Food Services for food allergy notification.

Medical Quality Assurance, Reporting and Compliance: Direct and monitor quality assurance projects by reviewing medical documents that may include but not be limited to medication administration records, medication packages, incident reports, pharmacy invoices, and Electronic Health Record documentation. Ensures that DYS medical audit standards are met in the medical clinic and responds to yearly audits by formulating and implementing corrective action plans as needed. Supervises clinical staff to ensure compliance with established treatment protocols. Communication with the Medical Operations Coordinator and Medical Authority to plan, make recommendations, strategize, and implement any modifications and improvements for the clinic. Ensures that medical clinic staff under their supervision maintains current licensure, appropriate certification, and mandated annual training dictated by DYS policy and Colorado state law. Participates and assists in the coordination of health training and education for staff on the campus. Seeks out educational opportunities that will enhance the medical staff's skills. Support and coordinate training to include but not limited to CPR, First Aid, QMAP, and the Electronic Health Record. Shares advanced training received at various seminars with the clinic and DYS medical staff. Support and coordinate health education groups for youth. Collects and reports monthly statistical data required for Behavioral Health and Medical Services, and the critical incidents related to medical for the facility. Review policies and procedures on a regular basis and collaborate with facility administrators and supervisors in writing and/or revising facility medical implementing procedures. Completes the medical logs pertinent to the medical department.

Health Education: Assesses and identifies the knowledge deficits regarding general health and hygiene topics presented by youth in routine and formal encounters. Provides individual and group education regarding health promotion, disease, and injury prevention to youth and staff on an ongoing basis. Topics specific to this population include but are not limited to: healthy lifestyle i.e. diet, exercise, sleep hygiene, stress management, proper hygiene practices, dental care, STI's and safe sexual practices, contraceptive options, injury prevention using helmets and other protective sports gear and other issues identified by youth/staff. Identifies gender-specific educational needs of youth. Provides ongoing education regarding medication administration, infection prevention, and other health-related topics specific to staff.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:

Current, valid licensure as an Advanced Practice Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing; or current, valid licensure as a Physician Assistant from the Colorado Medical Board

Substitutions: None

Preferred Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have two or more years experience in the following areas:

Prescriptive Authority in the State of Colorado

Adolescent health care

Assessing, diagnosing, and treatment of acute and chronic illness

Documentation in an electronic medical record

Relevant years of State service experience

Highly Desirable Competencies:

Knowledge to detect and prevent the spread of communicable infectious disease

Knowledge to diagnose medical problems including emergency medical situations by performing physical exams, obtaining lab tests, ordering diagnostic tests, interpreting results, formulating treatment plans of the basic principles of supervision

Knowledge to use established protocols for prescribing medication and treating diagnosed illnesses

Knowledge to evaluate the mental status, and the mental health, conditions of youth through interview and observation

Knowledge of Oral and Written Communication Skills

Ability to resolve conflict

Knowledge and ability of Interpersonal Skills

Knowledge and experience clinically supervising medical staff.

Conditions of Employment:

Must be a resident of Colorado one year from hire date.

Must be able to obtain a Colorado Advanced Practicing Nurse or Physician Assistant license within 1 year after hire date.

Full Background. CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).

Shift Work: 24/7 facility, may require evenings and weekend coverage

Travel. May require floating to other DYS facilities to help with coverage, travel to meetings and training

Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver's License

Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence

Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.

A nurse who is part of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) can work in Colorado