Mental Health Assistant 2 (35 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #230908-5723HN-002

Location

Middletown, CT

Date Opened

9/12/2023 12:00:00 AM

Salary

$54,159 - $72,398/year

Job Type

Open to Agency Employees

Close Date

9/26/2023 11:59:00 PM

Go Back View Benefits

Introduction

Are you looking for an opportunity to continue making a difference in the public sector?

If so, read below and apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking three (3) individuals for the role of Mental Health Assistant 2 for third shift opportunities.

Please note: these opportunities are available to current DMHAS employees only. See selection plan for additional details.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU- As a current State employee, you will continue to receive the same excellent benefits you are accustom to:

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.

THE POSITION

Facility: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH)

Units: Addictive Services Division (ASD) & General Psychiatric Division (GPD)

Address: 1000 Silver Street, Middletown, CT 06457

Schedule: Full time, 35 hours per week | Third shift (see below for specific schedules)

PCN	Schedules (all 3rd shift)	Unit
82691	Week 1&2- Sat, Sun, Fri, Mon, Tues Week 3&4- Sat, Sun, Fri, Tues Week 5&6- Sat, Sun, Fri, Mon, Tues	ASD Merritt 4B is a withdrawal management unit providing care for people requiring the most intensive level of addiction services (American Society of Addiction Medicine/A.S.A.M. level. 4.0 and 3.7.) This unit specializes in the treatment of patients with co-occurring disorders and serves up to 30 clients over the age of 18; offering a full range of medication-assisted treatment.
24306	Week 1&2- Fri, Tues, Sat, Sun, Thurs Week 3&4- Fri, Tues, Sat, Sun, Thurs Week 5&6- Tues, Weds, Sat, Sun	GPD Battell 3N is an acute general psychiatric treatment unit with a maximum census of twenty-two patients. The unit provides psychiatric treatment and stabilization for individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness, with the goal of discharge to the community in the most integrated setting possible.
127654	Week 1&2- Mon, Tues, Sat, Sun, Thurs Week 3&4- Mon, Tues, Sat, Sun, Thurs Week 5&6- Mon, Sat, Sun, Thurs	GPD Woodward 1N is a geriatric psychiatry unit with a maximum census of fifteen patients. The unit serves an aging patient population suffering from severe and chronic mental illness, as well as patients with complex medical and nursing needs. The goal of treatment is psychiatric stabilization with the goal of living in an appropriately supportive community setting with the least restrictions possible.

Discover the opportunity to:

Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals;
Provide support to an agency that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;
Assist our clients and employees so they can achieve success;
Make a difference in the public sector; and
Work together in a collaborative team environment.

OUR MISSION

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 provides trauma informed, gender responsive treatment that empowers individuals to manage recovery, improve quality of life, and return to the community. Our vision is to promote recovery through collaborative, compassionate, and culturally competent treatment in a safe, healthy, and caring environment.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

Please Note: In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above 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.

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.

Important Next Step Information for 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 Pamela Rochette via email at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov.

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

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 one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.
Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain clients and may have significant exposure to infectious and/or communicable diseases, strongly disagreeable conditions and risk of injury.

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.