Job Description

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must have graduated a High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Diploma, or similar equivalency such as a General Education Development Certification (GED) or higher degree.

Candidates must be on the current eligible list and be reachable for appointment.

OR

Mental Health Therapy Aide Trainee is a continuous recruitment examination. Candidates who are not currently on the eligible list can apply for the examination by copying and pasting the following link into an internet browser: https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/employment/mhta.html

OR

Transfer Opportunity - New York State employees with one year of permanent service currently serving in this title and eligible for transfer or in a title approved for transfer by the Department of Civil Service. ## Duties Description As a Mental Health Therapy Aide/ Trainee, you would provide direct services, treatment, rehabilitation, and support to individuals diagnosed with mental illness that receive services in an institutional or community-based setting. You would help individuals to participate in games and recreational programs; coach and encourage individuals to develop daily living skills; and provide a clean, safe, and comfortable environment. You would work with other staff to develop, carry out, and record care plans, and, in accordance with special instructions you may administer medication. This position may be physically demanding. You would need to be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of patients and staff in emergency situations. You must be able to do such things as bend, stretch, and stand for long periods of time.

As a Mental Health Therapy Aide Trainee, you would participate in a 12-month traineeship. At the successful conclusion of your traineeship, you would advance without further examination to Grade 9. ## Additional Comments Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: Prospective appointees will be: 1) Checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable. 2) Investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees. 3) Screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees may be required to pay any necessary fees. Additionally, prospective employees whose names are indicated on the SCR may be barred from appointment.

Medicaid and Medicare: In order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.

If you are selected for appointment, you may be required to attend a pre-placement physical exam. This exam includes:

Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include a medical standards evaluation and a substance abuse screening. A complete statement of the physical and medical standards is available at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm. A medical examination will be required prior to appointment. Appointees to this position may be required to undergo periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform the essential duties of the position.

Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will have to participate in a drug screening test. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification.

License Requirement: Depending on assignment, you may be required to possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.

Additional Comments: Salary range reflective of hiring rate of a MHTA Trainee, (SG-7) through job rate of MHTA (SG-9).

Candidates must be willing to work any shift and pass days.

To learn more and apply for a Mental Health Therapy Aide Trainee position, please copy and paste the following link into an internet browser: https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/employment/mhta.html ## Notes on Applying To learn more and apply for a Mental Health Therapy Aide Trainee position, please copy and paste the following link into an internet browser:

https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/employment/mhta.html

The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. The New York State Office of Mental Health is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Date Posted: 01/04/21

Applications Due: 03/04/21

Vacancy ID: 83951

Agency: Mental Health, Office of

Title: Mental Health Therapy Aide/Trainee, Buffalo Psychiatric Center, P21012

Occupational Category: Health Care, Human/Social Services

Salary Grade: NS

Bargaining Unit: ISU - Institutional Services Unit (CSEA)

Salary Range: From $32972 to $45200 Annually

Employment Type: Full-Time

Appointment Type: Permanent

Jurisdictional Class: Competitive Class

Travel Percentage: 0%

Workweek: Other (see below)

"Other" Explanation: To be determined. All shifts include Weekends.

Hours Per Week: 40

From: 12 AM

To: 11:30 PM

Flextime allowed?: No

Mandatory overtime?: Yes

Compressed workweek allowed?: No

Telecommuting allowed?: No

County: Erie

City: Buffalo

State: NY

Zip Code: 14213

Name: Human Resources

Fax: 0000000

Email Address: [email protected]

Street Address: Buffalo Psychiatric Center 400 Forest Avenue

Street: Buffalo Psychiatric Center 400 Forest Avenue

This job was posted on Thu Mar 04 2021 and expired on Mon Mar 08 2021.

Minimum $29K /yr

$39K /yr Average

Maximum $52K /yr

Tasks

Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.

Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.

Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.

Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.

Serve meals or feed patients needing assistance or persuasion.

Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.

Clean and disinfect rooms and furnishings to maintain a safe and orderly environment.

Provide mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.

Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.

Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.

Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routine.

Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.

Perform nursing duties, such as administering medications, measuring vital signs, collecting specimens, or drawing blood samples.

Accompany patients to and from wards for medical or dental treatments, shopping trips, or religious or recreational events.

Participate in recreational activities with patients, including card games, sports, or television viewing.

Complete administrative tasks, such as entering orders into computer, answering telephone calls, or maintaining medical or facility information.

Interview patients upon admission and record information.

Skills

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.