Clinical Social Worker (35 Hour)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Southeastern Mental Health Authority seeks qualified individuals for the position of Clinical Social Worker within the Forensics/Jail Diversion Unit, PCN #114476. This position is located at Southeastern Mental Health Authority, 401 West Thames Street, Building 301, Norwich, CT 06360. This is a full-time thirty-five (35.00) hour per week position. The work schedule is 1st shift, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The incumbent will be responsible for providing mental health and substance abuse screenings and assessments for clients referred by the Norwich/New London Courts and Liaison with necessary court personnel, including writing up emergency certificates, attending Firearm Safety hearings, providing out-patient restoration services, and connecting clients leaving the Department of Corrections to community resources. The incumbent will also be responsible for engaging and transitioning clients assigned to the Psychiatric Security Review Board from Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) to Norwich/New London area. This position includes attending and providing testimony at the PSRB Hearings, providing Temporary Leave/Conditional release (TL/CR) supervision, and attending monthly Treatment Plan Review (TRP) meetings at CVH.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to Edra Knight, DMHAS HR, (860) 859-4651 or Edra.Knight@ct.gov,  

In a state agency behavioral health program, as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for independently providing clinical social work services.

As a member of multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with assigned clients and families which include consideration of developmental, social and/or cultural, substance abuse, psychological, environmental and medical issues; develops treatment plans including measurable treatment objectives; provides clinical treatment services in form of triage, crisis intervention, individual, group and/or family therapy, screening and planning; advocates and develops networks of social and clinical services to assist clients in meeting identified needs; monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans, documents treatment in clinical records; completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies; consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients; provides forensic evaluations and court testimony as required; maintains social work treatment and standards as required; may participate in research projects; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of social work methodology, casework, group work and community mobilization; knowledge of family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; knowledge of values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional social work; knowledge of social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence attitudes and behaviors of clients and families; knowledge of mental illnesses and approaches to treatment; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs; ability to independently apply current psychiatric treatment modalities to address client needs.

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice clinical social work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (m) through (r) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
2. Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. § 1320a-7b(f).
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
4. Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
5. Incumbents in this class will be required to travel.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.

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.