STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Associate Professional Counselor (40 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #230320-4249FP-001

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Introduction


The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently seeking a qualified individual for the position of Associate Professional Counselor to join their team.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Facility: Southeast Mental Health Authority (SMHA)
  • Team/Unit: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) within Mobile Outreach Team (MIT)
  • Location: Norwich, CT
  • Schedule: Full time (40 hours per week), 2nd Shift (4:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.), every other weekend and holidays
  • Position Number: 77138
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive comprehensive benefits plan that includes:
  • To work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • Industry leading health benefits with medical and dental coverage;
  • Generous paid time off, include 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
  • As a loan forgiveness organization, you may be able to qualify for one or more State or Federal loan forgiveness programs;
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
  • Retirement healthcare offerings;
  • Professional growth and development opportunities; and
  • A healthy work/life balance!
AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR YOU WILL:
  • Work in the community with local law enforcement providing crisis assessments and/or interventions with high risk clients and providing follow-up contact to ensure that individuals sent to local hospital emergency departments by police have access to/are engaging in aftercare
  • Write Emergency Certificates for individuals presenting with imminent risk of self-harm, threatening harm to others, and/or grave disability to ensure assessment and intervention at hospital emergency departments
  • Participate as a member of the MOT and act as a liaison to local law enforcement agencies
  • Educate law enforcement personnel on the dynamics of behavioral health problems, homelessness, high-risk, high-needs of the clients served and the behavioral health network/system
  • Work in collaboration with MOT, local and State law enforcement agencies, criminal/justice system, and local treatment providers to ensure the safety of some of the most at risk people in the community
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITY:
DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

SMHA is a community mental health agency operated by the State of Connecticut DMHAS. Its primary goal is to provide high-quality behavioral health services to those in our community with mental health and substance use disorders who are 18 years or older and reside in New London County and its surrounding towns. Services, which include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services, are recovery-oriented and offered in a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive manner. We support individuals to identify and achieve their own goals in recovery, fostering independence, dignity, and ability.

MOT provides a wide range of crisis services: crisis assessment and intervention services for people experiencing mental health and/or substance abuse challenges; hospital and crisis bed screening; referrals for temporary respite; support phone calls and visits; brief crisis counseling; and referrals to appropriate inpatient and outpatient services in the community.  The Mobile Outreach Team is able to respond in the community from 8:00am to midnight daily to assist individuals, families, and community agencies when an individual is experiencing a psychiatric and/or substance abuse crisis.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization.

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
  • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Alyssa Hovanec via email at Alyssa.Hovanec@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency behavioral health program as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for skilled clinical counseling treatment and leadership services involving complex case assignments.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Independently provides highly skilled direct professional counseling treatment services to clients with complex emotional, behavioral or interpersonal problems through comprehensive clinical assessments and provision of individual, family and group treatment; provides individual field work instruction and/or clinical supervision which includes instruction in use of comprehensive psychosocial assessments, case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling; develops and maintains comprehensive treatment and/or rehabilitation plans including measurable treatment objectives; initiates consultation and collaboration with other mental health providers to improve delivery of current services and/or identify unmet needs within current service system; assists in resolution of administrative, personnel and clinical issues in program; develops data for statistical and planning systems and/or research and publication; prepares administrative reports and suggests operational policies and procedures; oversees development and/or implementation of individual client treatment plans; may be assigned administrative oversight of research projects; may provide expert testimony to courts; may represent program in liaison relationships with other community agencies and resources; may chair or serve on unit committees that develop services for clients; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of and ability to instruct others on principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment; considerable knowledge of family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; knowledge of statutes, regulations and standards relating to mental health services; knowledge of state law governing licensed professional counselor practice standards; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable interpersonal skills; ability to integrate theory and case material in assessing and devising comprehensive treatment plans for difficult and/or complex case assignments; ability to lead task groups including but not limited to treatment teams.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of experience as a licensed professional counselor with some experience working in a behavioral health facility or in a juvenile justice setting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience providing short term therapy and case management to individuals and families
  • Experience working with individuals with addiction issues
  • Experience completing comprehensive psychosocial assessments and level of care assessments
  • Experience making referrals to local resources

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (a-f) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
  2. Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
  3. Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
  4. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.





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