State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Mental Health Trainee (40 Hour Entry Level) (5725FJ)

$24.00-$24.00 Hourly / $1,919.47-$1,919.47 BiWeekly /
$50,098.00-$50,098.00 Yearly

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services hospital, community mental health facility or program this class is accountable for receiving education and training in theoretical and clinical mental health principles and practices and for assisting in the provision of direct care to clients or providing support services to clients in community respite programs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the close supervision of a mental health paraprofessional or professional of a higher grade.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Receives education and on-the-job training in theoretical and clinical mental health principles and practices; 
  • Assists in monitoring and providing support and/or rehabilitation services to clients; 
  • Interacts with clients in goal-directed activities; 
  • Participates in activities of daily living with assigned clients; 
  • Observes and reports client behavior; 
  • Establishes and maintains relationships with clients; 
  • Encourages clients to participate in ward and outside activities; 
  • Writes and submits incident or other related reports when directed; 
  • Ensures confidentiality of oral and written instructions for carrying out client care procedures; 
  • Cooperates in maintenance of a safe and healthy environment within treatment facility; 
  • May assist in development and/or administration of a treatment plan; 
  • May manage client behaviors through verbal communication as needed; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills;
    • listening skills; 
    • attending skills; 
    • observation skills; 
  • Ability to
    • follow oral and written instructions; 
    • work and empathize with individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Experience and/or training that could be expected to provide the required knowledge, skill and ability listed above including but not restricted to completion of a mental health trainee certificate program.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a current Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator license.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain clients and may have significant exposure to communicable and/or infectious diseases, strongly disagreeable conditions and/or risk of injury.

APPOINTMENT

Appointment to this class will be for a maximum of two (2) years for all positions except those performing as Respite Care Specials where there will be no restrictions on the length of appointment.

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Non-Competitive

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(25)-Patient and Inmate Care

BARGAINING UNIT

(10)-HEALTH NONPROF(NP-6)

EEO

(5)-Para-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

FJ 14

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Mental Health Trainee (40 Hour Entry Level) in Salary Group FJ 14 approved effective July 25, 2022. (Revised to modernize format and add Acknowledgement section) Final No. 23-164

EFFECTIVE DATE

07/10/2023
CLASS: 5725FJ; EST: 1/21/1983; REV: 7/13/2023;