GENESEE COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES

COUNTY BUILDING I, BATAVIA, NEW YORK

 

ANNOUNCES

 

AN OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR:

 

THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES AIDE, O.C. #65-065

 

SALARY: $15.47 - $17.91 per hour (2016) Genesee County. 

 

VACANCY:  Genesee County Mental Health has one (1) part-time position currently held by a provisionally appointed employee, who may be appointed on a permanent basis if found reachable on a civil service list established as a result of this exam.  This examination is also being held to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies, which may occur during the life of the eligible list.

An eligible may receive only one permanent appointment from this list. Once appointed, there will be a Probationary Period of 8 to 52-weeks based on performance of duties. During this probationary period the Department Head has the ability to terminate employment, without cause.

 

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF GENESEE COUNTY OR OF A COUNTY CONTIGUOUS TO GENESEE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST TWO (2) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION, AND MUST HAVE CONTINUED THEIR RESIDENCY THROUGH THE PERIOD LEADING TO THEIR INTITAL APPOINTMENT. ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF A CIVIL DIVISION MAY BE GIVEN PREFERENCE IN APPOINTMENT TO VACANCIES IN THEIR AREA OF RESIDENCY.

 

 

LAST FILING DATE ---------------- SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

 

                        EXAMINATION DATE --------------- OCTOBER 29, 2016

 

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

Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the NYS Department of Education, AND:

 

A.           Completion of at least two full years of study at a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, including or supplemented by at least 18 semester credit hours in social work, psychology, human services, therapeutic activities or closely related field; [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANCRIPT(S) TO YOUR APPLICATION];

OR

B.           Two (2) years of full-time, paid experience assisting with recreational and/or occupational therapeutic activities in a therapeutic setting, such as psychiatric hospital, community mental health program, or State mental hygiene institution; [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE INDICATE ALL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION];

OR

C.           An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of A and B above.  [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE INDICATE ALL RELEVANT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION].

 

A copy of an official transcript is acceptable for the purpose of taking this examination, however, at such time a candidate is offered an appointment, an official, sealed transcript must be on file with Human Resources prior to the appointment.

 

NOTE: You may file for this examination if you expect to complete the educational requirement by January 31, 2017.  If successful on the examination, however, you will not be certified for appointment until you have submitted proof of completion of the educational requirements to Genesee County Human Resources. Proof must be submitted no later than 2 months after the completion date. Failure to do so will result in removal of your name from the eligible list.

 

NOTE: PHOTO ID WILL BE REQUIRED ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION.

 

CANDIDATES, PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that you submit, with your application, all information necessary to show your qualification for examination.  APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT SHOW TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE TO MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED, AND WE WILL NOT REFER TO OTHER APPLICATIONS ON FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

 

NOTE – FILING FEES: (The acceptance of your application is dependent upon your following these instructions accurately):

A fee of $20.00 is required for each separately-numbered examination for which you apply.  The required fee must accompany your application.  The fee may be submitted in the form of either CASH or CREDIT CARD (if delivered in person), PERSONAL CHECK or MONEY ORDER, (if by mail).  Personal Checks and Money Orders must be payable to the GENESEE COUNTY TREASURER.  Please write the examination number(s) on your personal check or money order.  YOUR APPLICATION FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED if you do not meet the requirements for admission to the examination. Compare your qualifications carefully to the requirements stated on the announcement and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are receiving unemployment and are primarily responsible for the support of a household.  In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or are receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family assistance or Safety Net Assistance, or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.  All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification.  In order for us to verify your eligibility for an application fee waiver, you must complete a “Request for Fee Waiver” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Last Filing Date as indicated on the Examination Announcement. The “Request for Fee Waiver” form can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

 

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Functions as a member of a treatment team, by assisting patients in acquiring life-skills training,

and in socialization and directive group work;

Assists with case-management duties;

Assists in therapy programs through providing prevocational skills, hobby and activity training, (such as arts and crafts, personal hygiene, basic money-management skills, etc.), as well as training in activities of daily living;

Assists in planning, arranging, and conducting recreational and leisure-time activities, such as field trips, movies, games, etc.

 

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

1.    Office Record Keeping

2.    Principles and Practices of Leisure Recreation

3.    Working with People to Facilitate Recreation and/or Leisure Activities

 

CANDIDATES ARE PERMITTED TO USE QUIET, HAND-HELD, SOLAR OR BATTERY POWERED CALCULATORS.  DEVICES WITH TYPEWRITER KEYBOARDS SUCH AS COMPUTERS, SPELL-CHECKERS, PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANTS, ADDRESS BOOKS, LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS, DICTIONARIES AND ANY SIMILAR DEVICES ARE PROHIBITED.

