Community Mental Health Aide

Description

THIS POSITION IS PART OF THE HELP STATE CIVIL SERVICE PROGRAM THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A WRITTEN EXAMINATION.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Performs a variety of duties of a sub-professional natures in a local mental health agency to relieve the professional staff of administrative, clerical and more routine activities relating to the administration of mental health services; does related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This work involves the performance of important sub-professional duties and liaison work with patients and public and private agencies so that the professional staff of local mental hygiene agencies may devote more time to the complex and technical phases of their work. Work is performed in accordance with policies and procedures established by the agency with some leeway for the exercise of independent judgment. Supervision may be exercised over the work of clerical subordinates.

Examples of Typical Duties

• Assists the professional staff in services related to treatment such as social training, recreation, follow-up studies, etc.;
• Conducts preliminary interviews with office visitors and may make field visits as assigned;
• Makes necessary contacts to obtain referral data or other significant medical or psychiatric data;
• Takes incoming calls and if possible secures necessary information for transmittal to professional staff;
• Explains agency policy and procedures in relation to personal data and substantiating documents;
• Schedules and arranges appointments with professional staff;
• Compiles units statistical reports;
• Prepares and maintains case activity controls;
• Processes applications, authorizations and reports;
• Transports patients as required where other transportation is not available;
• Maintains statistical or other records of interviews, inquires, complaints and appeals.

Full Performance Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics

Good knowledge of basic interviewing techniques; working knowledge of the techniques of report writing; ability to readily acquire an understanding of policies, laws and regulations relating to the Mental Health Program; ability to follow complex oral and written directions; ability to relate to the disabled; initiative and resourcefulness; tact and courtesy; integrity; good physical and mental condition.

Minimum Qualifications

ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Four years of experience in working under professional supervision with patients or clients on assigned aspects of their social, health, education or rehabilitation problems in an agency or institution adhering to acceptable standards.
NOTE: A maximum of two years of study at a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university may be substituted for the above experience on a year for year basis.
SPECIAL NOTE: EDUCATION: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.
Agreed to by the Municipal Service Division and Department of Mental Hygiene, Division of Local Service (09/01/73)

When giving a job description include: Name of employer, Job Title, Duties performed by you, Start and End Date (Month/Year), Hours worked per week. *Include all relevant experience. Additional experience may not be accepted after the application is reviewed. *Give the average hours worked per week. Example 40 hours worked per week. Do not give a range of hours worked per week. Example 20-30 hours worked per week. You will only receive credit for the lowest amount given. *Part-time experience is prorated *Give the month and year of your start and end dates worked. If partial dates are submitted, you will receive credit for the least amount of time. *If you had more than one title at same employer, list as separate employment.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, short-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Part-time employees may be eligible for some benefits depending on their particular Bargaining Unit Agreement. To learn more details, visit our benefits page.