Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal health care environment in the public sector?Join our team as a Mental Health Assistant 2 to make a significant impact today!
THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is now hiring for a Mental Health Assistant 2 to join their Brief Care Program (BCP)! Join their team and be a vital team member who will lead, train, and participate in the mentorship and development of Mental Health Assistants and other assigned employees.
HIGHLIGHTS
- FACILITY: Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA)
- LOCATION: 401 West Thames Street, Building 301, Norwich, CT
- UNIT: Brief Care Program (BCP)
- WORK SHIFT: Full\-Time, 35 Hours per Week (72\-72\-80\), Second Shift
- WORK SCHEDULE: 4:00pm – 12:30am, Monday\-Friday, holidays as scheduled and every other weekend
- POSITION NUMBER: 126129
- Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees
- Engage in a rewarding career;
- Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
- Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
- Work together in a collaborative team environment.
- A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
- All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.
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- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
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- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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- Considerable knowledge of
- Knowledge of
- Considerable
- Observation skills;
- Ability to
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- 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.
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- Experience working in the community with clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and addiction/abuse disorders
- Experience assisting clients in accessing community resources and securing and maintaining housing
- Experience working with clients in different stages of recovery, particularly those in the pre\-contemplative and contemplative stages
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- 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.
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WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
DISCOVER THE OPPPORTUNITY TO
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.
SMHA is a community mental health agency operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Its primary goal is to provide high quality behavioral health services to those in our community with mental health and substance use disorders who are 18 years or older and reside in New London County and its surrounding towns. Services, which include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services, are recovery oriented and offered in a trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner. We support individuals to identify and achieve their own goals in recovery, fostering independence, dignity, and ability.
The BCP services all SMHA community programs, provides residential level of care for up 16 clients, the majority of whom have extensive mental health, substance use disorder and co\-occurring diagnoses and treatment. Many of our clients on the BCP are moderate to high need and at risk for psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, and legal involvement.
PLEASE NOTE
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
* Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
* Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, 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 contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
* Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21\-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
* Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
* Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
* Salary Calculations: 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.
* Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
* Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
* For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
* Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
* Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
* Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 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, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Jensine Tran at Jensine.Tran@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
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
Community and/or Outpatient Programs:
Inpatient Ward or Unit:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
+ psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles, practices and procedures;
+ acceptable standards of nursing care;
+ dynamics of human behavior;
+ hygiene and sanitation;
+ safety and fire procedures and security measures;
+ community resources and programs;
+ interpersonal skills;
+ oral and written communication skills;
+ counseling skills;
+ 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
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
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.