 

EXPANDED SUB-TEST DESCRIPTION:

Office Record Keeping-These questions test your ability to perform common office record keeping tasks. The test consists of two or more "sets" of questions, each set concerning a different problem. Typical record keeping problems might involve the organization or collation of data from several sources; scheduling; maintaining a record system using running balances; or completion of a table summarizing data using totals, subtotals, averages and percents. You should bring with you a hand-held battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on this test. You will not be permitted to use the calculator function of your cell phone.

Principles and Practices of Leisure Recreation-These questions test for a knowledge of the basic concepts and common practices employed in the planning and implementation of leisure-time recreation programs in athletics, social activities, and avocational interests. Questions may cover such areas as program/activity planning for the major user groups, program/activity planning for people with special needs; operation of recreation areas, recreation center buildings, and specialized recreation facilities (pools, tennis courts, etc.); and scheduling of activities.

Working with People to Facilitate Recreation and/or Leisure Activities-These questions will test for the knowledge and abilities necessary to work with individuals of all backgrounds in the context of providing recreation and leisure activities. Questions may cover such areas as: human behavior and development, handling difficult situations, engaging and motivating participants, building rapport with participants, working with volunteers, and planning appropriate activities for participant group.



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

 

CROSS-FILING: If you have applied for other local government or state examinations, call or write to each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examinations.  The “Cross-filer Form” for Genesee County can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

 

NOTE: Religious Accommodations, Persons with Disabilities or Active Military: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on your application. An explanation of your need for special testing accommodations must be attached to your application.  If due to disability – medical documentation must be provided.

 

ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS: Any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed an application to compete in a scheduled competitive examination but was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the examination due to active military duty could be provided with a special military make-up examination.

Current members of the Armed Forces may apply for Veteran’s credits by filing an “Application for Veteran’s Credits” (Form VC-1).  The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us. Proof of military status must also be presented and verified in order for consideration of granting of “conditional” Veteran’s credit.  Acceptable proof may include a military I.D. card, military orders, or other official military document that substantiates active military service at time of exam. This documentation and VC-1 Form must be received prior to the establishment of the Eligible List for this examination.  The “conditional” status of the additional credits will remain until proof is provided indicating that the service was in time of war and that the veteran received an honorable discharge, or was released under honorable circumstances.

 

VETERANS: Additional credits are available to veterans who meet certain established requirements.  Veterans who have not exhausted their credits should make application for their use, if desired.  A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR VETERANS CREDITS (FORM VC-1) AND a COPY OF SEPARATION PAPERS (FORM DD-214) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THIS EXAMINATION IS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ADDITIONAL CREDITS.  DISABLED VETERANS MUST SUBMIT, IN ADDITION, A COPY OF FORM VC-3 (AUTHORIZATION FOR DISABILITY RECORD). The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

 

ADDITIONAL CREDIT AUTHORIZED:  Additional credits shall be allowed for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty, as “child” in this section in competitive examinations for original appointment.  (a) On all eligible lists resulting from competitive examinations, the names of eligible persons shall be entered in the order of their respective final earned ratings on examinations, with the name of the eligible person with the highest final earned ratings at the head of such list, provided, however, that for the purpose of determining final earned ratings, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten (10) points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served.  (b) Such additional credit shall be added to the final earned rating of such child, as the case may be, after he or she has qualified in the competitive examination and shall be granted only at the time of establishment of the resulting eligible list.

 

PLACE TO FILE: To get an application, come in or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Genesee County Human Resources, County Building I, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or download from website: www.co.genesee.ny.us. Phone 344-2550, Ext. 2221.

Applications mailed to us must be postmarked with a date no later than the last filing date indicated on this announcement.

All correspondence will be sent only to the address provided on the application for examination. It is your responsibility to inform the Genesee County Human Resources office of any change of address. Correspondence returned for incorrect address will not be forwarded.  All address changes must be submitted to the Genesee County Human Resources office in writing.

 

APPLICANTS: Please contact this office three days prior to examination if you have not been notified by us, as to your eligibility to participate in this examination.

This examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law.  The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with this rating of the examination will apply to this test.

 

THE COUNTY OF GENESEE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, GENDER, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, VETERANS STATUS, DISABLED VETERANS STATUS, OR STATUS AS A MEMBER OF ANY OTHER PROTECTED GROUP OR ACTIVITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT.