Mental Health Assistant 2 (28 Hour) Office/On-Site | Part-time Recruitment # 250106-5723HN-001 Location Middletown, CT Date Opened 1/14/2025 12:00:00 AM Salary $55,513 - $74,208/year Job Type Open to Statewide Employees Close Date 1/22/2025 11:59:00 PM Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits) + + + + Introduction Are you looking for the next step in your career? Join our team in Middletown and help us in supporting our community! River Valley Services (RVS) (https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/RVS/Agency-Files/RVS---Homepage) , under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS (https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/About-DMHAS/Agency/About-DMHAS) ) is seeking a current State of Connecticut employee to join our team as a Mental Health Assistant 2 (PCN 128899) in a part-time capacity. This position will support services as a part of our agency's Respite Program. Find out more information on this great opportunity below! POSITION HIGHLIGHTS: + Location: 351 Silver Street, Middletown, CT + Work Hours: Part-time, 28 hours per week + Work Shift: Second shift, 3:45 p.m. - 12:15 a.m. + See Additional Schedule Information Below: FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY WEEK 1: off off off WORK WORK off WORK WEEK 2: WORK WORK WORK off off WORK off WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU: + Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits) page! + Work at a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on both America's Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024. With our dynamic job market and commitment to fostering a thriving workforce, Connecticut stands out as a top destination for both seasoned professionals and fresh graduates seeking to launch their careers. + Professional growth and development opportunities. + A healthy work/life balance ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n9M1Qd5fo) to all employees. Benefits vary for part-time positions. WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING: + Safety monitoring, skill building and supporting interventions that are required for the 24/7 program to operate. Providing support and structure to clients in the Respite unit, including participating in the development of treatment and discharge plans. + Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide comprehensive client-centered services in a recovery-oriented trauma-sensitive environment. Teaching life skills and providing support and close monitoring to assist in management of risk issues and development of coping skills. + Participating in positive behavioral plans, protecting clients’ rights, and maintaining a safe and healthy environment. + Monitor client activities and changes in mental status, behaviors, coping skills and overall comfort level through observation, regular contact and documentation. + Provides assistance with areas of daily living, one to one trauma-sensitive interventions and support, transportation to appointments and mentoring activities both on and off the unit. Identifies and reinforces client skills, strengths, resources and preferences. + Facilitates and participates in activities on the unit to support recovery including socialization, symptom management, stress reduction and psycho-social education. + Participates as case manager in the community, identifying and accessing a wide range of community resources. Participates in community outreach programs and family contact in home settings. + Participates as a liaison to community agencies, making arrangements for outpatient appointments and works collaboratively with clinical teams, families and outside providers. MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES: The State of Connecticut, ( https://portal.ct.gov/) Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS (http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/cwp/view.asp?a=2899&q=334082) ), 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. River Valley Services (RVS) (https://portal.ct.gov/dmhas/rvs/agency-files/rvs---homepage) , a community mental health center serving Middlesex County and the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme, is operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). RVS’s goal is to provide the highest quality crisis intervention, case management, and residential and clinical services to adult citizens, 18 years of age and older, who suffer from serious mental disorders and who lack the financial means to secure such services in the private sector. Respite is an eight bed short-term residential service for individuals who are undergoing severe psychological distress, but who do not require an inpatient level of care. 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 (https://portal.ct.gov/das/-/media/das/statewide-hr/a---z-listing-task-pdfs/drug-free-workplace-policy--february-2016.pdf) . Selection Plan In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID-19 Vaccination Immunization. To Apply: + 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 (https://jobapscloud.com/ct/) job posting. + 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 (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cga.ct.gov%2F2021%2Fact%2Fpa%2Fpdf%2F2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.pdf&clen=120776&chunk=true) , 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. (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=IT&preview=1) + 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. FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: Please read (https://www.jobapscloud.com/ct/sup/applicanttips2023november.pdf) or watch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sOb10qYXQ) our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! 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 providing behavioral health services within Outpatient and Community Based settings. + Experience working with individuals with mental illness, addictions and trauma. + Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team/program. + Experience in providing teaching and/or assistance with activities of daily living. 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. Click on a link below to apply for this position: Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online