Rehabilitation Therapist 2 (Therapeutic Recreation) (37.5 Hour)(Office/On-site)

Introduction

Whiting Forensic Hospital, under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking qualified individuals to join our team as Rehabilitation Therapist 2's (Therapeutic Recreation). These positions will be supporting the Whiting 1 and Dutcher 1 North units within our facility in Middletown. Find out more information on these great opportunities below!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Whiting Unit 1 (PCN 123469)
• Work Schedule: Sunday through Thursday
• Work Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
• Work Shift: First shift, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., except Wednesdays: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Location: 70 O'Brien Drive, Middletown, CT

Whiting Unit 1 is a maximum-security competency unit aimed at restoring individuals with mental illness and or substance use disorders such that they may participate in their own defense within the criminal justice system.

• Dutcher 1 North (PCN 86600)
  • Work Schedule: Sunday through Thursday
  • Work Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
  • Work Shift: First shift, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., except Mondays: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Location: 70 O'Brien Drive, Middletown, CT

Dutcher 1 North is a mixture of patients who are either civilly committed, under the jurisdiction of the PSRB, or hospitalized voluntarily.  Patients on 1 North may require more specialized care and consideration when compared to the other community preparation units in Dutcher Hall.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

These positions are entitled to Hazardous Duty Benefits.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

• Completing all rehabilitation therapy documentation, including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, group documentation and reassessments needed to meet joint commission guidelines;
• Performing therapeutic recreation interventions designed to assist in meeting client goals and improving levels of overall functioning;
• Providing individual support and program planning to meet patient specific goals and needs to include one-on-one support.
• Working with treatment teams to assist in meeting treatment plan goals.
• Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and treatment teams.

MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (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-sufficiency in those we serve.

Whiting Forensic Hospital specializes in providing inpatient services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The hospital consists of 91 maximum security beds and 138 enhanced security beds. Services are provided to individuals who are admitted under the following categories: Psychiatric Security Review Board commitment, Criminal court order for restoration of competency to stand trial, Civil commitment (voluntary or involuntary) and Transfer from the Department of Correction (during period of incarceration or at end of sentence). Discharge options are dependent on legal status and the purpose of admission.

We provide high quality, comprehensive, and individualized treatment and evaluation services for patients with mental health conditions who are involved in the criminal justice system or are not yet ready to be safely treated in less restrictive settings. This is accomplished with full respect for the civil and human rights of each patient. Our goal is to assist individuals to manage their illnesses and achieve personal recovery goals through developing the skills necessary to live safely in the community.

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 Connecticut's Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Please read or watch 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, 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 DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• 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 and/or phone, 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 prepare for your interview.
• 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 one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

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 Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state facility this class is accountable for the planning, administration, implementation and evaluation of professional therapy programs in a recognized therapeutic discipline for individuals with an intellectual disability, emotional disabilities and physical disabilities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Selects, plans, administers and implements a therapeutic program by utilizing a specific therapy function to teach skills to correct disorders in intellectual, emotional or motor status of an individual;
• Writes and implements treatment plans;
• Plans, schedules and conducts individual and group activities;
• Actively participates in admission, treatment and discharge planning of an individual;
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings presenting cases and discussing future treatment goals and objectives for an individual;
• Participates in institutional, professional and community groups and/or task forces;
• Participates in staff meetings and on interdisciplinary committees;
• Trains and supervises staff and individuals in application of a specific discipline;
• Provides in-service training to other staff;
• Attends and participates in workshops and conferences;
• Gathers and uses data from observation and diagnostic tests to develop goals and new activities;
• Coordinates therapy services with other disciplines such as occupational or physical therapy;
• Selects appropriate materials and implements a therapeutic program to meet needs of individual;
• Maintains and orders equipment;
• Observes, records and evaluates individual progress;
• May transport and escort individuals to community functions;
• May teach direct care and paraprofessional staff in application of a specific therapy;
• May make adaptive equipment;
• May serve as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of the therapeutic recreation discipline;
• Knowledge of
  • physical and intellectual disorders;
  • individual and group dynamics;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Skill in evaluating individual needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years of professional experience in the appropriate professional rehabilitation therapy program specialty performing such activities as program evaluation, planning and application for individuals with an intellectual disability, emotional disabilities and physical disabilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training in the appropriate recognized therapeutic recreation discipline may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• One (1) year of experience at the level of a Rehabilitation Therapist 1 or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a Master's degree in Therapeutic Recreation.
• Possession of the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential.
• Experience working inside of a locked, forensic setting, with individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and maintain a certificate as a Water Safety Instructor (W.S.I.), and/or life saving (CPR, First Aid) from the American Red Cross.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be fluent in a foreign language or proficient in the use of American Sign Language in certain positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury and moderately disagreeable conditions while providing treatment to individuals with disabilities.

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.