Residence Requirements:

THERE ARE NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS EXAMINATION. There are six vacancies at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation. 

Examples of Duties:

A Community Mental Health Worker III performs semi-skilled and skilled tasks in the care of psychiatric patients of a behavioral health unit at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation;

Participates in the development and implementation of the daily program on a particular shift to assure patient activities and involvement, according to the needs of the program of assignment;
Assists in the orientation of new staff;
Assists in staff development programs and in-service according to the needs of the program of assignment;
Provides individual treatment or crisis intervention as skills allow under clinical experience;
Relates to patients on a one-to-one basis and in a group setting to facilitate the achievement of specific treatment goals;
Assists patients in adjusting to activities in the hospital or community setting;
Observes and records patient’s activities, responses to treatment and overall physical and mental condition;
Assists as a participant in the establishment of a specific patient treatment plan including revision and implementation;
Assists in recreational and occupational activities related to patient care, giving personal care to patient as required and routine treatments and observations;
Observes behavior and reports to the team;
Assists in the management of agitated patients including seclusion or restraint when necessary;
Assists in coordination of the linking process of patients and community programs;
Assists in the care of the unit and clinic equipment and helps to make the surroundings comfortable and attractive;
Transports and/or accompanies individuals and families to various agencies and/or appointments;
Meets with supervisor to consult on any areas of concern or issues of interest.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test: 

A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in a mental health or human services field and one (1) year of experience in mental health services; or:

B) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an Associate’s Degree in a mental health or human services field and three (3) years of experience in mental health services; or:

C) An equivalent combination of training and experience as set by the limits of (A) and (B).

Notes:

1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting the experience requirements.

2. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.
All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:1. Interviewing

1. Interviewing

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in obtaining information from individuals through structured conversations. These questions require you to apply the principles, practices, and techniques of effective interviewing to hypothetical interviewing situations. Included are questions that present a problem arising from an interviewing situation, and you must choose the most appropriate course of action to take.

2. 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.

3. Principles and practices of social casework

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices used to provide casework services. Questions may cover such topics as developmental, mental, physical, and social disabilities and/or impairments; assessing client strengths and needs; building and maintaining relationships with clients and their support network; ability to make and advocate for appropriate service referrals; ability to provide advocacy and support; and professional and ethical concerns in casework practice.

4. Working with individuals to promote mental health

These questions test for knowledge of characteristics, causes and treatment methods associated with chronic mental illness and/or addiction. Questions cover such topics as establishing, maintaining and terminating client relationships; recognizing, interpreting, and responding to individual and group behaviors; providing access to essential services such as financial, housing, medical, educational, legal, vocational, and recreational; and eligibility criteria of programs and agencies offering such services. 

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.