Mental Health Associate (Timekeeping) (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut•Bridgeport, CT

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is now hiring for a Mental Health Associate to join our team at the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) in Bridgeport, CT. This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position on the first shift, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. The role involves supervising, training, and evaluating mental health assistants, maintaining records, and ensuring accurate timekeeping for employees. DMHAS is a healthcare agency dedicated to promoting the overall health and wellness of individuals with behavioral health needs through a comprehensive network of services. SWCMHS provides high-quality, compassionate mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders.

Requirements

Three (3) years of experience at the level of a Mental Health Assistant 2, Licensed Practical Nurse or its equivalent in a psychiatric setting.
College training in mental health technology, a behavioral science, social work, rehabilitation therapy, or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience up to a maximum of two (2) years.
Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of the General Experience.
Considerable knowledge of acceptable standards of nursing care; psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles, practices, and procedures; dynamics of individual and group behavior.
Knowledge of supervisory and administrative methods and techniques; hygiene and sanitation; security, safety, and fire procedures; community resources and programs.
Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; Observation skills.
Considerable ability to apply the principles of therapeutic counseling.
Ability to lead staff; supervise client activity; direct others in the formulation of plans for client care; interpret and implement agency/facility policies and procedures; organize; coordinate and collaborate effectively with individuals, groups and families; train and teach; effectively handle emergency situations independently.

Nice To Haves

Experience conveying information both written and verbally
Experience applying established problem-solving techniques to resolve scheduling and operational challenges in a healthcare setting
Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel for documentation and reporting
Experience performing data collection, data entry, and preparing reports while maintaining required confidentiality standards
Experience managing multiple tasks simultaneously while prioritizing assignments and adhering to required timelines
Experience in applying labor laws and working within a unionized healthcare setting
Experience using timekeeping or attendance tracking software
Experience working in an environment with focus on compliance
Experience with data security protocols
Experience working in dependently and collaborating with others to complete tasks
Bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language
Possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Responsibilities

Supervise, train, and evaluate mental health assistants assigned to the staffing department.
Maintain records and logs and assure confidentiality of oral and written reports.
Review and monitor hours worked to ensure employee time is accurately recorded.
Collect and verify timekeeping information for all employees in the hospital service division.
Work with employees to resolve errors in hours reported.
Complete timesheet change forms for corrections after payroll processing, obtaining necessary signatures and emailing to the payroll department.
Adjust hours worked and any time off (leave) an employee has recorded.
Approve an employee's timecard at the end of each pay period.
Provide visible access to an employee's time worked and leave.
View an employee's vacation, sick leave, and comp time balances and total hours worked.
Assist supervisors with questions regarding their employee's timecard.
Set up, maintain office procedures, filing and indexing systems, and forms for office use and to meet re-current needs.
Maintain calendars of due dates and initiate recurring work or special clinical projects accordingly.
Respond to internal requests for information and assistance.
Interpret and implement agency/facility policies and procedures.
Assumes responsibility for the supervision, training, and evaluation of assigned staff.
Plans and develops personnel schedules and assignments to provide adequate and safe coverage.
Applies accepted standards of nursing care and administration.
Assists in the evaluation of the quality of nursing care being administered.
Investigates and reports any unusual incidents.
Assures confidentiality of oral and written reports.
Coordinates support services such as dietary, maintenance, etc.
Supports and participates in the protection of human and civil rights of clients.
Assures that federal and state regulations and directives are followed.
Participates in unit, program, and department meetings.
Collaborates with members of other disciplines in the planning, development and implementation of hospital programs and services.
Cooperates and collaborates with clinical personnel in developing and maintaining a therapeutic milieu.
May supervise the self-administration of oral medications.
May assist in approved research projects.
Performs direct client care functions and other related duties as required.
Coordinates and facilitates the activities of clients.
Functions as team member of a case management or crisis team or program.
Participates in the assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients in the community at large (i.e., ERs, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.).
Assists clients in acquiring daily living skills, budgeting, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills.
Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision.
Applies accepted standards of nursing care to clients.
Supervises staff of lesser grades or other disciplines.
Provides clinical therapeutic counseling and/or preventive education services to community groups and individuals, including the development and administration of curriculum on various issues relevant to the community.
Independently participates in community outreach programs that include crisis interventions, case management and/or family support in home settings.
Participates as a liaison to community agencies.
Makes arrangements for outpatient appointments.
Provides information on department philosophy and objectives.
May perform problem-solving techniques with clients in their natural environment.
May assist in the motivation of long-term clients in small groups hospital programs or in community.
May coordinate crisis-intervention plans to circumvent hospitalization.
May support and supervise clients in transitional living facilities.
May assess families in need of respite care programs.
Trains mental health assistants in the principles, practices, and procedures of client care, nursing care, supervision and administration, hygiene, sanitation, safety, security, and fire prevention, the management of assaultive behavior, report writing, and writing of behavioral objectives.
Provides information on the dynamics of human behavior.
Trains employees in the techniques of group work.
Trains employees in the methods of supporting clients in avoiding hospitalization.