Head Nurse (40 Hour)

DDS West Region•Torrington, CT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) – West Region – is seeking a Head Nurse to join the Northwest Regional Center (NWC) in Torrington, CT. This part-time, first shift position involves coordinating comprehensive medical services for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities residing in a continuous-operation Intermediate Care Facility (ICF). The Head Nurse will manage a caseload of approximately 10–12 individuals, collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to promote positive outcomes, and ensure adherence to clinical quality standards, DDS policies, and ICF regulations. This role also includes providing clinical oversight and leadership to LPNs, utilizing nursing expertise and supervisory skills to support high-quality direct care. Strong communication, organization, and interpersonal skills are essential for sharing critical health and safety information and contributing to rehabilitative and interdisciplinary healthcare practices. The position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Requirements

Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Nurse.
Possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut OR hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals with a developmental and/or intellectual disability, including procedures and terminology relating to modern methods of care.
Experience in a supervisory capacity of staff across multiple locations, effectively developing plans to prioritize work and assignments.
Advanced knowledge and demonstrated experience providing care to medically fragile individuals.
Experience with rehabilitative and interdisciplinary processes.
Experience analyzing and resolving day to day problems of persons with ID/DD.
Experience using Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel; as well as familiarity with internal data systems (e-CAMRIS) and use of integrated HRIS (CoreCT).
Demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills interacting with, and communicating information to internal partners, external partners, and the public, both verbally and written.
Experience utilizing policies and procedures related to payroll, hiring, purchasing, Client accounting, data collection, and scheduling.
Experience working with teams, clinicians, and case managers.
Experience with and knowledge of processes for identifying State of CT and federal benefit/entitlement programs.
Experience with and knowledge of ICF policies, procedures, and active treatment.
Ability to independently problem solve and resolve complex situations with individuals and families who need in or out of home supports.
Fluent in a foreign language or proficient in the use of the American Sign Language in certain designated positions.
Ability to travel.

Responsibilities

Coordinate comprehensive medical services for individuals residing in a continuous-operation Intermediate Care Facility (ICF).
Manage a caseload of approximately 10–12 individuals.
Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to promote positive individual outcomes.
Ensure adherence to clinical quality standards, DDS policies, and ICF regulations.
Provide clinical oversight and leadership to LPNs.
Utilize nursing expertise and supervisory skills to support high-quality direct care.
Share critical health and safety information with internal and external partners.
Contribute to rehabilitative and interdisciplinary healthcare practices.
Leads the planning of care and implementation of the nursing process.
Plans unit workflow and determines priorities.
Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work.
Makes recommendations for personnel actions such as selection, discipline and performance.
Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations.
Leads professional and paraprofessional nursing staff in provision of patient/individual care.
Maintains and promotes standards of nursing.
Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered.
Identifies staff development needs.
Provides staff training and assistance.
Instructs staff regarding policies and procedures.
Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to promote and ensure adjustment and continuity of patient/individual care programs.
Responds to emergencies.
May make recommendations on policies and standards.
May prepare reports or correspondence.
May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP).
Independently develops, implements and evaluates nursing and/or health care plans.
Provides nursing consultation in the assigned specialty program.
Conducts nursing assessments.
Provides admission and discharge nursing assessments including plans for continuing care.
Maintains records and makes reports.
Provides for nursing services to comply with intermediate care facility (ICF) regulations and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards.
Maintains records of stored and secured medications.
Independently manages and provides direct care to patients/individuals.
Participates in individual, group or family therapy.
Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of patient/individual treatment or health care plans.
Manages an assigned caseload of other appropriate clinical activities.
Provides clinical direction and/or training to staff in individual, group and family service delivery programs.
May participate in home visits and crisis intervention.
May provide in-service training to nursing and paraprofessional staff with regard to signs and symptoms of illness, dysfunction, injury and prevention of same.
May conduct patient/individual-centered conferences with nursing personnel.
May consult with and make recommendations to physicians concerning health needs.
Independently provides counseling and health education services to students and staff.
Serves as member of crisis intervention team.
Provides assessment of medical problems.
Determines need for physician or medical care.
Performs basic evaluative procedures and tests.
Performs primary first aid.
Makes referrals and follows up on health needs.
Maintains accurate medical records.
Writes reports.
May administer medication.
May administer routine tests or exams.