Training Assistant

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Brief Job Description:

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of nine psychiatric hospitals, one youth residential treatment facility, and thirteen state supported living centers. The psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below.

Performs routine training work. Work involves planning, designing, organizing, conducting, and evaluating educational and training programs. Trains new employees during New Employee Orientation, conducts Refresher Training for employees and serves as a liaison to all departments and programs of the facility.  Assignments, products, tools, equipment, and procedures are specified by HHSC Facility Support Services Competency Training Department, but the trainer can exercise creativity in the selection of procedures and/or methods used to accomplish tasks and to make the training interactive and interesting for trainees. Completion of work requires originating new techniques, establishing criteria, or developing new methods of teaching information of a routine nature as needed. The Training Specialist II works under the general supervision of the Facility Competency and Training Department (FCTD) Director and assists other trainers in class-type settings including training other trainers as needed.  Must understand that duties, location of job assignments, and shift patterns are subject to change as determined by the administration to meet the needs of the facility.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Plans, organizes, and conducts training classes as assigned in group class -type settings or computer lab environments to include New Hire Orientation, refresher training and continuing education classes to ensure trainees' competency.  Acts as a substitute trainer for other FCTD team members in case of absences to ensure constant delivery of training classes when scheduled.

Promotes training quality and effectiveness; customizes HHS FCTD standardized training to increase trainee perception of relevance to the facility's environment and uses creativity and/or other training techniques to inject interactivity and interest to increase trainee engagement and retention of training modules; ensures all aspects of training support the delivery of services to the facility's patients and/or clients while providing safety for the employee.

Maintains accurate and complete training records as required in order to correctly document staff training and to develop and provide reports of training due or delinquent.  Assures proper attendance records are completed for all assigned classes and submitted to the appropriate FCTD team member and/or entered in all applicable record-keeping systems.

Assists with FCTD team's development of curriculum materials, including multimedia presentations, as needed for classes in order to utilize all available resources including state-of-the-art techniques in training.

Assist facility managers and other FCTD team members with identification of needed training and/or training issues arising in classes or identified by participants, and development of training responses to those needs or improvement of training delivery.

Maintains necessary certifications to teach assigned classes including specialty HHS classes developed for interaction with facility's patients and/or clients such as the Treatment Intervention Prevention Strategies (TIPS) and/or general public response classes such as CPR. 

Attends and participates in facility meetings as assigned to provide training perspectives, quality improvement recommendations or discussions of training for facility's programs, and reports of training statistics of the facility's employees. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of training procedures/techniques and adult education principles.

Ability to apply adult education principles in curricula and learning objective development.

Ability to communicate orally and in writing with persons of diverse backgrounds, education levels, and different learning styles.

Ability to provide effective and interesting instruction to large groups and in one-to-one situations.

Ability to teach and demonstrate skills related to intervention strategies.

Ability to evaluate and provide recommendations for curriculum design.

Skill in using computer-based programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other software programs.

Skill in operation of basic office equipment and audio/visual equipment

Ability to work both within a team environment and independently.

Ability to work an alternate schedule as needed.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Certified in CPR and TIPS is preferred. Certification must occur within 6 months of employment.

Must possess a valid Texas driver license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date to drive a state vehicle. Applicants with an out-of-state driver license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure. Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Combination of education and experience equivalent to high school graduation or GED, plus 18 months of experience in direct patient care service.

Eighteen months of experience in training work.

Additional Information:

Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE). Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility. Waco Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.

Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours.

Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare workers are considered to be at significant risk for acquiring or transmitting hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and influenza. All these diseases are vaccine preventable. As a result, state hospital policy requires employees be vaccinated according to their level of contact with individuals. In the event you choose to not be immunized for the influenza virus, you may be required to wear a mask and take other protective measures.

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework.  Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.