Children and Families Program Supervisor(Hybrid)

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF), is currently recruiting a Children and Families Program Supervisor located at our Manchester office, 364 W. Middle Tpk. Manchester, CT 06040.

Position Highlights:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• First (1st) shift
• Monday - Friday
• Manchester, CT

About Us:

The Department of Children and Families' (DCF) mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter. Our family-centered, strength-based approach to our work seeks to improve the well-being of the children and families we serve.

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.

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career and make an impaCT!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

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 the Department of Children and Families this class is accountable for managing administrative child welfare/protective services programs.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Manages a component of a program within the agency including oversight of the development and evaluation of specific clinical or behavioral programs; 
• Ensures specialized services/programs are in compliance with federal, state and department mandates; 
• Identifies and develops new programs and funding sources; 
• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff; 
• Provides training and assistance to staff and/or outside providers; 
• Conducts performance evaluations; 
• Determines priorities and plans office work; 
• Establishes and maintains office procedures; 
• Develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards; 
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies, outside officials and community regarding policies and procedures, available services and coordination of resources; 
• Prepares reports and correspondence; 
• Consults with staff on difficult cases; 
• Oversees maintenance of records; 
• Collects and analyzes program data; 
• May interact with clients and caretakers; 
• May interact or hear cases concerning retention of a child in community vs. institutionalization; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant agency policies and procedures; 
  • and understanding of case work principles, methods, and techniques; 
  • factors which influence attitudes and behavior of individuals and families; 
  • community resources and available services; 
• Knowledge of
  • legal basis for departmental programs and requirements; 
  • child development; 
  • mental health and behavioral challenges facing children and youth; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of professional experience in the field of child welfare, children's protective services, foster services, adoption or social and human services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity over professional staff responsible for planning, developing or implementing administrative or program services in child welfare, children's protective services, children's mental health or juvenile justice.  

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Social Work Supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree or other advanced degree in behavioral science, public administration, education, social work or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience. 
• For state employees, two (2) years of experience as a Children Services Consultant may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

NOTE: Closely related fields are: child welfare, applied sociology, social and/or human services, clinical psychology, child development, criminal justice, counseling, human development and family relations, human service, marriage and family therapy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience providing knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures, method and techniques.
• Experience providing knowledge of legal basics for department programs and requirements.
• Experience providing insight in child development, mental health and behavioral challenges facing children, youth and families.
• Experience participating in the agency's racial justice initiatives.
• Experience relaying information to public audiences and developing measurement outcomes to prove messages are understood.
• Experience building relationships with multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Experience leading staff, facilitating committees and building consensus.
• Experience making informed and timely decisions in high stress situations.
• Experience reviewing data and implementing results leading towards quality improvement and strategic planning.

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.