Mental Health Assistant 1 (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 hospital’s team! 

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking multiple part-time Mental Health Assistant 1's to join their team. 

The ideal candidates for this position will possess interpersonal, listening, attending, and observation skills, with the ability to follow oral and written instructions and empathize with individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Candidates should be able to adhere to DMHAS/SWCMHS policies and procedures and comply with agency attendance and work rule requirements. Candidates should also have the ability to perform CPR and first aid and have knowledge of safe work practices. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• LOCATION: Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center (GBCMHC)
• ADDRESS: 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 
• UNIT: Staffing Office
• SCHEDULE: Part-Time, 32 Hours per Week, 12:00pm - 8:30pm, every other weekend and rotating holidays
• POSITION NUMBERS: 144765, 144770

WHAT WE CAN OFFER 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
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A health work/life balance to all employees

*Please note: benefit offerings will vary with part-time positions.

DISCOVER THE OPPPORTUNITY TO

• Provide treatment for severely and acutely ill psychiatric patients who require a safe, supportive, highly structured hospital level of care;
• Work with a multidisciplinary treatment team to develop goals to assist patients to stabilize, rehabilitate, and establish and focus on their recovery goals, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of mental health care;
• Assist patients in regaining a level of functioning that will allow them to transition to a less restrictive environment and to return to community-based living;
• Collaborate with unit staff to be responsive to patient care needs and provide continuity and coordination of patient care;
• Establish therapeutic relationships and ensure a safe and therapeutic milieu within a psychiatric treatment program;
• Promote cultural and gender diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, sensitivity to client needs, and assures the maintenance of client rights;
• Respond to and deescalate patients in crisis;
• Support and assist patients with transferring from bed to chair, commode, and ambulation as needed to maintain safety and prevent falls;
• Provide direct transportation and escort of clients to appointments and other community activities/functions and maintains client’s rights to confidentiality; and 
• Monitor and document consumer behavior and progress in DMHAS/SWCMHS Electronic Health Record.

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. 

SWCMHS strives to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. With three locations throughout Fairfield County, SWCMHS, promotes and administers comprehensive recovery oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment. These services include inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services. 

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 Jensine Tran at jensine.tran@ct.gov. 

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services hospital, behavioral health facility or program this class is accountable for assisting in the assessment, planning and implementation of paraprofessional nursing, clinical and/or rehabilitative interventions designed to support clients' short and/or long-term needs.

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; 
• Assists client in developing effective strategies for managing internal and external stress; 
• Routinely solicits personal goals and preferences; 
• Identifies and facilitates use of appropriate support networks; 
• 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 manage client behaviors through verbal communication as needed; 
• Performs related duties as required.

COMMUNITY OR OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS: 

• Functions as a member of a case management team or program; 
• Participates in assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients in community at large (i.e., emergency rooms, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.); 
• Assists client in learning and practicing daily living skills, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills; 
• Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision.

INPATIENT WARD OR UNIT: 

• Communicates and interacts with clients; 
• Participates in development of nursing care and treatment plans; 
• Encourages client to participate in therapeutic activities; 
• Observes and records client behavior and prepares pertinent reports; 
• Participates in on-going education and training programs; 
• May participate in follow up of client in community-based services; 
• May supervise self-administration of oral medication.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • acceptable standards of nursing care; 
  • psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles and procedures; 
  • community support systems and resources; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
  • counseling skills; 
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of experience at the level of a Mental Health Trainee.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• An Associate's degree in mental health technology may be substituted for the General Experience.
• Two (2) years of college training in a behavioral science, social work, rehabilitation therapy or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience.
• One (1) year of experience as a Recovery Support Specialist providing peer support to agency clients may be substituted for the General Experience.
• 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 a clinical setting and providing verbal de-escalation techniques to clients/patients.
• Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team/program
• Experience providing leadership/direction to colleagues on a team
• Experience providing assistance with activities of daily living in an inpatient/outpatient setting
• Experience assisting clients/patients in short- and long-term needs through the participation of assigned nursing, clinical and rehabilitative interventions
• Experience participating in admission and discharge planning
• Experience observing and recording client/patient behavior in a inpatient setting and preparing pertinent reports

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 communicable and/or infectious 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.