TEST ANNOUNCEMENT

NUMBER 2007-866

ISSUED JUNE 22, 2007

REVISED MARCH 27, 2013

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

State Civil Service Commission

Examination

for

AIDE TRAINEE

Exam No.	Job Title	Job Code	Pay Schedule and Range
1.	Aide Trainee	30001	ST02

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

VETERANS:  Pennsylvania law (51 Pa.C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.  To learn more about employment preferences and opportunities for veterans, visit the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, for Veterans; visit one of our offices; or call out veterans information line, (717) 787-6039.

NATURE OF WORK

You will learn to provide direct support in a group environment to individuals with mental, developmental, or multiple disabilities who are living in a state mental retardation center or mental health hospital.  You will participate in structured classroom training, and observe residents and staff in group living quarters.

You will learn to observe behavior and to record, in writing, relevant information for resident records and for use by the medical staff and other shift workers.  You will participate in change-of-shift verbal reports.  You will learn to work as an individual and as part of a treatment team with other staff in order to ensure the safety of all individuals and to complete necessary work and record-keeping amid multiple demands for your attention.

You will be required to provide care (such as taking temperatures or blood pressures; assisting with activities of daily living such as helping with meals, oral hygiene, bathing, or toileting; or lifting, positioning and transporting individuals who are not ambulatory) and perform light housekeeping duties (such as cleaning wheelchairs and clearing dining areas).  Dependability is of high importance.  Individuals who are tolerant, composed, compassionate, and self-motivated can do well in this job.

You must successfully complete the training program to continue being employed.  After completion, you will be promoted to Psychiatric Aide, Restoration Aide or Mental Retardation Residential Services Aide and will receive a pay increase when you are promoted.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

You are subject to Pennsylvania residency requirements and must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.  Visit the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, for PA Residency Information.

Some of the positions in this job title come under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.  If you are a final candidate for one of these positions, you will have to provide reports on your background from such sources as the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.  If your background is unacceptable, you will be disqualified for employment in such positions.  You will receive information about these requirements and how to obtain the required reports at the time you are being considered for employment.

All of the positions in this job title come under the provisions of the Older Adults Protective Services Act.  If you are a final candidate for one of these positions, you will have to obtain a report of criminal record information from the Pennsylvania State Police or a statement that the State Police Central Repository contains no information relating to you.  If your background is unacceptable, you will be disqualified for employment in such positions.  You will receive information about this requirement and how to obtain the required reports at the time you are being considered for employment.

After you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must undergo a medical examination.

Minimum Requirements

You must pass the test.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Department of Public Welfare hires Aide Trainees to provide care 24 hours a day in 8 hour shifts.  Trainees who successfully complete the probationary period are then promoted to work as a Residential Services Aide, Psychiatric Aide, or Restoration Aide.  Job vacancies occur due to retirements, promotions, transfers, resignations and so forth.  Over the past 2 years, more than 500 hires have been made.

The following is a list of mental retardation centers and mental health hospitals that employ Aide Trainees.  Included is the county code for each facility, which you will need to complete your application.

COUNTY CODE	COUNTY	FACILITY	LOCATION
06	Berks	Hamburg Center	Hamburg
06	Berks	Wernersville State Hospital	Wernersville
11	Cambria	Ebensburg Center	Ebensburg
28	Franklin	South Mountain Restoration Center	South Mountain
35	Lackawanna	Clarks Summit State Hospital	Clarks Summit
40	Luzerne	White Haven Center	White Haven
46	Montgomery	Norristown State Hospital	Norristown
47	Montour	Danville State Hospital	Danville
55	Snyder	Selinsgrove Center	Selinsgrove
61	Venango	Polk Center	Polk
62	Warren	Warren State Hospital	North Warren
65	Westmoreland	Torrance State Hospital	Torrance

For the most recent information on job opportunities contact:  Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Human Resources, Room 222, Health and Welfare Building, P.O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17105; Telephone:  (717) 787-5068; OR Email:  Ra-pwhdqpostings@pa.gov, Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

TESTING

The multiple-choice test will be administered only on a computer.  Information about computerized testing is available online at www.scsc.state.pa.us OR in paper form at any State Civil Service Commission office. 

The 2½ hour test will cover the following subject areas:

Subject Area	Number of Questions
Interpersonal Ability	25
Observation and Math Abilities	20
Reading Comprehension	15
Following Instructions and Multitasking Ability	25
Communicating in Writing	15
TOTAL	100

The test will be administered in the Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh State Civil Service Commission offices, Monday through Friday.

The test also will be held approximately 10 days a month at additional test centers located in Allentown, Erie, Johnstown, Lock Haven, and Scranton.  Directions to the test centers may be obtained by calling State Civil Service Commission offices (listed below), or on the website at www.scsc.state.pa.us.

For further details on test dates, contact the Commission’s Information Services Unit; Telephone (Voice) (717) 787-7811, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 783-8896.

If you take the test and want to take it again, you may be retested after 6 months from the date of your test.  You must submit a new application to be retested.

If your name is on an eligible list for this job title and you take this test, your most recent examination result will be the only one counted.

TEST RESULTS

An employment list will be established.  You will be notified in writing of your test results.

HOW TO APPLY

Complete your application on the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, by selecting Online Application, or submit your completed paper application to:

State Civil Service Commission

ATTN:  Applications

P.O. Box 569

Harrisburg, PA  17108-0569

Applications and further information can be obtained from:

1.	State Civil Service Commission:
	Harrisburg:  2nd Level, Strawberry Sq. Complex, 320 Market St., P.O.
	Box 569, Hbg., 17108-0569; Telephone (Voice) (717) 783-3058, Text
	Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 772-2685
	Philadelphia:  110 North 8th St., Suite 503, Phila., 19107; Telephone
	(Voice) (215) 560-2253, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
	callers only) (215) 560-4367
	Pittsburgh:  411 Seventh Ave., Room 410, Pgh., 15222; Telephone
	(Voice) (412) 565-7666, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
	callers only) (412) 565-2484
	Internet:  www.scsc.state.pa.us
2.	PA CareerLink offices
3.	The Human Resources Office listed under the "JOB OPPORTUNITIES" section of this announcement

For further information on testing, assistance for persons with disabilities, veterans'

preference and other items, refer to the instructions provided with the "Application for Employment/Promotion."