New York State of Opportunity

Security Hospital Treatment Assistant

Written Test To Be Held
March 17, 2018*
You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday.
Please refer to the information below.
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By
January 17, 2018

 

Exams Included on This Announcement
Exam Number Exam Title Open to Employees of Salary Salary Grade Non−Refundable Processing Fee (Waivers available)
00-390 Security Hospital Treatment Assistant Mental Health, Office of $47,665 G-14 $15
00-391 Security Hospital Treatment Assistant (Spanish Language) Mental Health, Office of $47,665 G-14

*In order to maintain adequate staffing levels in the appropriate hospitals/facilities, you may be assigned to take your test on either Saturday, March 17, 2018, or Sunday, March 18, 2018. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear. You cannot request a specific date in advance or change your date once it has been assigned.


IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Transition examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Office of Mental Health.

This TRANSITION EXAMINATION is one of several concepts included in a Memorandum of Intent agreed to by New York State and CSEA, and is designed to provide opportunities for employees within state service.

An open-competitive examination is being held at the same time as this transition examination. Agencies have the option of making appointments from either list. If you meet the requirements for the open-competitive as well as the transition examination, you may wish to apply for both. The appropriate processing fee must be filed for each examination.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before March 17, 2018, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Office of Mental Health and have had three months of permanent competitive or non-competitive** service in a direct care position allocated to a Grade 9 or higher. The list of qualifying titles is available at: www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/00390titles.cfm AND you must also have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as a GED).

** In accordance with Section 52.11 of the Civil Service Law, individuals serving permanently in the non-competitive or labor class in a qualifying title (including those serving under Section 55-b/55-c) who otherwise meet the requirements for taking this examination are eligible to compete in this transition examination.

Only the title(s) listed is qualifying for this examination(s).

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before December 17, 2017, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by September 30, 2018, you can be admitted to the written test, but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirement to the Appointing Authority at the time of the employment interview. Failure to meet the educational requirements by September 30, 2018 may result in your removal from the eligible list.

Qualifying Experience for Appointment from the Eligible List

After one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Notes

  1. Your high school diploma or equivalency diploma must have been awarded by a high school or educational institution or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If high school diploma was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S1PEM.
  2. This examination has special minimum qualifications in addition to the usual "time in service requirement." Specifically, you must also possess a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as a GED). If you are filing on the INTERNET, please list all pertinent information online. If you are applying on examination application NYS-APP form, you must list all pertinent information on the application form. Attach additional sheets to your application if needed.
  3. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination for No. 00-391 Security Hospital Treatment Assistant (Spanish Language), you will be required to demonstrate your Spanish language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform properly the duties of the position. Only enough candidates to fill current vacancies will be called to the proficiency test.
  4. If you submit an application for No. 00-391 Security Hospital Treatment Assistant (Spanish Language), an application will automatically be submitted for you for No. 00-390 Security Hospital Treatment Assistant at no additional cost.
  5. 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.
  6. 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 physical fitness test, 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. Eligibles will be called to the physical/medical screening in score order as needed to fill existing and anticipated vacancies.
  7. Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug-screening test. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification.
  8. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: The names of all prospective employees will be:
    • 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);
    • Investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information 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;
    and may be:
    • Screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment. (NY Social Services Law, Section 424a.)
    You will be responsible for payment of all required fees.
  9. 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.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

  1. Characteristics and problems of individuals with mental illness - These questions test for knowledge and understanding of the symptoms, causes, characteristics, and treatment approaches associated with mental illness.
  2. First aid and basic patient care - These questions test for knowledge of first aid and basic patient care. Questions may cover such topics as blood pressure, body temperatures, respiration, and major seizure disorders; emergency first aid procedures for shock, choking, bleeding, heart attacks, and burns; use of restraints; and commonly used medications and their effects.
  3. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
  4. Treatment for patient population - These questions test for the ability to function as part of a treatment team. Questions may cover such topics as setting long or short term goals for treatment, contributing to the treatment planning process, implementing treatment plans, assisting with anger management, managing crisis situations, and engaging individuals in activities as prescribed by treatment plans.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits to your final passing score.

Credit for Seniority

Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

The Positions

These positions are located ONLY in the forensic psychiatric centers operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health: Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, New Hampton, New York; Central New York Forensic Psychiatric Center, Marcy, New York; Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center, Wards Island, New York; Rochester Psychiatric Center, Rochester Regional Forensic Unit, Rochester, New York. The nature of these positions requires shift, weekend, and overtime assignments.

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Duties

As a Security Hospital Treatment Assistant or Security Hospital Treatment Assistant (Spanish Language), you would serve as the primary caregiver to patients with mental illness in a secure forensic unit or hospital; assist and/or instruct patients in attending to personal hygiene tasks and activities of daily living; teach, model, and promote acceptable behaviors and verbal skills, and implement treatment goals through positive interactions with patients; participate in therapeutic activity groups; escort patients to appointments; provide 1:1 patient supervision; complete and maintain required records; respond to emergency and crisis situations; use verbal de-escalation techniques; and use approved physical interventions as a last resort to ensure the safety and security of patients, employees, and others.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

This announcement is for viewing purposes only.

If you do not receive a number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S2/TB3 PEM-vla
Issued: 12/15/2017

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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