Mental Health Assistant 2 (32 Hour)(Part Time | Office/On-site)

Introduction

Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal health care environment in the public sector? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our team! 

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a part time Mental Health Assistant 2 within the Brief Care Program (BCP). The BCP a 15-bed subacute unit that supports clients transitioning from inpatient care to eventual community reintegration. In this role, the Mental Health Assistant 2 will work closely with clients to assist in their recovery journey by participating in nursing, clinical, and rehabilitative interventions. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA)
• ADDRESS: 401 West Thames Street, Unit 301, Norwich, CT
• PROGRAM: Brief Care Program (BCP)
• POSITION NUMBER: 114475
• SCHEDULE: Part time, 32 hours per week | More information below:

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Week 1

4:00pm-12:30am

Off

Off

4:00pm-12:30am

4:00pm-12:30am

4:00pm-12:30am

Off

Week 2

Off

4:00pm-12:30am

4:00pm-12:30am

Off

Off

4:00pm-12:30am

4:00pm-12:30am

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU - Benefits are pro-rated for part time employees.

• Visit our newState 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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Providing day-to-day support for the Brief Care Program (BCP);
• Advocating for services that meet client needs;
• Observing and recording client behavior, assisting with decision-making, supporting clients in daily living and community adaptation skills, and acting as a role model in crisis intervention techniques;
• Preparing reports;
• Monitoring client progress;
• Developing goal-directed relationships;
• Assisting with discharge and placement planning;
• The position also includes opportunities for skill development through education and training.

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, a community-based mental health agency serving the Southeastern Connecticut region, provides high-quality services for mental health and substance use disorders. These services include case management, outpatient care, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services. SMHA administers all DMHAS contract-funded behavioral health services in the area.

The BCP is a 15-bed subacute unit which provides support for clients who no longer meet an inpatient level of care but who are not ready to return to the community. The BCP Mental Health Assistant 2 is essential for providing staff whom are able to function/work independently with one or more clients in the community.

START WITH US. STAY WITH US. GROW WITH US.

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 reador watchour 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 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.

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 Pamela Rochette at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov. 

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

• 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.

Community and/or Outpatient Programs: 

• 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.

Inpatient Ward or Unit: 

• 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles, practices and procedures; 
  • acceptable standards of nursing care; 
• Knowledge of
  • dynamics of human behavior; 
  • hygiene and sanitation; 
  • safety and fire procedures and security measures; 
  • community resources and programs; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
  • counseling skills; 
• Observation skills; 
• Ability to
  • 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

• 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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in the community with clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
• Experience working with clients in accessing community resources and in securing and maintaining housing.
• Experience working with clients who are pre-contemplative and contemplative in their recovery.

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 infectious and/or communicable 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.