Mental Health Assistant 2 (40 Hour) Office/On-site #260805-5723FK-001

Join the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) as a Mental Health Assistant 2 and make a difference in the lives of individuals with behavioral health needs.

About the Facility

This position is located at the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS), part of the Southwest Hospital Services Division. The units include:

• Psychiatric Intensive-Care Unit 1 (PICU1), 6th Floor
• Co-Occurring Treatment Unit (CTU), 5th Floor

Address: 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT

Schedule

• PCN 027828: Second Shift (4:00 P.M. - 12:30 A.M.), Monday - Friday, rotating weekends and holidays (PICU 1, 6th Floor)
• PCN 114535: Third Shift (12:15 A.M. - 8:15 A.M.), Monday - Friday, rotating weekends and holidays (CTU, 5th Floor)
• PCN 126346: First Shift (8 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.), Monday - Friday, rotating weekends and holidays (CTU, 5th Floor)

About the Role

The Mental Health Assistant 2 leads, trains, and participates in the training and development of Mental Health Assistants and other assigned employees. This role involves:

• Participating in developing and maintaining a therapeutic milieu
• Coordinating maintenance of a safe and healthy living environment
• Participating in meeting the psychological and physical needs of clients
• Identifying client strengths and assisting in the development of treatment plans
• Orienting new clients to the ward or unit
• Participating in team nursing activities and the development of nursing care and rehabilitation programs
• Supervising self-administration of oral medications
• Assisting with data collection
• Performing other related duties

Responsibilities

• 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
• Observes and records client behavior; prepares incident and accident reports
• Monitors client progress and assists with decision-making and problem-solving
• Assists clients in learning and utilizing daily living skills, budgeting, medication monitoring, and/or community adaptation skills
• Acts as a role model and instructs staff in crisis intervention techniques
• Develops goal-directed relationships with individuals and/or groups
• Identifies and facilitates the use of appropriate support networks
• Investigates alternative placements for clients
• Participates in education and training activities to further skill development
• Participates in admission and discharge planning activities
• Protects the civil rights of clients and maintains a safe and healthy environment
• May coordinate and direct programs and activities for a group of clients

Community and/or Outpatient Programs

• Functions as a team member of a case management or crisis intervention team
• Participates in assessment, crisis intervention, and monitoring of clients within the facility or community (e.g., emergency rooms, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs)
• Provides individual, group, and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision
• Identifies and reinforces client skills, strengths, resources, and preferences
• Applies accepted standards of nursing care to clients
• Participates in community outreach programs, including crisis intervention and family contact in home settings
• Identifies and accesses a wide range of community resources
• Participates as a liaison to community agencies
• Makes arrangements for outpatient appointments
• Consults with caregivers in other facilities regarding crisis intervention techniques
• Manages client behaviors through verbal communication

About the Organization

DMHAS is a healthcare 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.

The Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System provides high-quality, compassionate, and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. SWCMHS promotes and administers comprehensive recovery-oriented services, including inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services.

The Hospital Services Division offers services to individuals 18 years of age and older with prolonged psychiatric and co-occurring illnesses who require hospitalization due to acute exacerbation of symptoms or continued rehabilitation before returning to the community. The division includes 62 beds across three units: PICU 1 (21 beds), PICU 2 (21 beds), and CTU (20 beds). Treatment goals focus on stabilization, evaluation, rehabilitation, and community reintegration.

Requirements

• Ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date
• Specify your qualifications on your application
• List earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately
• For foreign education, provide documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service
• Select all preferred shifts/locations on your application
• A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required upon a conditional offer of employment
• All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug-Free Workplace

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance

For more details, visit the State Employee Benefits Overview page.