STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Mental Health Associate (40 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #240926-7376FK-001

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Introduction


Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal health care environment in the public sector? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our hospital’s team! 

THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a Mental Health Associate to join their team. 

HIGHLIGHTS
  • FACILITY: Western Connecticut Mental Health Network (WCMHN)
  • ADDRESS: 95 Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury, CT 
  • UNIT: Housing and Homeless Department
  • SCHEDULE: Full-Time, 40 Hours per Week, First Shift, Monday through Frida, 8:00am - 4:30pm 
  • POSITION NUMBER: 125969 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

DISCOVER THE OPPPORTUNITY TO
  •  Provide housing services to homeless and disabled populations which, by definition, are a higher risk population that require connection and oversight to help mitigate those risks;
  • Provide case management and supportive services and is responsible to obtain and maintain successful housing for an assigned caseload of individuals served through grants provided by Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
  • Coordinate with providers and landlords to successfully help vulnerable individuals remain housed; and 
  • Complete large volumes of necessary paperwork to meet the Federal and State Guidelines to maintain the grants and keep opportunities available for housing a large group of individuals. 
ABOUT US 
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. 

WCMHN was formed in 1996 in order to coordinate clinical, fiscal and administrative oversight of Region 5 contracted and state-operated mental health services. Their mission is to provide a comprehensive and effective recovery-oriented system of mental health and addiction services that promotes self-sufficiency, dignity, cultural sensitivity and respect. 

Within this service system, there are three state-operated Local Mental Health Authorities, which are located in Waterbury, Danbury and Torrington. In partnership with WCMHN, they provide and coordinate local clinical services. Over 200 staff including psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation and mental health workers provide services for persons with a long-term mental illness.  Approximately 7,000 clients receive services in a variety of programs, including peer support programs, recovery services, supported employment, homeless services, residential, crisis services, jail diversion, outpatient, case management, Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACTT) and young adult services. 

PLEASE NOTE

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!


Please Note: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

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.
AFTER YOU APPLY 
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email and/or phone, 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. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
  • 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 Jensine Tran at jensine.tran@ct.gov. 

    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 the administration of a designated number of wards or units or a major clinical training program for mental health assistants. In outpatient divisions and community programs or clinics this class is accountable for the direct supervision of mental health assistants and/or independently performing a full range of advanced para-professional functions in case management and crisis intervention services or the administration of a complex program component.

    EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

    In wards or units: 
    • Assumes responsibility for the supervision, training, and evaluation of assigned staff; 
    • Plans and develops personnel schedules and assignments to provide adequate and safe coverage; 
    • Applies accepted standards of nursing care and administration; 
    • Assists in the evaluation of the quality of nursing care being administered; 
    • Investigates and reports any unusual incidents; 
    • Assures confidentiality of oral and written reports; 
    • Coordinates support services such as dietary, maintenance, etc.; 
    • Supports and participates in the protection of human and civil rights of clients; 
    • Assures that federal and state regulations and directives are followed; 
    • Participates in unit, program, and department meetings; 
    • Collaborates with members of other disciplines in the planning, development and implementation of hospital programs and services; 
    • Cooperates and collaborates with clinical personnel in developing and maintaining a therapeutic milieu; 
    • May supervise the self-administration of oral medications; 
    • May assist in approved research projects; 
    • Performs direct client care functions and other related duties as required.
    In community/outpatient mental health programs: 
    • Coordinates and facilitates the activities of clients; 
    • Functions as team member of a case management or crisis team or program; 
    • Participates in the assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients in the community at large (i.e., ERs, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.); 
    • Assists clients in acquiring daily living skills, budgeting, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills; 
    • Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision; 
    • Applies accepted standards of nursing care to clients; 
    • Supervises staff of lesser grades or other disciplines; 
    • Provides clinical therapeutic counseling and/or preventive education services to community groups and individuals, including the development and administration of curriculum on various issues relevant to the community; 
    • Independently participates in community outreach programs that include crisis interventions, case management and/or family support in home settings; 
    • Participates as a liaison to community agencies; 
    • Makes arrangements for outpatient appointments; 
    • Provides information on department philosophy and objectives; 
    • May perform problem-solving techniques with clients in their natural environment; 
    • May assist in the motivation of long-term clients in small groups hospital programs or in community; 
    • May coordinate crisis-intervention plans to circumvent hospitalization; 
    • May support and supervise clients in transitional living facilities; 
    • May assess families in need of respite care programs; 
    • Performs direct client care functions and other related duties as required.
    In a comprehensive, structured training program: 
    • Trains mental health assistants in the principles, practices, and procedures of client care, nursing care, supervision and administration, hygiene, sanitation, safety, security, and fire prevention, the management of assaultive behavior, report writing, and writing of behavioral objectives; 
    • Provides information on the dynamics of human behavior; 
    • Trains employees in the techniques of group work; 
    • Trains employees in the methods of supporting clients in avoiding hospitalization; 
    • Performs direct client care functions and other related duties as required.

    KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

    • Considerable knowledge of
      • acceptable standards of nursing care; 
      • psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles, practices, and procedures; 
      • dynamics of individual and group behavior; 
    • Knowledge of
      • supervisory and administrative methods and techniques; 
      • hygiene and sanitation; 
      • security, safety, and fire procedures, 
      • community resources and programs; 
    • Considerable
      • interpersonal skills;
      • oral and written communication skills;
    • Observation skills;
    • Considerable ability to apply the principles of therapeutic counseling; 
    • Ability to
      • lead staff; 
      • supervise client activity; 
      • direct others in the formulation of plans for client care; 
      • interpret and implement agency/facility policies and procedures; 
      • organize; 
      • coordinate and collaborate effectively with individuals, groups and families; 
      • train and teach; 
      • effectively handle emergency situations independently. 

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

    Three (3) years of experience at the level of a Mental Health Assistant 2, LPN or its equivalent in a psychiatric setting.

    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 up 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 outpatient settings and providing services within the community
    • Experience in written documentation and managing large volumes paperwork
    • Experience with mental health and/or substance abuse
    • Computer use skills/knowledge                                                                 
    • Experience locating housing and working with the homeless individuals

    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.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    Incumbents may be required to lift and restrain clients; may have significant exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and to risk of injury; may be exposed to strongly disagreeable conditions.

    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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