Advanced Professional Counselor

Introduction

Are you Bilingual in English/Spanish?  Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) looking for an exciting opportunity to make a real impact?  Join us and be part of a revolutionary team shaping the future The , Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (), is seeking a Bilingual (English/Spanish) to support our agency. POSITION HIGHLIGHTS: Facility:  Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System () Unit : Mobile Crisis Unit PCN : 92053 Location : 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610 | Please note: this position is considered regional, covering all of Fairfield County and will be rotating between Bridgeport and Stamford locations. Work Shift : First shift | Full time (40 hours/week) Work Schedule : Monday - Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU: Visit our  new  page The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule Professional growth and development opportunities A healthy to all employees WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING: Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals; Provide support to an agency that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve; Assist our clients and employees so they can achieve success; Make a difference in the public sector; and Work together in a collaborative team environment. MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITY:

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (), 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.

SWCMHS strives to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. With three locations throughout Fairfield County, SWCMHS, promotes and administers comprehensive recovery oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment. These services include inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services. 

The Regional Mobile Crisis Intervention Team is available to provide intervention and support to adults (18 years and older) who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis in the comfort of their own home or other community location. 

Start With Us. Stay With Us.  Grow With Us.

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 . 

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Please or our Applicant Tips on How to Apply

Please Note: In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting. Please Note: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. To Apply: In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. In order to comply with , the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to . This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Important Next Step Information for After You Apply: Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. Note:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.  Read through this helpful link to . Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at Connect With Us: Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Pamela Rochette via email at .

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency behavioral health program as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for skilled clinical counseling treatment and leadership services involving complex case assignments.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Independently provide highly skilled direct clinical social work treatment and/or substance abuse services to clients in crisis with complex psychological and social problems through comprehensive clinical assessments. Collaborate, consult, and coordinate with Law Enforcement. Provide clinical and/or administrative supervision to employees. Regularly function in the role of team leader. Conduct crisis assessments and interventions, including risk management. Perform intakes for referral to treatment and other community behavioral health services. Conduct follow-up contact to ensure individuals follow through with referred services. Maintain documentation on each individual served. Enhance communication across the local behavioral health system of care, including Forensics, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems. Promote linkages and resource utilization with the behavioral health network/system, including Forensics, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems. Provide emergency certification to transport clients for assessment and intervention at emergency rooms. Educate local providers and law enforcement agencies on the dynamics of behavioral health problems, homelessness, and high-risk, high-needs clients. Provide direct clinical care in a wide variety of community settings, including face-to-face assessments in the community and criminal justice settings. Utilize electronic health records. Perform related duties as required, for more information click .

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of and ability to instruct others on principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment; family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; Knowledge of statutes, regulations and standards relating to mental health services; state law governing licensed professional counselor practice standards; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; Ability to integrate theory and case material in assessing and devising comprehensive treatment plans for difficult and/or complex case assignments; lead task groups including but not limited to treatment teams.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of experience as a licensed professional counselor.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bilingual in Spanish-English  Experience assessing for and completing risk management assessments within a Mobile Crisis environment or other acute community settings. Experience providing consultation and education to providers, families and law enforcement officers. Experience writing an Emergency Certificate in the community. Experience engaging in consultation with community providers such as non-profits, hospitals, elderly protective services etc. Experience working collaboratively with first responders such as police and EMS.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (a-f) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions. Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.

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.

Overview

Employee Benefits As a State of Connecticut employee you may be entitled to a host of benefits that are not only attractive, but also may be portable should your career bring you to other avenues of state service. From 13 paid holidays to accruing vacation time, being a State of Connecticut employee not only gives you the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, but the time to enjoy your own. Listed below are just some of the benefits the State of Connecticut offers depending on the position you hold: Health & Dental Insurance Accrued Vacation, Personal and Sick Leave (Subject to the appropriate bargaining union contract or state statute and regulations.) Retirement Plan Group Life Insurance Supplemental Benefits Voluntary Defined Contribution Plans Flexible Spending Accounts (Dependent Care Program, Medical Flexible Spending, and Qualified Transportation) Supplemental Benefits Programs (Auto and Home Insurance, plus Short and Long Term Disability) Life Insurance State of CT Tuition Reimbursement Program Holidays

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