STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Community Clinician (35 Hour)

Recruitment #211013-0967HC-001

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. 

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 team! 

The DMHAS, Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) seeks an experienced and qualified individual for a meaningful role as a Community Clinician within the Community Support Program (CSP).   This position is located at Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center (GBCMHC), 100 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.  It is full-time, 35 hours weekly.  The work schedule is 1st shift, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The position number is 27750. 

At SWCMHS, we promote and administer comprehensive recovery-oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment. These services include inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services. 

CSP is targeted to individuals who need the most intense level of community-based care. The program utilizes a team approach to provide intensive, rehabilitative community support, crisis intervention, individual and group skill-building, also known as recovery education.  The majority of the interventions are community-based, delivered in the individual’s home, neighborhood or community, which enables the team to become intimately familiar with the individual’s surroundings, strengths and challenges, within the context of their environment.  The desired outcome is to assist individuals toward an independent, enriched life based on their own choices and preferences. 

Discover the opportunity to: 

  • Deliver direct care services, case management and therapeutic contacts in support of assigned caseload of clients; 
  • Develop and monitor treatment plans and group programming; and 
  • Prepare required reports according to hospital policy, Joint Commission and other regulatory standards. 
Our vision is to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. 

We participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off! We encourage a healthy work-life balance to all employees.

Selection Plan

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. 

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

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

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

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Doreen Clemson at Doreen.Clemson@ct.gov or (860) 785-9855.  

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, community based behavioral health program, this class is accountable for providing clinical assessment and evaluation of treatment programs for an on-going primary caseload of clients for a behavioral health treatment team.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Functions primarily to implement treatment plans for clients on caseload; provides case management services to clients; assists clients in linking with community support systems and agencies; monitors clients progress within mental health and community support systems; performs intake, evaluation and assessment of treatment programs under supervision of a licensed independent practitioner; participates in counseling sessions; provides education and training to clients in community living and activities of daily living skills; monitors clients medication compliance and coordinates meetings with team psychiatrists or nurses as necessary; provides appropriate interventions to clients in crisis including outreach, counseling and/or referral to other service providers; completes all required documentation related to client treatment in accordance with established procedures; may transport clients to and from appointments; may assist in development of treatment plans for new clients; may administer medication; may provide nursing consultation and/or input; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of behavioral health counseling techniques; knowledge of social work methodology, casework, group work and community mobilization; knowledge of family dynamics and dynamics of interpersonal relationships; knowledge of social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence attitudes and behaviors of clients and families; knowledge of community resources available to individuals and families; knowledge of approaches to treatment; knowledge of psychotropic and addiction medications; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to prepare clear and concise reports and case histories.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor’s degree in a health care field and two (2) years of experience working independently using clinical case management techniques in a Behavioral Health setting.

Note: Case management is defined as primary responsibility for the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and assessment of client progress towards meeting treatment objectives as outlined in an approved treatment plan.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. A Master’s degree in counseling, psychology or other clinical discipline may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

2. A current Connecticut license as a registered professional nurse and two (2) years of experience working in a psychiatric setting may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree.

3. A Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and two (2) years at or above the level of a Mental Health Assistant 2 independently performing the full range of paraprofessional case management in a Behavioral Health setting may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Our preferred candidate will possess the following: 

  • Experience working with co-occurring disorders, including severe and prolonged mental illness, substance abuse, trauma and chronic medical conditions. 
  • Experience providing community-based (i.e., non-office based) behavioral health services.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain licensure or certification in designated positions.

2. Incumbents in this class may be required to be a certified substance abuse counselor.

3. Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in designated positions.

4. Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in designated positions.

5. 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.