PSRB/Competency Monitor (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut - DMHAS CT Mental Health Center; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional growth

Healthy work/life balance

Job summary

Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) in New Haven seeks a qualified mental health professional to provide supervision and clinical services for PSRB clients. You will liaise with Whiting Forensic Hospital and the Department of Correction, performing monitoring, evaluation and competency restoration in complex cases.

You will lead interdisciplinary teams, develop treatment plans, and contribute to timely discharge planning.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a mental health or related health care discipline.
• Three (3) years of experience providing assessment, treatment planning, and direct treatment services.
• Licensure as a clinical social worker in CT is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide monitoring, evaluation, competency restoration and consultation services for complex forensic cases.
• Collaborate with DMHAS staff, WF H, and DOC.
• Lead and participate in interdisciplinary meetings to plan treatment and services.
• Prepare required reports for PSRB and other governing bodies.
• Assist with discharge planning for PSRB-supervised individuals.

Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Oral and written communication

Leadership in meetings

Education

Master’s degree in mental health or related field

Tools

Electronic health record systems

Job description

Introduction

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference in your community? Are you looking to take the next step in your career? Find out more information on this great opportunity below!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Work Shift: First shift, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Providing supervision and clinical services to all New Haven Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) clients.
• Liaison with Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH) and the Department of Correction (DOC).
• Providing monitoring, evaluation, competency restoration and consultation services involving complex forensic cases.
• Ensuring timely discharge plans for persons under the supervision of the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB).
• Making a difference in the public sector and working together in a collaborative team environment.

MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES

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 Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) is an urban community mental health center with an exceptional 50-year tradition of serving individuals with serious mental illness and/or addiction. Founded in 1966, CMHC is a partnership between DHMAS and the Yale Department of Psychiatry. Each year over 4,000 people receive a variety of recovery-oriented services at CMHC and its satellite clinics. Community Forensic Services (CFS) is comprised of several community re-entry programs and jail diversion initiatives which provide services for clients with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders who are involved with the criminal justice system. These interagency collaborations include CORP (DMHAS Connecticut Offender Re-entry Program), Forensic Liaison with Department of Correction (DOC) facilities and CVH, CREST (Community Reporting Engagement Support and Treatment) Mental Health Day Reporting Center at Fellowship Place, the residential Sierra Pre-Trial Center and the Continuum of Care Forensic Residential programs. Community Forensic Services clinicians perform a range of functions within these programs to facilitate clients’ successful compliance with court stipulations and community re‑entry. At CMHC, CFS staff members perform comprehensive clinical evaluations and provide treatment for DMHAS‑eligible clients referred to these programs. CFS clinicians facilitate connections to residential, vocational, medical and behavioral health care services as indicated, and provide groups at CMHC addressing re‑entry and how criminal histories may impact relationships in the community. CFS clinicians also collaborate with DMHAS and the Connecticut Psychiatric Security Review Board to provide community supervision and treatment to acquittees transitioning into the community after extended psychiatric hospitalizations.

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.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) or the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) this class is accountable for providing monitoring, evaluation, competency restoration and consultation services involving complex forensic cases.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• At a DMHAS facility, restoration to competency services program, or other PSRB related programs, provides evaluation and consultation services to inpatient treatment teams responsible for providing direct treatment to clients with complex psychological and social problems;
• Initiates consultation and collaboration with other DMHAS staff and mental health providers to assess current services;
• Collaborates with consulting psychiatrists in monitoring and evaluating PSRB and restoration to competency patients, their privileges, and treatment programs;
• Monitors and evaluates the ability of community programs to meet statutory mandates;
• Provides consultation and technical and/or clinical advice to community programs, facilities and/or DMHAS staff;
• Performs comprehensive clinical assessments;
• Evaluates patients for risk factors for violence;
• Develops data for statistical and planning systems and/or research and publication;
• Prepares statutorily required six-month reports, competency status reports and other clinical or special reports for the PSRB;
• Testifies before and responds to questions at PSRB hearings or at state Superior Courts;
• Compiles current clinical statistics for PSRB, court clinic or competency restoration;
• Represents program or agency during hearings or serves as a liaison with other community agencies and resources;
• May monitor and evaluate the development of individual patient treatment and/or service plans;
• May monitor compliance with PSRB orders;
• May provide in-service educational presentations concerning PSRB/Competency services and the means to access them;
• May present information on mental illness, mental health and forensic issues and services, and PSRB to family members, treatment teams, and community employers, residential programs, and medical or mental health treatment providers;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of
and ability to instruct others about theories of human behavior, current diagnostic categories of mental illness, family dynamics, substance abuse and human sexuality;
social, cultural, economic, political, religious, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence behavior of clients, families, service programs, and society at large;
Knowledge of
statutes, regulations and standards relating to mental health and the PSRB;
state law governing professional standards for their respective disciplines;
Considerable
interpersonal skills;
oral and written communication skills;
Considerable ability to independently apply in practice current psychiatric treatment modalities including but not limited to behavioral, cognitive, object-relations, crisis intervention, and psychosocial rehabilitation approaches;
Ability to
integrate theory and case material in assessing and devising comprehensive treatment and/or service plans for difficult and/or complex cases;
collaborate with in- and outpatient treatment teams;
effectively lead interdisciplinary meetings and arrive at a consensus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Master’s degree in a mental health or related health care discipline and three (3) years of experience providing assessment, treatment planning, and direct treatment services to persons with severe and prolonged psychiatric disabilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Possess licensure as a clinical social worker in the State of Connecticut.
• Experience collaborating within a multidisciplinary treatment team and coordinating with clinical and residential service providers.
• Experience conducting forensic clinical assessment and providing treatment to individuals under psychiatric or legal supervision.
• Experience delivering formal presentations or providing testimony in hearings, including those related to forensic or clinical matters.
• Experience preparing clear, professional written communication such as monthly reports, treatment summaries, and documentation within electronic health record systems.
• Experience working with client with severe and persistent mental health and addition disorders.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, certifications or permits during employment in this class.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communications in designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be a certified substance abuse counselor.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.