Mental Health Assistant 1 (40 Hour) (Office/On-Site)

State of Connecticut; Bridgeport (CT); In loco; USD 48.000 - 60.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

The State of Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services seeks a Mental Health Assistant 1 to join the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit in Bridgeport. This full-time 2nd shift role supports patients through nursing, rehabilitative interventions, and teamwork with clinicians to promote recovery and safety.

You will help with admission, crisis de-escalation, and collaboration with multidisciplinary staff to deliver high-quality mental health care.

Competenze

• One year of experience at the level of a Mental Health Trainee.
• Associate's degree in mental health technology may substitute for the General Experience.
• Two years of college training in a behavioral science may substitute for the General Experience.
• One 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: experience working on a clinical team and de-escalation skills.

Mansioni

• Participates in 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 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.

Conoscenze

Nursing care standards

Psychiatric rehabilitation

Community support

Interpersonal skills

Oral & written communication

Counseling skills

Follow instructions

Formazione

Associate's degree in mental health technology

2 years college in behavioral science

Recovery Support Specialist experience

Mental health trainee certificate program

Descrizione del lavoro

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! Join the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) as a Mental Health Assistant 1! We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate individual to join our direct-care team to improve the well‑being for our clients/patients.

Position Highlights

FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) DIVISION: Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU II) 7th Floor ADDRESS: Bridgeport, CT SCHEDULE: Full‑time, 40 hours, 2nd Shift, Monday - Friday, 4:00p.m. - 12:30a.m. with every other weekend and rotating holidays POSITION NUMBER: 100458

Why the State of Connecticut

Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page! Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees

Discover the Opportunity To

• Provide treatment for severely and acutely ill psychiatric patients who require a safe and supportive level of care
• Work with a treatment team that develops goals to assist patients to stabilize, rehabilitate, and establish and focus on their recovery goals
• Provide continuity and coordination of patient care
• Collaborate with unit staff and be responsive to patient care needs
• Establish therapeutic relationships
• Respond to and deescalate patients in crisis
• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of providers, and other patient natural supports to ensure patients receive the highest quality of mental health care

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

On the unit, the employee will:

• 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
• Particates in education and training activities to further skill development
• Particates 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 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 an 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.