STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Mental Health Assistant 1 (40 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #231012-5724FK-001

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Introduction

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 hospital’s team! 

THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking an experienced and qualified Mental Health Assistant 1 to join our team! 

HIGHLIGHTS
  • FACILITY: Capitol Region Mental Health Center (CRMHC)
  • ADDRESS: 500 Vine Street, Hartford, CT
  • SCHEDULE: Full-Time, Part-Time 
  • SHIFT: First, Second, Third 
  • NOTE: This position can be assigned any unit and work schedule/shift. 
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
  • 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.
*Benefit offerings will vary with part-time positions. 
    DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
    • Work among professionals whose treatment goals developed for clients/patients are aimed to help individuals be stabilized, rehabilitated, and return to community-based living;  
    • Utilize your expertise in assisting clients/patients in developing a stress-free attitude; 
    • Stay up to date with changes that affect today’s society by participating in on-going education and training activities; and  
    • Apply your skills and experience to enhance self-worth of our clients/patients. 
      PLEASE NOTE
      • Current DMHAS permanent employees in the classification of Mental Health Assistant 1 should not apply.  
      • Permanent DMHAS employees in the classification of Mental Health Assistant 1 transfers will be handled through the DMHAS Lateral Transfer Agreement.  
      • Positions through this posting are permanent positions with temporary assignments.
      • Permanent assignments will be completed at a later date after the agency transfer list has been cleared.
      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. 

      CRMHC is a community based mental health center serving Hartford, West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Canton and Simsbury providing individuals with behavioral health services.  CRMHC collaborates with the greater Hartford DMHAS-Funded mental health programs comprising 15 non-profit agencies located in Hartford and West Hartford.  These agencies work together to provide a comprehensive array of behavioral health services to adults with serious psychiatric disabilities as well as co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance use. 

      Selection Plan

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

      Salary Details:
      • Salary based on weekly hours of position:
        • Part-time hours - $26.91* Hourly
        • 40 Hours Weekly - $56,176 Annually
        • NOTE: *New hires shall be paid at the rate listed above. Upon successful completion of the working test period, effective the payroll period following, the Employee shall be compensated at Step 1 of the Mental Health Assistant 1. Employees who have previously completed a working test period in an 1199-covered direct-care position shall not be subject to this reduced training rate upon transfer or promotion. 
      To Apply:
      • Please select all location(s), shift(s), and employment status(es) in which you are willing to work on your application. Failure to indicate the location(s), shift(s), and employment status(es) may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location, shift, and employment status. 
      • 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.
      • 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.
      • 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.
      • Facilities may choose to review applications generated from this posting to fill Mental Health Assistant 1 positions within various locations, shifts, etc. throughout the state.  If so, these positions will NOT be posted separately on JobAps. When a new, similar Mental Health Assistant 1 (Multi-Facility) posting is announced (with a recruitment number ending in MHA), you must re-apply for consideration.
      • Note: A facility may have a need to post a job opening for a more ‘specific’ Mental Health Assistant 1 position geared towards the facility’s specific position(s). Those types of Mental Health Assistant 1 job openings on JobAps will NOT use applications from this recruitment pool. You must apply to those postings in order to be considered for appointment to those specific position(s). We encourage you to apply to each Mental Health Assistant 1 posting you are interested in. Please sign up for Interest Cards to be notified when Mental Health Assistant 1 recruitments are posted. 
      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 Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services hospital, behavioral health facility or program this class is accountable for assisting in the assessment, planning and implementation of paraprofessional nursing, clinical and/or rehabilitative interventions designed to support clients' short and/or long-term needs.

      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; 
      • Assists client in developing effective strategies for managing internal and external stress; 
      • Routinely solicits personal goals and preferences; 
      • Identifies and facilitates use of appropriate support networks; 
      • 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 manage client behaviors through verbal communication as needed; 
      • Performs related duties as required.

      COMMUNITY OR OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS: 

      • Functions as a member of a case management team or program; 
      • Participates in assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients in community at large (i.e., emergency rooms, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.); 
      • Assists client in learning and practicing daily living skills, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills; 
      • Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision.

      INPATIENT WARD OR UNIT: 

      • Communicates and interacts with clients; 
      • Participates in development of nursing care and treatment plans; 
      • Encourages client to participate in therapeutic activities; 
      • Observes and records client behavior and prepares pertinent reports; 
      • Participates in on-going education and training programs; 
      • May participate in follow up of client in community-based services; 
      • May supervise self-administration of oral medication.

      KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

      • Knowledge of
        • acceptable standards of nursing care; 
        • psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles and procedures; 
        • community support systems and resources; 
      • Considerable
        • interpersonal skills; 
        • oral and written communication skills; 
        • counseling skills; 
      • Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.

      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

      One (1) year of experience at the level of a Mental Health Trainee.

      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

      • An Associate's degree in mental health technology may be substituted for the General Experience.
      • Two (2) years of college training in a behavioral science, social work, rehabilitation therapy or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience.
      • One (1) year of experience as a Recovery Support Specialist providing peer support to agency clients may be substituted for the General Experience.
      • Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of the General Experience.

      PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

      • Experience working on an inpatient behavioral health unit 
      • Experience assisting clients with ADL's, and  maintaining a safe environment/milieu

      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 communicable and/or infectious 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.




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