Mental Health Assistant 1 (40 Hour) (Office/On-Site) - #240312-5724Fk-001

Introduction

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 a Mental Health Assistant 1 to join their team.

HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• LOCATION: Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center (GBCMHC)
• UNIT: Young Adult Services (YAS)
• ADDRESS: 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
• SCHEDULE: Full-Time, Second Shift, 40 hours per week, 3:00pm - 11:30pm, rotating weekends and holidays
• PCN: 24071

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

• 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;

• We offer a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.

• We encourage a strong work/life balance for all state employees.

• We offer opportunities for professional and personal growth.

• We have limitless areas for you to perform relevant and significant work.

• 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

• Engage in a rewarding career;

• Provide support to a division that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;

• Assist our clients so they can achieve success;

• Make a difference in the public sector;

• Work together in a collaborative team environment.

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.

SWCMHS strives to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. With three locations throughout Fairfield County, SWCMHS, promotes and administers comprehensive recovery oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment. These services include inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services.

The YAS program is designed to provide age appropriate, clinical and residential support services to young adults with behavioral health disorders between the ages of 18-25, providing intensive recovery-oriented services that take into account developmental processes, the impact of traumas, and family issues. YAS provides a wide range of services including clinical, employment, educational and rehabilitative support. YAS is designed to prevent these consumers from being "lifelong members" of the mental health service systems. Persons referred for services come through the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System Community Outreach and Engagement Service or through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Office of the Commissioner's central referral process. In both instances, these are usually youth who have been in residential treatment through the Department of Children and Families, in foster care, and/or in the juvenile justice system. YAS services include:

• Intensive Community Supports

• Clinical Services

• Residential Supports

• Community Support Program

• Educational Services

• Vocational Services

• Psychiatric/Medication Services

• Social Rehabilitation

STARTING SALARY INFORMATION:

• New hires to the classification of Mental Health Assistant 1 shall be paid an hourly rate of $25.67.

• Upon successful completion of the working test period, effective the payroll period following, the Employee shall be compensated at an hourly rate of $26.91.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

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 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

• Provide treatment for severely and acutely ill psychiatric patients who require a safe, supportive, highly structured hospital level of care;

• Work with a treatment team that develops goals to assist patients to stabilize, rehabilitate, and establish and focus on their recovery goals;

• Assist patients in regaining a level of functioning that will allow them to transition to a less restrictive environment and to return to community-based living;

• Provide continuity and coordination of patient care;

• Collaborate with unit staff and be responsive to patient care needs;

• Ensure a safe and therapeutic milieu within a psychiatric treatment program;

• Establish therapeutic relationships;

• Respond to and deescalate patients in crisis;

• Support and assist patients with transferring from bed to chair, commode, and ambulation as needed to maintain safety and prevent falls;

• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of providers, and other patient natural supports to ensure patients receive the highest quality of mental health care;

• Perform related duties as required.

For more information, please see the job specification.

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 in inpatient/residential settings with clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and substance abuse disorders

• Experience working in a clinical setting and providing verbal de-escalation techniques to clients/patients

• Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team/program

• Experience providing leadership/direction to colleagues on a team

• Experience providing assistance with activities of daily living in an inpatient/outpatient setting

• Experience assisting clients/patients in short- and long-term needs through the participation of assigned nursing, clinical and rehabilitative interventions

• Experience participating in admission and discharge planning

• Experience observing and recording client/patient behavior in an inpatient/residential setting and preparing pertinent reports

• Experience working with the young adult population

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.