Safety Education Instructor (40 Hour)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) seeks qualified individual for the position of Safety Education Instructor, POSITION # 23707.   LOCATION: Division of Safety Services, Connecticut Valley Hospital Campus, Middletown, CT.  This is all full-time, forty (40) hours per week position.  The work schedule is an unscheduled work week (instructors occasionally work evenings and midnight shifts to accommodate training of off-shift employees).

Within the DMHAS Division of Safety Services, the Safety Education Instructor conducts safety education training courses, primarily CPR and Collaborative Safety Strategies (CSS), for all new and existing DMHAS employees required by regulatory, accrediting, DMHAS Policy, licensing and law making bodies.  Training courses are held on all three shifts at training locations throughout the state.  Collaborative Safety Strategies (CSS) Training Program provides direct care staff in all treatment settings including Whiting Forensic Hospital with education and technical skill training necessary to prevent adverse patient/client conduct from escalating to dangerous behavior; and to safely intervene and restore order / safety should dangerous behavior occur. This training provides staff with skills in avoiding and resolving conflict when interacting with patients and is vital in reducing the rate and severity of injury to staff and patients, the rate of restrain and seclusion hospital wide and eliminate occasions that may lead to patient abuse and neglect.

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.

Applicants selected for interview will be required to bring a copy of their American Red Cross Instructor CPR/AED certification and First Aid certifications and Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Questions regarding this recruitment should be directed to Edra Knight at Edra.Knight@ct.gov or (860) 262-6946.

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services this class is accountable for assisting in the development and conduct of safety education programs for staff involved in providing behavioral health treatment and services.

Conducts educational and safety programs including behavioral management strategies and techniques for agency clinical and support staff; conducts orientation programs for new employees; implements course objectives and curricula; uses most appropriate educational methods to accomplish course objectives; conducts educational sessions utilizing lectures, role playing, seminars, group discussions and audio visual presentations; recommends changes in educational methods and materials to effect improvements; reviews courses to determine effectiveness and appropriateness of contents; may conduct special sessions for staff involved in providing behavioral health services to individuals in private residential facilities, community training homes and community based treatment settings; may assist with assessment of departmental safety training needs; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of principles and practices of safety as related to health care environment; knowledge of principles and practices of care, training, habilitation and rehabilitation of individuals with mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders; some knowledge of methods and techniques of implementing and evaluating training programs; some knowledge of methods and techniques applicable to adult education; interpersonal skills; oral and written communications skills; psychomotor skills.

Five (5) years of experience in the care and treatment of persons with mental health, substance abuse and/or co-occurring disorders.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been assisting in the conduct of employee safety and/or training programs.
Note: For state employees the Special Experience is interpreted as one (1) year of experience at the level of Mental Health Assistant 1 and Licensed Practical Nurse or higher.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor’s degree.
2. Four (4) years experience as a Mental Health Assistant 2 ( Inpatient) may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

1. Will be required to be certified as an American Red Cross Instructor CPR/AED and First Aid
2. Incumbents in this class will be required to travel.

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.