STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Mental Health Assistant 2

Part Time - 28 Hours

Recruitment #210921-5723HN-002

Introduction


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.

River Valley Services (RVS), is a community mental health center serving Middlesex County and the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme. Our goal is to provide the highest quality crisis intervention, case management, and residential and clinical services to adult citizens, 18 years of age and older, who suffer from serious mental disorders and who lack the financial means to secure such services in the private sector. Services are directed at improving clients’ quality of life and fostering dignity, ability, and recovery. We are dedicated to promoting a complete and responsive service system for our clients and others in need. All persons receiving services from River Valley Services have the right to culturally appropriate mental health and addiction services consistent with their communication needs and personal preferences.

Are you looking for a challenging role utilizing your professional experience with the psychiatric population? If so, we encourage you to apply, today! We are recruiting for a full time Mental Health Assistant 2 (PCN: 128898) within our Respite Unit. The Respite Unit is an eight bed short-term residential service for individuals who are undergoing severe psychological distress, but who do not require an inpatient level of care. RVS Respite Unit ensures the safety and well-being of the 8 clients on Respite Unit. Respite clients are stepping down from hospitals or are there as part of a plan to avoid hospitalization. Clients are at heightened risk and in need of 24-hour care and support. This position is Part-Time, averaging 28 hours per week working 1st shift with the following schedule:
  • Week One: Monday - Wednesday working 7:45am - 4:15pm
  • Week Two: Saturday - Tuesday working 7:45am - 4:15pm

Discover the opportunity to:
  • Facilitate and monitor the implementation of treatment plans and responses to treatment;
  • Facilitate clients return to the community by assisting them in assuming responsibility for activities of daily living and in developing self-help skills;
  • Provide a safe environment.
We participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan, as well as, paid time off! We offer outstanding work/life balance and limitless opportunity!

Selection Plan

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however applications to this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in this job class.

All State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders 13F (3a) and 13G (3a).

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.

Applicant Correspondence - 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 position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications - as listed on the job opening - will be considered for this role, as determined by qualifications stated on the submitted application. 

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, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

Should you have questions regarding this recruitment please contact Andrew Pebley at Andrew.Pebley@ct.gov or (860) 785-6185.

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, monitoring within facility or community at large (i.e. emergency rooms jails, homeless shelters, outpatients 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 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; considerable knowledge of acceptable standards of nursing care; knowledge of dynamics of human behavior; knowledge of hygiene and sanitation; knowledge of safety and fire procedures and security measures; knowledge of community resources and programs; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable communication skills; considerable counseling skills; observation skills; ability to lead staff; ability to supervise client activity; ability to interpret and implement agency and/or facility policies and procedures; ability to apply principles of therapeutic counseling under supervision; ability to develop curricula and instruct groups; organizational ability; ability to understand, interpret and carry out oral and written instructions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. 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 six (6) months of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.
2. Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for six (6) months of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Our preferred candidate will have the following:
  • Experience working in a short-term residential unit for patients/clients undergoing severe psychological distress;
  • Experience working with patients/clients suffering severe psychological distress who are working on a plan to avoid hospitalization and/or stepping down from hospitalization;
  • Experience completing initial assessments for patients/clients with acute psychiatric and acute addictive problems.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
2 . Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.