Licensed Practical Nurse (35 Hour)(Discharge Planner)

Introduction

Looking to join our team and be a part of an organization that is making a difference in the lives of individuals in our custody and in the community? If yes, the State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking a highly motivated Licensed Practical Nurse (Discharge Planner) to work at Corrigan Correctional Center in Montville, Connecticut. Apply today!

What we can offer you

At the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC), we offer an exceptional opportunity for nurses who are looking to foster their careers in Connecticut. By joining our team at the Corrigan Correctional Center in Montville, you will have the chance to work in a world-class organization that values your expertise and dedication. Apply today and take the next step in your career!

As a part of our team, you can expect the following:

• Explore our new State Employee Benefits Overview page to get an understanding of the various benefits we provide to our employees.
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule! This recognition highlights our commitment to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment.
• Professional growth and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. We believe in investing in our employees' success.
• A healthy work/life balance is a priority for us. We are committed to fostering an environment that supports the personal and professional growth of all employees.

Position highlights

As a Licensed Practical Nurse (Discharge Planner) at Corrigan you will have the opportunity to:

• Develop and maintain a tracking system to identify upcoming discharges, including EOS, TS, Probation and Parole;
• Monitor and coordinate upcoming discharges for un-sentenced inmates in collaboration with Jail Diversion, Jail Re-interview and other community agencies/programs;
• Liaise with parole officers, probation officers, court personnel, community agencies and other stakeholders to address any barriers to successful reintegration;
• Coordinate with Community Release DOC contracted halfway house programs and CHNS to ensure that appropriate documentation and preparations are completed for transfers;
• Meet with inmates and assess for post discharge medical, mental health, substance abuse, housing employment, and social support to create individualized plans;
• Facilitate orders for 30-day supply of all discharge medications and complete a W-10 Interagency Referral Form as indicated, including discharge from court when assistance is requested;
• Arrange community follow up care and appointments as appropriate;
• Complete and facilitate review of entitlement applications as indicated, communicating with other departments and state agencies as necessary;
• Coordinate transfer of care to appropriate inpatient mental health community agency, medical hospital, and skilled nursing facilities as indicated;
• Coordinate referrals to DMHAS/DDS as appropriate;
• Coordinate/assist with emergency commitment (PEC) as indicated;
• Assist with guardianship or conservatorship applications/proceedings as indicated;
• Maintain effective communication and collaboration with, inmates, DOC staff and community agencies to develop comprehensive transition plans for inmates returning to the community;
• Attend appropriate interagency meetings and participate on committees as assigned by supervisor;
• Maintain accurate and confidential documentation of discharge plans and efforts in the inmate Health Record including but not limited too: assessments, transition plans, referrals and progress notes;
• Facilitate access to Medicaid, Medicare, or other healthcare coverage options for eligible individuals;
• Advocate on behalf of inmates to ensure their needs are met and rights are protected during the reentry process;
• Provide training to correctional staff and community partners on reentry best practices as needed;
• Stay informed about trends, research, and best practices in reentry services by attending interdisciplinary seminars and other community trainings, and incorporate new knowledge into program development and service delivery;
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and contribute to the ongoing evaluation and enhancement of reentry programs;
• Perform other tasks as dictated by Discharge Planning Supervisor;
• For more details, please refer to the class specification.

This position is full time on first shift, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM.

About us

The Connecticut Department of Correction has been proudly serving and protecting the citizens of the State of Connecticut since 1968. We operate 14 correctional facilities and are widely recognized as a national model for safety, security, and order. Our mission is to not only ensure the safety and security of our facilities but also to provide programming, education, and treatment that empower willing inmates to improve themselves and successfully reintegrate into society.

At the Department of Correction, our dedicated correctional professionals embody our values of Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Dignity, and Excellence (PRIDE) every day. We foster an inclusive and collaborative work environment that values and respects everyone's contributions.

The Corrigan Correctional Institution and the Radgowski Correctional Institution were consolidated in May 2001 as the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center. This facility confines both pretrial and sentenced offenders. It serves superior courts in Danielson, New London, Norwich and Windham.

Selection Plan

To apply

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• Applicants should ensure that they meet the minimum experience and qualifications by the closing date of this job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Please make sure that your application is thorough and includes all necessary information before submitting it. To adhere to Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut has made changes to the initial application process, and resumes are no longer required. Please note that revisions cannot be made once your application has been submitted into the JobAps system.
• 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.

Important information after you apply

• This job posting may require you to answer additional referral questions (RQs). You will receive an email with the RQs after the posting's closing date or you can find them on your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Please make sure to submit your responses by the expiration date of the questionnaire. It is important to regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please also check your SPAM and/or Junk folders regularly in case auto-notification emails are filtered there.
• While applicants will primarily receive correspondence through email, we also encourage them to regularly check their Personal Status Board for updates on their application status, important notices, and any tasks they need to complete during the recruitment process.
• 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, 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.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

For technical questions regarding the filling of your application, please contact Benjamin Beaudry at Benjamin.Beaudry@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state facility this class is accountable for rendering bedside care or mental health services to individuals with physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability in instances where the services of a registered nurse are not required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Assists doctors and nurses in the general care and treatment of individuals;
• Measures doses and administers medications including insulin injections; 
• Documents medications using appropriate forms;
• Performs narcotic counts;
• Checks and may administer intravenous medications;
• Reports changes in individuals to doctors;
• Ensures that restraints are applied correctly;
• Transcribes doctors medication orders;
• Dispenses certain medications in doctor’s absence;
• Applies topical medication;
• Takes and charts temperatures, pulses and respirations;
• Performs simple nursing treatments;
• Monitors general individual needs including personal hygiene;
• Reports on individual conditions and behavior;
• Keeps the unit safe and healthy;
• Administers enemas or suppositories;
• Performs Foley catheterization care;
• Orients individuals concerning medications and their use;
• May perform emergency first aid;
• May drive individuals to necessary appointments/outings;
• Performs related duties as required.

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES:

• Performs the full range of duties as described in the class specification for the Lead Developmental Services Worker.

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES:

• Performs the full range of duties as described in class specifications for the Mental Health Assistant 1 or Mental Health Assistant 2.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • practical nursing specialties and bedside care;
  • various medications used in conjunction for the care of individuals who have physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability;
  • infection control practices;
  • nutrition and diets;
  • medical and lab sciences;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral communication and written skills;
• Ability to
  • keep records;
  • lead staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

License or temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Correctional or Forensic populations;
• Experience utilizing Electronic Health Records;
• Experience with bar code scanning for medication administration;
• Experience with administering medications to over 50 patients in a given med pass;
• Experience with community outreach for mental health and medically complex populations.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's license, Public Passenger Endorsement or Commercial Driver's license for designated positions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift/restrain individuals; may have some exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and to some risk of injury from assaultive/abusive individuals; may be exposed to 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.