Introduction

　　Are you driven and motivated to making a positive impact with those you work with? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our team of individuals committed to the goal of making a difference in our communities!

　　The State of Connecticut, the Department of Social Services (DSS) is currently recruiting for several Social Workers across many of our locations within the state.

　　Comprehensive Benefit Offerings:

　　State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information. The opportunity 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. A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation's best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown's Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings. Comprehensive Benefits which include industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage. Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings. Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year. Professional growth and development opportunities. A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

　　Position Highlights:

　　Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am - 4:30pm.

　　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. Some of the duties in this role include are, but not exclusive 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.

　　Who We Are:

　　We deliver and fund 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!

　　Selection Plan

　　These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applicants may be considered.

　　To Apply:

　　Candidates selected for interview must bring the following at the time of interview:

　　Non State Employees:

　　Two (2) professional references.

　　State employees:

　　Two (2) most recent PARA or service ratings. Attendance records for the last two (2) years. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system. For assistance in applying, please visit our Applicant Tips on How to Apply page. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.

　　Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:

　　Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 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 [email protected]. Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.

　　Connect With Us:

　　If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Anamaria Giangarra at [email protected] and reference the recruitment number. Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

　　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; considerable knowledge of 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; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to interpret and apply social work policies; considerable ability to prepare clear and concise reports and case histories.

　　MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

　　A Master's degree in social work or a closely 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 closely related field and two (2) years of experience in the self-directed use of case management techniques and counseling to sustain or restore client functioning.

　　NOTES:

　　1. 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

　　2. 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

　　A Master's degree in Social Work. 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. Oral and written second language fluency in either Spanish, Polish, Italian.

　　SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

　　1. Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are completed.

　　2. Incumbents in this class will be required to possess retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

　　3. Incumbents in this class will be required to travel.

　　4. Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

　　5. COMMISSION ON THE DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED: 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.