STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Advanced Professional Counselor (Part-Time)

Office/On-Site

Recruitment #240327-4249FP-001

Introduction



Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the public sector? If so, read below and apply today!

ABOUT US:
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.

THE POSITION:
We are currently recruiting an Advanced Professional Counselor to help support our team within River Valley Services (RVS). 

POSITION SPECIFICS:
  • Schedules: Part-Time (20 Hour), Saturday & Sunday, Second Shift (2:00 P.M. - 12:30 A.M.)
  • Unit: Mobile Response Team
  • Address: 351 Silver Street, Middletown, CT
  • PCN: 131871
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; and
  • 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:
      • Working as an Advanced Professional Counselor on the Mobile Response Team
      • Completing crisis and risk assessments for community members across Middlesex County
      • Collaborating with local police departments, emergency departments, and current treatment providers
      • Making referrals for treatment as clinically warranted; and
      • Providing triage, support and resources to individuals via the agency’s Regional Hotline.
              ABOUT THE FACILITY:
              River Valley Services (RVS), a community mental health center serving Middlesex County and the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme, is operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). RVS’s goal is to provide the highest quality crisis intervention, case management, and residential and clinical services to adult citizens, 18 years of age and older, who have serious mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders and who lack the financial means to secure such services in the private sector. 

              Services are directed at improving clients’ quality of life and fostering dignity, ability, and recovery. We are dedicated to promoting a complete and responsive service system for our clients and others in need. All persons receiving services from River Valley Services have the right to culturally appropriate mental health and addiction services consistent with their communication needs and personal preferences. Translation and interpreter services are available at RVS. 

              ABOUT THE UNIT:
              The Mobile Response Team (MRT) is a community crisis evaluation and intervention service which is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  MRT has the ability to offer these services to individuals in need at home, in a local emergency room, on a city street, or in jail.  MRT is the sole screening point for Middlesex County admissions to state psychiatric hospitals. 

              Clinicians on the Mobile Response Team staff the 24/7 crisis hotline and work collaboratively to provide professional assessment of individuals' behavioral health need.  Their interventions provide the best opportunity to receive prompt behavioral health care before additional and more costly medical, psychiatric and legal resources become necessary.  This is consistent with the DMHAS mission of providing the least restrictive care necessary.  

              Start with us.  Stay with us.  Grow with us. 

              Selection Plan

              FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

              Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!


              Please Note: 

              For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.


              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 Nicole Frascatore via email at Nicole.Frascatore@ct.gov.

              *Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

              PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

              In a state agency behavioral health program as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for skilled clinical counseling treatment and leadership services involving complex case assignments.

              EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

              • Independently apply in practice current psychiatric treatment modalities, including but not limited to, behavioral, cognitive, object-relations, crisis intervention and psychosocial rehabilitation approaches;
              • Independently provides highly skilled direct professional counseling treatment services to clients with complex emotional, behavioral or interpersonal problems through comprehensive clinical assessments and provision of individual, family and group treatment; 
              • Provides individual field work instruction and/or clinical supervision which includes instruction in use of comprehensive psychosocial assessments, case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling; 
              • Develops and maintains comprehensive treatment and/or rehabilitation plans including measurable treatment objectives; 
              • Initiates consultation and collaboration with other mental health providers to improve delivery of current services and/or identify unmet needs within current service system; 
              • Assists in resolution of administrative, personnel and clinical issues in program; 
              • Develops data for statistical and planning systems and/or research and publication; 
              • Prepares administrative reports and suggests operational policies and procedures; 
              • Oversees development and/or implementation of individual client treatment plans; 
              • May be assigned administrative oversight of research projects; 
              • May provide expert testimony to courts; 
              • May represent program in liaison relationships with other community agencies and resources; 
              • May chair or serve on unit committees that develop services for clients; 
              • Performs related duties as required.

              KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

              • Considerable knowledge of
                • and ability to instruct others on principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment; 
                • family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; 
              • Knowledge of
                • statutes, regulations and standards relating to mental health services; 
                • state law governing licensed professional counselor practice standards; 
              • Considerable
                • interpersonal skills; 
                • oral and written communication skills; 
              • Ability to
                • integrate theory and case material in assessing and devising comprehensive treatment plans for difficult and/or complex case assignments; 
                • lead task groups including but not limited to treatment teams.

              MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

              One (1) year of experience as a licensed professional counselor.

              PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

              • Experience working as a member of a mobile crisis team.
              • Experience completing crisis assessments in community settings.

              SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

              • Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (a-f) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
              • Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
              • Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
              • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

              WORKING CONDITIONS

              Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.

              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.