Social Worker - Social And Human Services(Hybrid)

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) is currently recruiting for Social Workers across many of our locations across the state. We have current vacancies in our Norwich and New Haven Resource Center and anticipated vacancies in the following locations; Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Stamford, and Waterbury.

Position Highlights:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• First (1st) shift
• 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Monday - Friday
• New Haven & Norwich Resource Center

The Role:

Our ideal candidate will have respect for a client’s right to self-determination. They will also need to understand and appreciate the roles of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, gender identity, age, disability status, and individual values as they relate to serving clients and their families. They will be working independently and be able to deescalate tense situations. 

Additional duties include but are not limited to:

• Delivering social casework and crisis intervention services to a caseload of individuals and families.
• Providing protective and supportive services to abused, neglected and/or exploited older clients.
• Conducting home visits to vulnerable individuals to evaluate client functioning, monitoring risk.
• Evaluating clients' capacity to manage their own affairs and protect themselves from financial exploitation.
• Arranging for and assessing the status of supports such as homecare, public assistance, legal aid, housing, medical and psychiatric examination, and therapy, etc.
• Completing required case documentation and correspondence within mandated timeframes, writing petitions and other legal documents, and testifying at court.
• Communicate effectively with clients, family members and other formal and informal care systems.
• Make home visits in areas that are isolated and/or may involve unsanitary conditions.

About Us:

The Social Work Services Division at DSS primarily provides protective and supportive services for vulnerable adults, addressing abuse, neglect, and exploitation, coordinates care and resources for individuals with disabilities, to ensure safety and well-being.  In addition, families and individuals experiencing crisis and domestic violence are also assisted.

DSS delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS serves about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, online and phone access options. Follow us on X @ctdss and see what we are all about!

What’s In It For You:

Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

• 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;
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
• State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

Discover the opportunity to:

• Engage in a rewarding career
• Assist our employees so they can achieve success
• Make a difference in the public sector
• Work together in a collaborative team environment

Selection Plan

For Assistance in Applying:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Application Process:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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.

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the state of Connecticut.

Selection Process:

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Read through this helpful link toprepare for your interview.

Contact Information:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Christopher Lavallee at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency or facility this class is accountable for the provision of intensive supportive social case work services to an assigned caseload of individuals and families.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Performs a variety of highly skilled case work services;
• Obtains medical, physical and social histories of clients in order to provide maximum services to individual;
• Confers with clients, relatives, professional associates and other social welfare agencies regarding case problems;
• Provides counseling services to an assigned caseload;
• Provides services to aged and disabled clients in boarding or convalescent homes;
• Conducts and interprets results of investigations, professionally evaluating their significance;
• Seeks employment, housing, financial assistance and other services for an assigned caseload;
• Independently prepares case histories, forms and reports;
• Performs related duties as required.

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:

• Performs a variety of highly skilled case work services for children and youth;
• Maintains medical, physical, social and psychological histories;
• Counsels families, children and youth both individually and in groups;
• Investigates, evaluates and makes recommendations for Juvenile Court on all petitions alleging neglect or abuse of children;
• Recruits and selects foster and adoptive homes for placement of children;
• Consults with psychologists, psychiatrists and other staff to develop and administer treatment plans;
• Consults with community groups to determine appropriate referrals and develop community resources;
• May supervise volunteer workers in conjunction with department volunteer services programs;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • principles, techniques and methods of professional social work;
  • various economic, emotional, medical, psychological and social factors influencing attitudes and behavior of individuals and families;
• Knowledge of community resources available to individuals and families;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability to
  • interpret and apply social work policies;
  • prepare clear and concise reports and case histories.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Master's degree in social work or aclosely related field and one (1) year of experience in the self-directed use of case management techniques and counseling to sustain or restore client functioning OR a Bachelor's degree in social work or a closelyrelated field and two (2) years of experience in the self-directed use of casemanagement techniques and counseling to sustain or restore client functioning.
NOTES:  

• Closely related fields are: applied sociology, child development, child welfare, clinical psychology, counseling, human development and family studies, human service, marriage and family therapy, nursing, social and/or human services, education and criminal justice  
• Qualifying experience at this level must include the use of professional interviewing techniques, provision of skilled counseling to an assigned client caseload and assessment of basic client needs (nutritional, environmental, financial, medical, protective service) through continuing personal observation during visits, intervention and evaluation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

For state employees successful completion of the Social Worker Trainee program may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with elderly individuals.  
• Experience working with adults with disabilities.                                
• Experience making client home visits.    
• Experience in Microsoft Office Suite and Windows 10.   
• Experience learning new program-specific software.      
• Experience communicating with a diverse population including elders, family members and other formal and informal care systems.                                                

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are completed.
• Incumbents in this class will be required to possess retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
• Incumbents in this class will be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.
• DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES: Incumbents in this class must be able to communicate fluently in American Sign Language.

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.