Mental Health Associate (35 Hour)

State of Connecticut•Middletown, CT

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is hiring for a Mental Health Associate to join their team at River Valley Services (RVS) in the Young Adult Services (YAS) Community Living Support (CLS) Program. This is a full-time, 35-hour per week position with a second shift schedule (3:45pm - 12:15am) and rotating work days. The role involves providing direct supervision, guidance, and support to Mental Health Assistant 2 staff, ensuring high-quality, client-centered, trauma-informed services, overseeing daily operations, and collaborating with clinical teams to meet the needs of young adults with complex behavioral health conditions. DMHAS aims to promote the overall health and wellness of individuals with behavioral health needs, while River Valley Services provides comprehensive services to adults in Middlesex County. The YAS CLS Program specifically supports young adults with severe and complex behavioral health conditions, trauma histories, and substance use disorders in community settings, focusing on recovery and independent living.

Requirements

Must be a current State of CT employee of DMHAS for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service.
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 providing supervision and training to staff in a community-based residential setting for clients with behavioral health and substance-related conditions
Knowledge and experience in providing community-based services for young adults with complex trauma and other behavioral health conditions
Experience in teaching life skills, providing case management services and in engagement and outreach strategies in a community-based setting
Experience coordinating crisis intervention plans in community-based settings by collaborating with clinical teams and the Mobile Response Team

Responsibilities

Provide direct supervision, guidance, training, and support to Mental Health Assistant 2 staff, supporting staff development.
Ensure that high-quality, client-centered, trauma-informed services are delivered in a safe and responsive manner.
Oversee daily operations and collaborate with the clinical team and Mobile Response Team to implement safety and risk management plans.
Ensure the needs of young adults with complex behavioral health conditions are met.
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.