Forensic Head Nurse (40 Hour)(Office/On-site)

Introduction

Are you a current DMHAS employee looking for the next step in your career?

If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to be a part of our team, committed to the goal of making a difference for individuals with mental health challenges!

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a Forensic Head Nurse at the Whiting Forensic Hospital in Middletown.

Please note: This is a hazardous duty position.

Please note: You must be a current DMHAS employee to be considered. See selection plan for additional details.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Facility:  Whiting Forensic Hospital - Whiting Service
• Unit: 1
• Location: Middletown
• PCN: 100371
• Shift: Third
• Work Schedule: Full time, 40 hours per week. See below for days off:

Week 1 

Off Saturday and Sunday 

Week 2

Off Friday and Wednesday 



WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU - As a current State of Connecticut employee, you will continue to receive the excellent benefits you are already accustom to: 

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Work at a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on both America's Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024. With our dynamic job market and commitment to fostering a thriving workforce, Connecticut stands out as a top destination for both seasoned professionals and fresh graduates seeking to launch their careers.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

• Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals;
• Provide support to a hospital that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;
• Assist our clients and employees so they can achieve success;
• Make a difference in the public sector; and
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.

MORE ABOUT US:

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 provides 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.

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.

START WITH US, STAY WITH US, GROW WITH US.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Please Note: In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.

FOR THOSE WHO HOLD AN RN LICENSE IN A STATE OTHER THAN CONNECTICUT AND WISH TO APPLY FOR A CONNECTICUT LICENSE, PLEASE:

• Review the eligibility and documentation requirements for CT license by endorsement of an out-of-state license;
• Complete a CT DPH online application online (expand the ‘Public Health Practitioners’ grouping, select ‘Registered Nurse’ and then ‘Start’;
• Request verification of your out-of-state license(s) electronically through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s: Nursys® System. To send verification of your license(s) to CT, read and agree to the terms, enter your biographic information, select your license type and select ‘SEARCH’. Review the results and select the ‘Next’ button. Check the box next to ‘Connecticut’ and complete the transaction. Once the transaction is completed, you will receive a confirmation email from Nursys and the verification will be available to the DPH. Note that PA and MI verifications are not provided through Nursys. Please contact those state boards for information on obtaining verification.

To Apply:

• 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.
• 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 Pamela Rochette at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital this class is accountable for the administrative and clinical supervision of a unit involving the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mentally ill offenders and violent and/or antisocial clients who are unmanageable in other psychiatric or correctional facilities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Leads the planning of care and the implementation of the nursing process; 
• Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; 
• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; 
• Establishes and maintains unit procedures; 
• Provides staff training and assistance; 
• Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; 
• Leads professional and paraprofessional staff in provision of patient/client care; 
• Maintains and promotes standards of nursing; 
• Identifies staff development needs; 
• Instructs staff regarding policies and procedures; 
• Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to promote and ensure adjustment and continuity of patient/client care programs; 
• Responds to emergencies; 
• Acts as liaison with operating units; 
• Ensures that controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered; 
• May make recommendations on policies or standards; 
• May prepare reports and correspondence; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to independently apply psychiatric nursing principles, techniques and standards; 
  • specialized patient/client care applicable to nursing assignment; 
  • medication, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects; 
• Knowledge of
  • policies and procedures required to maintain a maximum security environment; 
  • statutes pertaining to treatment of mentally ill offenders; 
  • general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions through utilization of assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation and evaluation; 
  • and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic differences; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Ability to
  • establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other professionals; 
  • act as a role model to health care staff; 
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Professional Nurse.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in the care of the mentally ill or emotionally disturbed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

A Bachelor's degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Professional Nurse in Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be fluent in a foreign language or proficient in the use of the American Sign Language in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for permanent appointment.

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.