Behavioral Health Unit Supervisor (40 Hour) (Office/On-site)

Introduction

Ready to lead an acute inpatient psychiatric unit focused on recovery and stabilization.

The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is hiring a Behavioral Health Unit Supervisor to join the Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH). In this role, you will provide leadership within the General Psychiatry Division, overseeing a multi-shift inpatient psychiatric unit that serves individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, including those with complex behavioral or legal histories. If you are a licensed clinical leader ready to make a significant impact, we invite you to explore this opportunity.

Position Highlights

• FACILITY: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH)
• DIVISION: General Psychiatry Division (GPD)
• UNIT: Battell 4 North (B4N)
• LOCATION: Middletown, CT
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours weekly), Monday - Friday, First Shift, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• POSITION NUMBER: 133690

Why the State of Connecticut

Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer.

Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development.

Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees.

In this Role, You Will

• Provide administrative oversight and leadership to a multidisciplinary team on a 22-bed, male-only acute psychiatric unit
• Ensure cohesive cross-shift communication and seamless unit functioning
• Collaborate with clinical, operational, and administrative partners to ensure high-quality patient care
• Lead interdisciplinary meetings, case reviews, and treatment planning processes
• Develop and monitor unit procedures, staff training, and performance expectations
• Act as liaison between unit staff and division leadership to support program needs and operational effectiveness
• Promote a safe and therapeutic environment for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and complex behavioral needs

About Us

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of individuals with behavioral health needs through comprehensive, recovery-oriented services and supports.

CVH, the state’s public psychiatric hospital, provides inpatient treatment across two campuses and is committed to a patient-centered, recovery-focused model of care. With a long history of serving individuals with complex behavioral health needs, CVH offers a therapeutic environment that supports stabilization, skill development, and successful transition back to the community.

The General Psychiatry Division (GPD) provides recovery-oriented inpatient treatment to a diverse patient population across the state. Battell 4 North, a 22-bed all-male acute psychiatric unit within the division, offers stabilization and treatment for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, including those with complex behavioral or legal histories, using a person-centered and recovery-focused approach.

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.

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

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In the Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Children and Families in-patient facility this class is accountable for directing and supervising a multi-shift clinical unit.

Examples of Duties

• Schedules, assigns and oversees the work of a multi-shift unit including direct supervision of all shifts
• Participates in the development of unit goals and objectives
• Develops unit procedures and policies
• Ensures compliance of unit procedures and policies
• Assists in recruitment, selection, training and development of staff
• Develops competency-based job descriptions for unit staff
• Ensures unit staff receive appropriate training
• Conducts performance appraisals, determines priorities and plans, coordinates and supervises unit activities
• Ensures cross-shift communication among staff
• Develops relationships with and acts as liaison to other operating units, agencies and outside officials
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team to develop, evaluate and monitor programs
• Coordinates interdisciplinary team meetings
• Collaborates and directs any necessary alternate treatment
• Monitors and tracks client care to ensure quality, effectiveness and timeliness of patient care and requisite hours of treatment are met
• Facilitates bilingual interpretation as needed
• Identifies barriers and assists in developing strategies and solutions for improving client care
• Prepares reports
• May perform clinical direct care duties
• May write client treatment plans
• Performs related duties as required

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

• Considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures
• Behavioral health treatment, principles and values of care
• Psychiatric rehabilitation principles and/or addictions detox rehabilitation
• Entitlement and benefit programs
• Variety of intervention and support strategies
• Knowledge and ability to apply principles of risk management
• Relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations
• Societal, cultural and gender issues as they impact upon mental illness
• Psychotropic medications
• Considerable interpersonal skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Facilitation, collaboration and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to identify and articulate philosophical foundations for specific program models or service approaches
• Delegate authority
• Plan and organize effectively
• Integrate community resources into service delivery planning
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with community representatives and staff
• Supervisory ability

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

Seven (7) years of professional health care experience in a behavioral health setting.

Minimum Qualifications - Special Experience

• Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at a lead or supervisory level responsible for coordinating the work of a unit or team of professionals in a behavioral health setting.

NOTE: For state employees the lead level is interpreted at the level of an Advanced Clinical Social Worker, Advanced Professional Counselor or Advanced Marital and Family Therapist for the behavioral health discipline and a Head Nurse for the nursing discipline. The supervisory level is interpreted at the level of a Supervising Addiction Counselor for the substance abuse/addictions discipline.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

• College training 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.
• A Master's degree in a health care field related to one of the disciplines in the Special Experience may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising or leading multidisciplinary clinical teams in an inpatient or behavioral health setting.
• Experience managing unit operations, including staffing, workflow coordination, and ensuring compliance with established policies or procedures.
• Experience coordinating patient care, treatment planning, or clinical interventions for individuals with serious mental illness.
• Experience with crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, or working with individuals who exhibit acute psychiatric or behavioral symptoms.
• Experience documenting, monitoring, or evaluating clinical services to support quality improvement.
• Experience collaborating with community providers, care coordinators, or external agencies to support patient transitions or discharge planning.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current license as a Clinical Social Worker, Professional Counselor, Marital and Family Therapist, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, a Registered Nurse in the State of Connecticut or hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess certification as a clinical supervisor by the Connecticut Certification Board.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Working Conditions

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain clients, may have significant exposure to communicable and/or infectious diseases and risk of injury and may be exposed to strongly disagreeable conditions.

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.

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