Psrb/Competency Monitor (40 Hour) (Office/On-Site) - #240604-5392Fp-001

Introduction

Looking for an exciting opportunity to make a real impact?

Join us and be part of a revolutionary team shaping the future!

Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH), under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a qualified individual for the position of PSRB/Competency Monitor (PCN 102663) to join our team. This position is a critical to ensure the safety and welfare of our clients within Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH), a maximum security forensic psychiatric hospital. This is a hazardous duty position.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Work Schedule: Monday

• Friday

• Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

• Work Shift: First shift, 8:00 a.m.

• 4:30 p.m.

• Location: 70 O'Brien Drive, Middletown, CT

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

• 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.

• Professional growth and development opportunities.

• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

• Collaborates with and provides consultation to the Whiting Forensic Hospital treatment teams in planning and implementing, individualized, comprehensive treatment programs for patients.

• Monitors and evaluates patients regarding their clinical statuses, understanding of court proceedings, and ability to assist in their defense with respect to their pending criminal matters.

• Meet regularly to educate competency patients regarding court proceedings and their specific legal situations.

• Gather date & write reports pursuant to statute regarding patients' competency to stand trial.

• Provide testimony as required about assigned patients in Superior Court and provides information and education about competency restoration.

MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES:

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.

Whiting Forensic Hospital provides high quality, comprehensive, and individualized treatment and evaluation services for patients with mental health conditions who are involved in the criminal justice system or are not yet ready to be safely treated in less restrictive settings. This is accomplished with full respect for the civil and human rights of each patient. Our goal is to assist individuals to manage their illnesses and achieve personal recovery goals through developing the skills necessary to live safely in the community.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

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

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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

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 Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) or the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) this class is accountable for providing monitoring, evaluation, competency restoration and consultation services involving complex forensic cases.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

At a DMHAS facility, restoration to competency services program, or other PSRB related programs, provides evaluation and consultation services to inpatient treatment teams responsible for providing direct treatment to clients with complex psychological and social problems; initiates consultation and collaboration with other DMHAS staff and mental health providers to assess current services; collaborates with consulting psychiatrists in monitoring and evaluating PSRB and restoration to competency patients, their privileges, and treatment programs; may monitor and evaluate the development of individual patient treatment and/or service plans; monitors and evaluates the ability of community programs to meet statutory mandates; may monitor compliance with PSRB orders; provides consultation and technical and/or clinical advice to community programs, facilities and/or DMHAS staff; performs comprehensive clinical assessments; evaluates patients for risk factors for violence; develops data for statistical and planning systems and/or research and publication; prepares statutorily required six-month reports, competency status reports and other clinical or special reports for the PSRB; testifies before and responds to questions at PSRB hearings or at state Superior Courts; compiles current clinical statistics for PSRB, court clinic or competency restoration; represents program or agency during hearings or serves as a liaison with other community agencies and resources; may provide in-service educational presentations concerning PSRB/Competency services and the means to access them; may present information on mental illness, mental health and forensic issues and services, and PSRB to family members, treatment teams, and community employers, residential programs, and medical or mental health treatment providers; performs related duties as required. Find out more information here.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of

• and ability to instruct others about theories of human behavior, current diagnostic categories of mental illness, family dynamics, substance abuse and human sexuality;

• social, cultural, economic, political, religious, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence behavior of clients, families, service programs, and society at large;

• Knowledge of

• statutes, regulations and standards relating to mental health and the PSRB;

• state law governing professional standards for their respective disciplines;

• Considerable

• interpersonal skills;

• oral and written communication skills;

• Considerable ability to independently apply in practice current psychiatric treatment modalities including but not limited to behavioral, cognitive, object-relations, crisis intervention, and psychosocial rehabilitation approaches;

• Ability to

• integrate theory and case material in assessing and devising comprehensive treatment and/or service plans for difficult and/or complex cases;

• collaborate with in- and outpatient treatment teams;

• effectively lead interdisciplinary meetings and arrive at a consensus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Master's degree in a mental health or related health care discipline and three (3) years of experience providing assessment, treatment planning, and direct treatment services to persons with severe and prolonged psychiatric disabilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Possess licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

• Experience providing direct clinical work.

• Experience writing professional communication for internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience in public speaking.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, certifications or permits during employment in this class.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in designated positions.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communications in designated positions.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to be a certified substance abuse counselor.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.