Introduction
Are you a current Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee looking to tackle a new opportunity? If so, we invite you to check out this opportunity to join our team!
The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) is currently recruiting a Children Services Consultant (CSC) to join our team in Norwich, CT.
Position Highlights:
- Full-time, 40 hours per week
- First (1st) shift
- 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Monday - Friday
- Based in our Regional 3 area offices in Middletown, Norwich, Willimantic
As a CSC, Intimate Partner Violence Specialist (IPVS) with DCF you would provide case consultation to regional social work staff around domestic violence issues for families involved with DCF assess for the presence of domestic violence (DV), dynamics, needs of offending and non-offending partner, and children affected by Intimate Partner Violence. As the IPV Specialist, you will have the opportunity to promote systems change. There are 6 duty areas that you will be entrusted to perform. You can read more about each area in the "Examples of Duties" of this job bulletin. These include, but are not limited to:
- Support and Advocacy
- Direct Interaction with Families
- System Change
- Training
- Community Liaisons/Gatekeeper
- Information Gathering and Dissemination
At DCF, we have a mission of Partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us as we work to complete our mission!
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)
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
- This class is accountable for providing consultation, coordination and delivery of specialized children services program activities.
OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE
- This class is responsible for assisting the Child Advocate in securing and ensuring the legal, civil and special rights of children residing in the state of Connecticut.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
- Plans, develops and implements new special programs and projects as assigned;
- Develops and negotiates contracts;
- Monitors, evaluates and makes recommendations for modifications in existing programs;
- Provides consultative services to regional offices within department, social services agencies, courts, child caring institutions and individuals in matters relating to child and foster care, adoption, protective services, private child placing agencies or child caring institutions;
- Participates in preparation of manual material, forms and interpretative material;
- Provides consultation to field staff in solution to problems;
- Plans and participates in training programs and workshops for field staff in conjunction with the training section;
- Facilitates flow of information among courts, judges, public officials, auxiliary services and other departments;
- Acts for director in communicating changes in procedures, practices and policies throughout various regional offices and following up for consistency in their implementation;
- May represent department in committees to improve children's services and use of financial and human resources;
- Performs related duties as required.
OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE
- Assists Child Advocate in securing and ensuring legal, civil and special rights of children residing in State of Connecticut;
- Evaluates delivery of services to children by state agencies;
- Reviews procedures of state agencies providing services to children with a view toward rights of children;
- Investigates complaints regarding children receiving state services;
- Visits residential facilities to review procedures, assure safety and assess facilities;
- May recommend changes in state policies concerning children including changes in system of providing juvenile justice, child care, foster care and treatment;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge and understanding of case work principles, methods and techniques;
- Considerable knowledge
- of factors which influence attitudes and behavior of individuals and families;
- departmental programs, policies and procedures;
- Knowledge of
- legal basis for departmental programs and requirements;
- community resources and services they provide;
- group process including group leadership skills;
- Considerable
- oral and written communication skills;
- interpersonal skills;
- Ability to understand and explain complex written materials.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Eight (8) years of experience in work having as its primary responsibility the autonomous and self directed use of case management techniques and therapeutic counseling to sustain or restore client functioning.
NOTE:
- Qualifying experience at this level shall include:
- use of professional interviewing techniques;
- provision of skilled therapeutic counseling to an assigned client caseload;
- assessment of basic client needs (nutritional, environmental, financial, medical, protective service, etc.) through continuing personal observation during home visits and intervention;
- evaluation of social work interns.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) credit hours equaling six (6) months of employment to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
A Master's degree in counseling or psychology may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience for a total of five (5) years.
A Master's degree in social work or child welfare may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience for a total of six (6) years.
For state employees two (2) years of experience as a Social Worker-Social and Human Services with responsibility for a caseload focused on children and youth may be substituted for the entire General Experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience handling cases involving intimate partner violence and the treatment services available to this population.
- Experience demonstrating knowledge of mental health and substance use and how they can be related to IPV.
- Experience with specialized training in IPV, the effects on children and families, and knowledge of IPV safety planning.
- Experience working with IPV services and providers.
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.