Advanced Professional Counselor (Spanish/English Bilingual) Office/On-Site #251107-4249FP-002

Introduction

Bilingual (Spanish/English) Professional Counselors: Advance your career now! Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference? Are you ready to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
The State of Connecticu t , Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently seeking a dedicated and experienced Advanced Professional Counselor (Spanish/English Bilingual) to join our team.


Position Highlights

• Facility: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• Division: Mobile Crisis Unit
• Location: Bridgeport, CT
• Schedule: Full -time, 1st shift, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
• PCN: 128794
  
  
  

What We Can Offer You

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
  
  
  

Discover The Opportunity To

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Thrive in an exciting environment;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.
  
  
  

The Role

Job duties include but are not limited to:

• As a member of the Mobile Crisis Team, the bilingual Spanish-English Advanced Professional Counselor will Independently provide highly skilled direct clinical social work treatment and/or substance mis-use services to clients in crisis with complex psychological and social problems through comprehensive clinical assessments; collaboration, consultation, and coordination with Law Enforcement.
• Provide clinical and/or administrative consultation to employees and as necessary function in the role of team leader.
• Provides crisis assessments and interventions including risk management, conduct intakes for referral to treatment and other community behavioral health services, follow-up contact to ensure that individuals follow through with referred services.
• Maintains documentation for each individual served, enhances communication across the local behavioral health system of care including Forensics, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems.
• Promotes and implements linkages and resource utilization with the above.
• Provides emergency certification to transport clients for assessment and intervention at emergency rooms.
• Educates local providers and law enforcement agencies regarding the dynamics of behavioral health problems, homelessness, high-risk, high needs of the clients served and the behavioral health network/system.
• Provide direct clinical care in a wide variety of community settings, including face to face assessments in the community and criminal justice settings.
• The Incumbent will be required to utilize electronic health records.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  
  

More About Us
DMHAS 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-s ufficiency in those we serve.

Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) is responsible for the oversight and management of contracts with private not-for-profit agencies and residential providers providing mental health services in the southwest region of the state. With locations in Bridgeport and Stamford, SWCMHS provides inpatient, outpatient and assertive community treatment (ACT) services and community support services for adults with severe behavioral health disabilities; mental health services for people who are deaf or hearing impaired and a mobile crisis intervention team. SWCMHS also provides outreach to people who are homeless and mentally ill. Special agency programs include Shelter Plus Care, a housing program for people who are homeless and who have a history of substance abuse or mental illness or who have AIDS.


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 Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace .


Selection Plan

For Assistance In Applying
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply ! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.


Before You Apply

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, 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 contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69 , resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected] .
• Salary Calculations: 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.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
  
  
  

After You Apply

• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 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, available at www.ct.gov/ethics .
  
  
  

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Julie Barker at [email protected] .

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!


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 provides highly skilled direct professional counseling treatment services to clients with complex emotional, behavioral or interpersonal problems through comprehensive clinical assessments and provision of individual, family and group treatment;
• Provides individual field work instruction and/or clinical supervision which includes instruction in use of comprehensive psychosocial assessments, case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling;
• Develops and maintains comprehensive treatment and/or rehabilitation plans including measurable treatment objectives;
• Initiates consultation and collaboration with other mental health providers to improve delivery of current services and/or identify unmet needs within current service system;
• Assists in resolution of administrative, personnel and clinical issues in program;
• Develops data for statistical and planning systems and/or research and publication;
• Prepares administrative reports and suggests operational policies and procedures;
• Oversees development and/or implementation of individual client treatment plans;
• May be assigned administrative oversight of research projects;
• May provide expert testimony to courts;
• May represent program in liaison relationships with other community agencies and resources;
• May chair or serve on unit committees that develop services for clients;
• Performs related duties as required.
  
  
  

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 Spanish Speaking .
• Experience writing emergency certificates.
• Experience assessing for and completing risk management assessments within a Mobile Crisis environment or other acute community settings.
• Experience working with individuals with co-occurring disorders including significant mental health disorders, substance use disorders, trauma and persistent medical conditions.
• Experience providing community-based (i.e., non-office based) behavioral health services.
• Experience providing consultation and education to providers, families and law enforcement officers.
• Experience practicing interpersonal and communication skills.
  
  
  

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.