Security Hospital Treatment Assistant

*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.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,722 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $919 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before March 17, 2018, you must meet ONE of the following requirements:

Either 1. a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (such as a GED), AND one year of direct patient care experience providing treatment to individuals in secure institutions who have been diagnosed with mental illness or with emotional or social behavior problems;

Or 2. a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as a GED), AND two years of direct patient care experience where the primary duties included treatment for emotional or social behavior problems;

Or 3. an associate's degree or 60 college credits, AND one year of direct patient care experience where the primary duties included treatment for emotional or social behavior problems;

Or 4. a bachelor's degree or 120 college credits.

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.

Notes

1. Your degree, college credit, high school diploma, or equivalency diploma must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university, high school or educational institution or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree, college credit, or 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. A transition examination is also being held for these positions.
3. Although transition examinations are being held, it is expected that appointments will be made as the result of these examinations open to the public.
4. The Office of Mental Health has the option of making appointments from either the list resulting from this examination open to the public or the list resulting from the transition examination. If you meet the requirements for both examinations, you may wish to file for both. The processing fee must be paid for this examination unless you are eligible for a fee waiver.
5. You may file for these examinations by completing one NYS-APP application form or applying on the Internet. Unless you are eligible for a fee waiver, the indicated processing fee must be submitted for each examination listed on your application.
6. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination for No. 26-362 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.
7. If you submit an application for No. 26-362 Security Hospital Treatment Assistant (Spanish Language), an application will automatically be submitted for you for No. 26-361 Security Hospital Treatment Assistant at no additional cost.
8. 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.
9. If you meet the Minimum Qualifications you may also be interested in competing in No. 26-360 Secure Care Treatment Aide for which written tests are also being held on March 17, 2018. You may file for any combination of these examinations by completing one application form listing the number(s) and title(s) of the examination(s) in which you are interested. The appropriate processing fee must be filed for each examination.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
15. New York State residence is not required.

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; and Rochester Psychiatric Center, Rochester Regional Forensic Unit, Rochester, New York. The nature of these positions requires shift, weekend, and overtime assignments.

Back To Top

Duties

As a Security Hospital Treatment Assistant, 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.

Back To Top

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.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

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.

Back To Top

How To Apply

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.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

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.

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.

S1/TB3 PEM-dah
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.

Back To Top