Mental Health Associate (Timekeeping) (40 Hour) Office/On-Site Recruitment #260629-7376FK-001 Location Bridgeport, CT Date Opened 7/20/2026 12:00:00 AM Salary $73,448• - $97,473/year (•New state employees start at the minimum) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 8/3/2026 11:59:00 PM

INTRODUCTION

Are you passionate about supporting individuals on their journey to recovery from mental health or substance use challenges? Have you gained expertise in engaging individuals with compassion and empathy? If so, we invite you to apply and join our dedicated team!

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is now hiring for a Mental Health Associate to join our team!

HIGHLIGHTS

FACILITY:

Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)

ADDRESS:

1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610

UNIT:

Staffing Office

SCHEDULE

Full-Time, 40 Hours per Week, First Shift, Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm (no weekends or holidays)

POSITION NUMBER

 144822 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

Supervise, train, and evaluate mental health assistants assigned to staffing department; Maintain records and logs and assure confidentiality of oral and written reports; Review and monitoring of hours worked to ensure the employee's time is accurately recorded; Collecting and verifying timekeeping information for all employees in the hospital service division; Work with employees to resolve errors in hours reported; For corrections after the payroll has processed, complete a timesheet change form, obtain the employee and supervisor signature, and email to the payroll department; Adjust hours worked and any time off (leave) an employee has recorded; Approve an employe's timecard at the end of each pay period; Have visible access to an employee's time worked and leave; View an employee's vacation, sick leave, and comp time balances and total hours worked; Assist supervisors with questions regarding their employee's timecard; Sets up, maintains office procedures, filing and indexing systems and forms for office use and to meet re-current needs; Maintains calendars of due dates and initiates recurring work or special clinical projects accordingly; Responds to internal increase for information and assistance; Interpret and implement agency/facility policies and procedures.

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-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.

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 

DAS.SHRM

@ct.gov.

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

Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select "Update My Contact Information."

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. This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

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 Jensine Tran at Jensine.

Tran@ct.gov. Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS

(NATURE OF WORK) In a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services hospital, community behavioral health facility or program this class is accountable for the administration of a designated number of wards or units or a major clinical training program for mental health assistants. In outpatient divisions and community programs or clinics this class is accountable for the direct supervision of mental health assistants and/or independently performing a full range of advanced para-professional functions in case management and crisis intervention services or the administration of a complex program component.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

In wards or units: Assumes responsibility for the supervision, training, and evaluation of assigned staff; Plans and develops personnel schedules and assignments to provide adequate and safe coverage; Applies accepted standards of nursing care and administration; Assists in the evaluation of the quality of nursing care being administered; Investigates and reports any unusual incidents; Assures confidentiality of oral and written reports; Coordinates support services such as dietary, maintenance, etc.; Supports and participates in the protection of human and civil rights of clients; Assures that federal and state regulations and directives are followed; Participates in unit, program, and department meetings; Collaborates with members of other disciplines in the planning, development and implementation of hospital programs and services; Cooperates and collaborates with clinical personnel in developing and maintaining a therapeutic milieu; May supervise the self-administration of oral medications; May assist in approved research projects; Performs direct client care functions and other related duties as required. In community/outpatient mental health programs: Coordinates and facilitates the activities of clients; Functions as team member of a case management or crisis team or program; Participates in the assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients in the community at large (i.e., ERs, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.); Assists clients in acquiring daily living skills, budgeting, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills; Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision; Applies accepted standards of nursing care to clients; Supervises staff of lesser grades or other disciplines; Provides clinical therapeutic counseling and/or preventive education services to community groups and individuals, including the development and administration of curriculum on various issues relevant to the community; Independently participates in community outreach programs that include crisis interventions, case management and/or family support in home settings; Participates as a liaison to community agencies; Makes arrangements for outpatient appointments; Provides information on department philosophy and objectives; May perform problem-solving techniques with clients in their natural environment; May assist in the motivation of long-term clients in small groups hospital programs or in community; May coordinate crisis-intervention plans to circumvent hospitalization; May support and supervise clients in transitional living facilities; May assess families in need of respite care programs; Performs direct client care functions and other related duties as required. In a comprehensive, structured training program: Trains mental health assistants in the principles, practices, and procedures of client care, nursing care, supervision and administration, hygiene, sanitation, safety, security, and fire prevention, the management of assaultive behavior, report writing, and writing of behavioral objectives; Provides information on the dynamics of human behavior; Trains employees in the techniques of group work; Trains employees in the methods of supporting clients in avoiding hospitalization; Performs direct client care functions and other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of acceptable standards of nursing care; psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles, practices, and procedures; dynamics of individual and group behavior; Knowledge of supervisory and administrative methods and techniques; hygiene and sanitation; security, safety, and fire procedures; community resources and programs; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; Observation skills; Considerable ability to apply the principles of therapeutic counseling; Ability to lead staff; supervise client activity; direct others in the formulation of plans for client care; interpret and implement agency/facility policies and procedures; organize; coordinate and collaborate effectively with individuals, groups and families; train and teach; effectively handle emergency situations independently.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience at the level of a Mental Health Assistant 2, Licensed Practical Nurse or its equivalent in a psychiatric setting.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training in mental health technology, a behavioral science, social work, rehabilitation therapy, or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience up to a maximum of two (2) years. Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience conveying information both written and verbally Experience applying established problem-solving techniques to resolve scheduling and operational challenges in a healthcare setting Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel for documentation and reporting Experience performing data collection, data entry, and preparing reports while maintaining required confidentiality standards Experience managing multiple tasks simultaneously while prioritizing assignments and adhering to required timelines Experience in applying labor laws and working within a unionized healthcare setting Experience using timekeeping or attendance tracking software Experience working in an environment with focus on compliance Experience with data security protocols Experience working independently and collaborating with others to complete tasks

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents may be required to lift and restrain clients; may have significant exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and to risk of injury; may be exposed to strongly disagreeable conditions. CONCLUSION