Professional Counselor (40 Hour)

　　Office/On-site

　　Recruitment # 240122-6355FP-001

　　Location Bridgeport, CT

　　Date Opened 1/23/2024 12:00:00 AM

　　Salary $84,157* - $113,727/year (*New State Employees Start at Minimum)

　　Job Type Open to the Public

　　Close Date 1/29/2024 11:59:00 PM

　　Go Back Apply View Benefits (http://portal.ct.gov/DAS/smART/General-Employee-Benefits)

　　Introduction Looking for an exciting opportunity to make a real impact?

　　Join us and be part of a revolutionary team shaping the future of mental health care!

　　The State of Connecticu t (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services ( DMHAS (https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/About-DMHAS/Agency/About-DMHAS) ) is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Professional Counselor (PCN 106974) to join our team in Bridgeport. This position will be a part of and support our Diagnostic and Evaluation Center within the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) (https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/SWCMHS/Agency-Files/SWCMHS) . Find out more information on this exciting opportunity below!

　　POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

　　Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

　　Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

　　Work Shift: First shift, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

　　Location: 1635 Central Ave, Bridgeport, CT

　　WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

　　State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive comprehensive benefits plan (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/smART/General-Employee-Benefits) that includes:

　　A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D

　　Generous paid time off, include 13 paid holidays per calendar year

　　Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings

　　Retirement h ealthcare offerings

　　Professional growth and development opportunities

　　State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service) for more information.

　　A healthy work/life balance ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n9M1Qd5fo) !

　　You'd be able to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/Press-Room/Press-Releases/2023/Forbes-State-of-CT-Ranked) - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.

　　WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

　　Be a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team.

　　Assess and support counseling and skill building in addressing client strengths, weaknesses, and needs.

　　Develop psychosocial assessments, risk assessments, and other clinical assessments through clinical interviews.

　　Develop, monitor, and evaluate effectiveness of treatment plans.

　　Implement and maintain individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients.

　　MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES:

　　The State of Connecticut, ( https://portal.ct.gov/) Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS (http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/cwp/view.asp?a=2899&q=334082) ), 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.

　　The vision of the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/SWCMHS/Agency-Files/SWCMHS) is to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent.

　　Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC) and Triage Services: The DEC provides a full range of assessments to determine an individual’s needs and makes recommendations for appropriate follow-up care. The DEC provides short-term treatment services while a referral is processed to either a treatment team within the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System or to a community provider. The DEC has extended hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. as well as a crisis line available after hours and on weekends. The Center’s primary functions include: clinical evaluation, psychiatric evaluation, psychological evaluation, health evaluation, TBI/ABI screening, employment/education screening, psychosocial assessment, brief treatment services, referral to clinical and primary health services.

　　Start with us! Stay with us! Grow with us!

　　Selection Plan

　　FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

　　Please read (https://www.jobapscloud.com/ct/sup/applicanttips2023november.pdf) or watch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sOb10qYXQ) our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

　　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.

　　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.

　　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 Public Act 21-69 (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cga.ct.gov%2F2021%2Fact%2Fpa%2Fpdf%2F2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.pdf&clen=120776&chunk=true) , 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 [email protected].

　　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.

　　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 www.ct.gov/ethics.

　　For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

　　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 Joseph K. Fried at [email protected], 860-924-7053.

　　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 independently providing clinical counseling services.

　　EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

　　As a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services, provides case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs;

　　Develops, implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients;

　　Works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability;

　　Develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews;

　　Provides clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning;

　　Makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs;

　　Interprets and synthesizes client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services;

　　Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans, documents treatment in clinical records;

　　Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies;

　　Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients;

　　Maintains counseling treatment and standards as required;

　　Performs related duties as required.

　　KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

　　Knowledge of

　　principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment;

　　family and interpersonal relationship dynamics;

　　values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional counseling work;

　　community resources;

　　Considerable

　　interpersonal skills;

　　oral and written communication skills;

　　Ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs.

　　MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

　　Licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Connecticut.

　　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.

　　Click on a link below to apply for this position:

　　Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online