Director Of Nursing 1

Are you ready to take the next step in your Nursing career, while continuing to make a difference in the lives of others? If so, then the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center is looking for you to be a part of their team!  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families' (DCF) mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter.  

We are currently recruiting for a qualified and talented individual for a Director of Nursing 1 position for our Albert J. Solnit Children's Center-PRTF location.  The Albert J. Solnit Children's Center – South Campus is a state-administered Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for females between the ages of 13-17 who have complex psychiatric needs.   

The center provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents with severe mental illness and related behavior and emotional problems who cannot be safely assessed or treated in a less restrictive setting.  The south campus consists of four co-ed hospital units and three female adolescent psychiatric residential treatment facility cottages (PRTF). The Solnit Center facilities support our dedication to helping youth improve their individual and social competencies.  

You will discover the opportunity to:

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Thrive in an exciting environment;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.  

Position Highlights:

• Monday – Friday
• 8:30am - 5:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Full Time - 40 Hours
• Located on a 67-acre campus at 915 River Road, Middletown, CT
• The position has on-call coverage in rotation with members of the management team.    

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us and make an impact by serving your state!

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.   

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization.  

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 

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

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. 

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.   

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.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

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.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

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.

In the Departments of Children and Families, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Veterans Affairs this class is accountable for directing nursing services or other clinical services.

• Directs or assists with direction of staff and operation of nursing/clinical department; 
• Directs or assists with planning and managing of nursing/clinical activities;
• Develops or assists with formulation of program goals and objectives;
• Develops or assists in development of related policy incorporating current nursing/clinical research and professionally recognized standards;
• Develops or assists in development and implementation of plans for care;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of budget;
• Maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of department who might impact on program activities;
• Makes rounds to determine quality of nursing care;
• Assures optimal quality of care is provided in a safe environment;
• Develops and/or implements effective ongoing programs to measure, assess and improve quality of nursing care, treatment and services delivered to patients;
• Oversees programming for facility personnel to improve knowledge and practices of infection control;
• Develops productive work teams; intervenes in crisis situations and investigates all unusual incidents;
• Protects human and civil rights of patients and/or clients and staff;
• Compiles data and prepares periodic reports;
• Leads and participates in meetings;
• Responsible for coordinating and providing twenty-four hour nursing coverage for facility or assigned unit(s);
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May provide direct patient and/or client care;
• May speak on behalf of nursing/clinical services;
• May oversee other disciplines including but not limited to pharmacy, respiratory therapy or social work;
• May participate in strategic planning;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of nursing principles and practices in appropriate specialty;
• Knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • and ability to develop strategic plans;
  • behavioral health nursing;
  • nursing administration;
  • interviewing and counseling techniques;
  • principles and practices of infection control related to infections and preventable diseases;
  • current developments in field of nursing including current complexities of the healthcare industry;
  • trend variance analysis;
  • governmental accounting and budgeting;
  • marketing;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills.

Two (2) years of experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity in a health care organization and/or facility or hospital nursing.

Note:  For state employees, this experience is interpreted at the level of a Supervising Nurse.

• Experience supervising clinical nursing staff in a behavioral health hospital setting serving youth with complex psychiatric profiles and their families.   
• Experience with hospital and behavioral health Joint Commission accreditation and CMS certification.  
• Experience with Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement initiatives.  
• Experience with hospital Risk Management activities.  
• Experience supervising behavioral health/psychiatric nursing.

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license as a registered professional nurse in Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class serving in the capacity of the Nurse Executive are required to possess a master's degree in nursing, social or behavioral science, public health administration, health care administration, hospital administration or a related field.
• 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.

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.

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.