STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Client/Patient)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #230926-9147SH-001

Introduction

Are you ready to make a difference in the public sector?
If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our hospital’s team! 

THE POSITION
The State of ConnecticutDepartment of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Client/Patient) to join their team. 

HIGHLIGHTS
  • FACILITY: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH)
  • ADDRESS: 1000 Silver Street, Middletown, CT 
  • UNIT: Patient Central Services, Vocational Rehabilitation 
  • SCHEDULE: Full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week
    • Sunday - Thursday: 8:00am to 4:30pm
    • Tuesday: 10:00am to 6:30pm
  • POSITION NUMBER: 139730
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees
  • As a loan forgiveness organization, you may be able to qualify for one or more State or Federal loan forgiveness programs.
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
      DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
      • Provide treatment to assist with employment skills, evaluate functioning and provide feedback to Treatment Team; 
      • Provide and document on-going feedback of patient functioning in a variety of settings;
      • Lead and/or co-lead active treatment groups related to employment skills;
      • Assist in planning treatment activities and programs; 
      • Document treatment services regarding patient's behavior and response to treatment; 
      • Implement corrective actions to ensure meeting program needs under the supervision of the VRCC; 
      • Engage patients, gain their interest, and build confidence; and
      • Work as a member of an interdisciplinary service planning team.
      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. 

      CVH is the largest of DMHAS facilities, and includes 17 inpatient units over two campuses (Middletown and Hartford). The hospital includes both a general psychiatry and addiction services units. CVH provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment, including treatment for pregnant women and persons with dual diagnoses. Specialty areas include geriatric and special services, an integrated network of comprehensive mental health services for older adults and young adult services. The facility also runs the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program which addresses the needs of TBI survivors, including; reintegration into community living, independent living skills development, vocational and educational training, psychiatric, cognitive and neurological assessment and treatment, speech and physical rehabilitation as well as individual and family counseling.

      Selection Plan

      FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 
      Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

      Please Note: 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.

      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. 
      • 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, 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.
      • 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 state facility or institution this class is accountable for providing vocational rehabilitation counseling services to a caseload of clients and/or patients.

      EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

      • Evaluates patients for vocational rehabilitation services; 
      • Establishes community contacts; 
      • Facilitates vocational training and retraining; 
      • Works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social, emotional and vocational stability; 
      • Maintains case records and other pertinent material; 
      • Prepares state and federal reports concerning rehabilitation services rendered; 
      • Administers and interprets psychological tests pertaining to vocational abilities; 
      • Refers clients to in-hospital rehabilitation modalities such as pre-vocational evaluation, industrial and recreational workshops; 
      • Follows up on placements made in institution or community; 
      • Carries an on-going case load; 
      • May administer Employee Assistance Program; 
      • Performs related duties as required.

      KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

      • Knowledge of
        • principles and practices of rehabilitation counseling, interviewing, psychological and occupational testing; 
        • symptoms of alcoholism and rehabilitative remedies or treatments; 
        • community resources; 
        • occupations and labor market in assigned area; 
      • Skills
        • interpersonal skills; 
        • oral and written communication skills; 
      • Considerable ability to gather, analyze, and evaluate significant case information pertinent to rehabilitation of an individual; 
      • Ability to write complete and concise case reports; 
      • Supervisory ability.

      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

      Six (6) years of technical or professional experience in rehabilitation counseling or related counseling fields which involve dealing with emotional problems of individuals or vocational adjustment.

      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

      • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
      • A Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, vocational or educational guidance or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

      PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

      • Experience working in an inpatient psychiatric /substance use treatment facility
      • Experience providing vocationally based treatment groups 
      • Experience completing Vocational assessments

      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.