STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Mental Health Assistant 2 (35 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #231031-5723HN-001

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Introduction



Are you looking for your next role, supporting those with mental health needs?
If so, we have a role for you!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Mental Health Assistant 2 (PCN 127671) to join our team. This position will support our Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit 1 (PICU), 6th Floor at our Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center of the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS).  Find out more information on this great opportunity below!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Work Schedule: 72-72-80, every other weekend and rotating holidays
  • Work Hours: Full-time
  • Work Shift: Second shift, 4:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
  • Location: 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive comprehensive benefits plan that includes:
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D
  • Generous paid time off, include 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Retirement healthcare offerings
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
  • A healthy work/life balance!
You'd be able 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.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:
  • Provide continuity and coordination of patient care;
  • Collaborate with unit staff and be responsive to patient care needs
  • Ensure a safe and therapeutic milieu within a psychiatric treatment program
  • Establish therapeutic relationships
  • Respond to and deescalate patients in crisis                              
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (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.

The vision of the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System is to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent.

The PICU 1 6th Floor, Evening Shift is responsible for providing treatment for severely and acutely ill psychiatric patients who require a safe, supportive, highly structured hospital level of care. The treatment goals are developed in which the individual can be: stabilized, evaluated, rehabilitated, provided ongoing treatment, and assisted in regaining a level of functioning that will allow the person to be treated in a less restrictive environment or to return to community-based living. CTU treatment staff work closely with community providers to ensure that a smooth transition to the community exists. 

Selection Plan

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

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.
  • 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.
  • 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 Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in mental health technology, a behavioral science, social work, rehabilitation therapy or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.
  • Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working in inpatient/residential settings 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 providing leadership/direction to colleagues on a team

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 valid Motor Vehicle Operator's 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 infectious and/or communicable diseases, strongly disagreeable conditions and risk of injury.

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.

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.




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