Paraprofessional Careers in Mental Hygiene

Titles Filled From Examination	Salary Grade	Salary*
Developmental Assistant Trainee**	SG-11	$41,130
Recreation Assistant	SG-11	$41,130
Residential Program Assistant 1	SG-11	$41,130
Rehabilitation Assistant 1	SG-11	$38,464
Mental Hygiene Therapy Assistant 1	SG-12	$43,484
Social Work Assistant 1	SG-12	$40,622

You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test. The Department of Civil Service reserves the right to administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets. Your admission notice will tell you whether your test will be administered online. You cannot request a day in advance or change your scheduled day.

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.

Interdepartmental promotion examination open to all qualified employees of New York State.

For Promotion in State Departments, Facilities, and Agencies

1. Within Promotion Units 2. Within Entire Departments 3. To Other Departments

This examination is being held to fill vacancies in the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities only. Vacancies occur frequently at various locations throughout the state.

**As a Developmental Assistant Trainee, you would participate in a 12-month traineeship. At the successful conclusion of your traineeship, you would advance without further examination to a Grade 12 (Beginning Salary $43,484, Job Rate $53,081).

An appointee's performance in the trainee position and in prescribed training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The prescribed training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. An appointee not meeting required standards can be terminated at any time after the initial four weeks and before completion of the traineeship.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before January 11, 2020, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Direct Support Assistant, Direct Support Assistant (IRM), Direct Support Assistant (Manual Communications) [formerly known as Developmental Aide, Developmental Aide (IRM), Developmental Aide (Manual Communications)], Developmental Disabilities Secure Care Treatment Aide 1, Licensed Practical Nurse, Mental Health Therapy Aide, Secure Care Treatment Aide 1, Teaching Assistant, Training Aide, or in a language parenthetic in any of the above titles. If you have three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service in a traineeship in one of these titles, you also qualify to take these examinations.

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before October 11, 2019, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List:

After one year of service at the full performance level in a title listed under the minimum qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list. Successful candidates who are trainees must complete the traineeship and serve one year at the full performance level to be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Order Of Certification:

The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. Promotion Unit "All" eligible
2. Department "All" eligibles
3. Interdepartmental "All" eligibles

Notes:

1. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination for No. 38-628 Paraprofessional Careers in Mental Hygiene (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.
2. If you submit an application for No. 38-628 Paraprofessional Careers in Mental Hygiene (Spanish Language), an application will automatically be submitted for you for No. 38-627 Paraprofessional Careers in Mental Hygiene at no additional cost.
3. Appointment to a Paraprofessional Careers in Mental Hygiene Grade 11 position will not remove your name from consideration for appointment to a Paraprofessional Careers in Mental Hygiene Grade 12 position.

4. 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.

5. 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. Care and treatment of individuals with psychiatric/developmental disabilities in a facility or community setting - These questions test for knowledge and understanding of such areas as observation, management, modification, and documentation of behavior; crisis prevention and intervention; participation in the development of treatment/care plans; implementation and documentation of treatment goals; concepts of the treatment team; assisting in the coordination of services; and supervising staff in the delivery of treatment intervention.
2. Characteristics of the major psychiatric and developmental disorders - These questions test for knowledge and understanding of the characteristics, conditions, and needs of the populations served, including children, adolescents, adults, geriatric individuals, and individuals in secure settings. Topics may include how family, facility, community, culture, and society affect the population served; and growth, development, and behavior of individuals with psychiatric and developmental disabilities.
3. Health and safety - These questions test for knowledge and understanding of basic nursing care and safety principles. Topics may include first aid, common effects of medication, physical safety, fire safety, and security regulations.
4. Social aspects of care - These questions test for knowledge and understanding of such areas as habilitative and rehabilitative techniques including normalization, recovery, preparation for community living, socialization, vocational and prevocational programs, and leisure and recreation activities; advocacy on behalf of the population served; and supervision of staff who provide direct care.

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.

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

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.

S1/TB2 MXL-dah
Issued: 09/27/2019

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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