Advanced Professional Counselor (24 Hour) (Part-Time)(Office/On-Site)

Introduction

Are you a Licensed Professional Counselorlooking for an opportunity to make a difference in the public sector? If so, read below and apply today!

ABOUT US:

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.

THE POSITION:

We are currently recruiting an Advanced Professional Counselor to help support our team within Southeast Mental Health Authority (SMHA) in Norwich. 

POSITION SPECIFICS:

• Schedule: Part-Time (24 Hour), Second Shift (4:00 P.M. - 12:30 A.M.), Every other weekend and holidays as scheduled 
  • WEEK 1 ON: Friday, Monday & Tuesday
  • WEEK 2 ON: Saturday, Sunday & Monday
• Unit: Mobile Outreach Team
• Address: 401 West Thames Street, Unit 301, Norwich, CT
• PCN: 77138

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:

• 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.
• We encourage a strong work/life balance for all state employees. 
• We offer opportunities for professional and personal growth. 

*Benefit offerings will vary withpart-time positions.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

• Be an active member of an interdisciplinary treatment team that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;
• Work with our clients so they can achieve success; and
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.

ABOUT THE FACILITY:

SMHA is a community mental health agency operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Its primary goal is to provide high quality behavioral health services to those in our community with mental health and substance use disorders who are 18 years or older and reside in New London County and its surrounding towns. Services, which include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services, are recovery oriented and offered in a trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner.  We support individuals to identify and achieve their own goals in recovery, fostering independence, dignity, and ability.

ABOUT THE UNIT:

The Mobile Outreach Team (MOT) provides a wide range of crisis services: 16-hour face-to-face crisis consultation and 24-hour telephone crisis assessment and intervention services for people experiencing mental health and/or substance abuse challenges; hospital and crisis bed screening; referrals for temporary respite; support phone calls and visits; brief crisis counseling; and referrals to appropriate inpatient and outpatient services in the community.  The MOT is able to respond in the community from 8:00am to 12:00am daily to assist individuals, families, and community agencies when an individual is experiencing a psychiatric and/or substance abuse crisis. The provides community outreach, coordination and collaboration to community providers and agencies.  The MOT serves as SMHA’s Intake Department and agency referrals for case management services are screened and assessed through MOT Clinicians.  

Mobile Outreach Clinicians collaborate with Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained police officers from local departments including Norwich, New London, Groton Town/City, North Stonington, and State of CT Troop E.  They accompany officers in the community and assist to de-escalate conflicts and crises involving people experiencing mental health and/or substance abuse challenges, as well as provide follow up to ensure people have access to needed services.  This program has been in place for over 20 years in the Norwich/New London area, benefiting both the community and the individuals in crisis. 

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.      

Start with us.  Stay with us.  Grow with us. 

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.
• 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.
• 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 Nicole Frascatore via email at Nicole.Frascatore@ct.gov.

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

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency behavioral health program as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for skilled clinical counseling treatment and leadership services involving complex case assignments.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Independently provides highly skilled direct professional counseling treatment services to clients with complex emotional, behavioral or interpersonal problems through comprehensive clinical assessments and provision of individual, family and group treatment; 
• Provides individual field work instruction and/or clinical supervision which includes instruction in use of comprehensive psychosocial assessments, case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling; 
• Develops and maintains comprehensive treatment and/or rehabilitation plans including measurable treatment objectives; 
• Initiates consultation and collaboration with other mental health providers to improve delivery of current services and/or identify unmet needs within current service system; 
• Assists in resolution of administrative, personnel and clinical issues in program; 
• Develops data for statistical and planning systems and/or research and publication; 
• Prepares administrative reports and suggests operational policies and procedures; 
• Oversees development and/or implementation of individual client treatment plans; 
• May be assigned administrative oversight of research projects; 
• May provide expert testimony to courts; 
• May represent program in liaison relationships with other community agencies and resources; 
• May chair or serve on unit committees that develop services for clients; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to instruct others on principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment; 
  • family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; 
• Knowledge of
  • statutes, regulations and standards relating to mental health services; 
  • state law governing licensed professional counselor practice standards; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Ability to
  • integrate theory and case material in assessing and devising comprehensive treatment plans for difficult and/or complex case assignments; 
  • lead task groups including but not limited to treatment teams.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of experience as a licensed professional counselor.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in provision of crisis intervention services.
• Experience in completing community-based risk/crisis assessments.
• Experience providing trauma sensitive services to individuals with several and prolonged mental illness, addiction, and co-morbid medical conditions.
• Experience completing biopsychosocial intake assessments.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (a-f) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.

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.