Community Clinician (40 Hour)(Office/On-Site)

Introduction

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference?  Are you looking to take the next step in your career?  If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently seeking a qualified and experienced individual for the position of Community Clinicianto join our team.  

Position Highlights:

• FACILITY: Western Connecticut Mental Health Network (WCMHN)
• TEAM: Young Adult Services (YAS)
• LOCATION: Waterbury, CT
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours), 1st shift, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Thursday 10:00am - 6:30pm with rotating weekends (every 4th weekend).
• POSITION NUMBER: 126054

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. 

Discover The Opportunity To:

• 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.

The Role:

WCMHN-Waterbury Young Adult Services program provides intensive clinical, case management and skill building services to individuals ages 18- 25 years old living within the Waterbury Region servicing 12 towns. This position is not primarily for the Supportive Apartment Program, however cross coverage within the unit is often necessary. Support services are provided both office and community-based to the young adult clients with severe and persistent mental illness, significant trauma experiences and substance use disorders.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develops recovery plans;
• Functions primarily to implement treatment plans for clients on caseload; 
• Provides case management services to clients;
• Assists clients in linking with community support systems and agencies; 
• Monitors clients progress within mental health and community support systems.

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. 

WCMHN mission is to provide a comprehensive and effective recovery-oriented system of mental health and addiction services that promotes self-sufficiency, dignity, cultural sensitivity and respect.

Please note:

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. 

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.
• 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 and/or phone, 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 Julie Barker via email at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services community based behavioral health program, this class is accountable for providing clinical assessment and evaluation of treatment programs for an on-going primary caseload of clients for a behavioral health treatment team.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Functions primarily to implement treatment plans for clients on caseload; 
• Provides case management services to clients;
• Assists clients in linking with community support systems and agencies;
• Monitors clients progress within mental health and community support systems;
• Performs intake, evaluation and assessment of treatment programs under supervision of a licensed independent practitioner; 
• Participates in counseling sessions; 
• Provides education and training to clients in community living and activities of daily living skills;
• Monitors clients medication compliance and coordinates meetings with team psychiatrists or nurses as necessary;
• Provides appropriate interventions to clients in crisis including outreach, counseling and/or referral to other service providers; 
• Completes all required documentation related to client treatment in accordance with established procedures;
• May transport clients to and from appointments;
• May assist in development of treatment plans for new clients;
• May provide nursing consultation and/or input; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • behavioral health counseling techniques;
  • social work methodology, casework, group work and community mobilization;
  • family dynamics and dynamics of interpersonal relationships;
  • social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence attitudes and behaviors of clients and families;
  • community resources available to individuals and families;
  • approaches to treatment; 
  • psychotropic and addiction medications;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability to prepare clear and concise reports and case histories.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor’s degree in a health care field and two (2) years of experience working independently using clinical case management techniques in a behavioral health setting.

NOTE: Case management is defined as primary responsibility for the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and assessment of client progress towards meeting treatment objectives as outlined in an approved treatment plan.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• A Master’s degree in counseling, psychology or other clinical discipline may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.
• A current Connecticut license as a registered professional nurse and two (2) years of experience working in a psychiatric setting may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree.
• A Master’s degree in social work (MSW) and two (2) years at the level of a Mental Health Assistant 2 independently performing the full range of paraprofessional case management in a behavioral health setting may be substituted for the General Experience.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with young adults in community-based settings and accessing resources, services and providing skill building.
• Experience providing trauma informed services to individuals with severe and prolonged mental illness, addiction and co-morbid medical conditions.
• Experience completing risk assessments, crisis intervention plans and providing comprehensive supports.
• Experience collaborating with clients and a multidisciplinary team to develop person-centered recovery plans that integrate assessment data.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain licensure or certification 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 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 communication in designated positions.
• 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.