Mental Health Assistant 2 (40 Hour)

Please Note: In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.

In a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services hospital, community behavioral health facility or program this class is accountable for leading Mental Health Assistants in the assessment, planning and implementation of paraprofessional nursing, clinical and/or rehabilitative interventions designed to support client short and/or long-term needs. In outpatient or community programs this class is accountable for independently performing the full range of paraprofessional functions in case management and crisis intervention services.

• Participates in assigned nursing, clinical and/or rehabilitative interventions to meet client short and long-term needs; 
• Advocates for services or resources that meet client needs and preferences; 
• Observes and records client behavior; 
• Prepares incident and accident reports; 
• Monitors client progress; 
• Assists client with decision making and problem solving; 
• Assists client in learning and utilizing daily living skills, budgeting, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills; 
• Acts as a role model and instructs staff in crisis intervention techniques; 
• Develops goal-directed relationships with individuals and/or groups; 
• Identifies and facilitates use of appropriate support networks; 
• Investigates alternative placement for client; 
• Participates in education and training activities to further skill development; 
• Participates in admission and discharge planning activities; 
• Protects civil rights of client; 
• Maintains a safe and healthy environment; 
• May coordinate and direct programs and activities for a group of clients; 
• Performs related duties as required.

Community and/or Outpatient Programs: 

• Functions as a team member of a case management or crisis intervention team; 
• Participates in assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients within facility or community at large (i.e., emergency rooms, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.); 
• Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision; 
• Identifies and reinforces client skills, strengths, resources and preferences; 
• Applies accepted standards of nursing care to clients; 
• Participates in community outreach programs that include crisis intervention and family contact in home settings; 
• Identifies and accesses a wide range of community resources; 
• Participates as a liaison to community agencies; 
• Makes arrangements for outpatient appointments; 
• Consults with care givers in other facilities regarding crisis intervention techniques; 
• Manages client behaviors through verbal communication when necessary; 
• May problem solve with clients in community.

Inpatient Ward or Unit: 

• Leads, trains and participates in training and development of Mental Health Assistants and other assigned employees; 
• Participates in developing and maintaining a therapeutic milieu; 
• Coordinates maintenance of a safe and healthy living environment; 
• Participates in meeting psychological and physical needs of client; 
• Identifies client strengths and assists in development of treatment plans; 
• Orients new client to ward or unit; 
• Participates in team nursing activities and development of nursing care and rehabilitation programs; 
• May supervise self-administration of oral medications; 
• May assist with data collection.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles, practices and procedures; 
  • acceptable standards of nursing care; 
• Knowledge of
  • dynamics of human behavior; 
  • hygiene and sanitation; 
  • safety and fire procedures and security measures; 
  • community resources and programs; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
  • counseling skills; 
• Observation skills; 
• Ability to
  • lead staff; 
  • supervise client activity; 
  • interpret and implement agency and/or facility policies and procedures; 
  • apply principles of therapeutic counseling under supervision; 
  • develop curricula and instruct groups; 
  • organize; 
  • understand, interpret and carry out oral and written instructions.

Three (3) years of experience at the level of a Mental Health Assistant 1.

• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Experience working with clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and substance abuse disorders
• Experience working in a clinical setting and providing verbal de-escalation techniques to clients/patients
• Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team/program
• Experience in providing assistance with activities of daily living

• 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 valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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

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.

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.