Professional Counselor (35 Hour)

The Connecticut Department of Correction is seeking to fill positions for highly motivated and experienced professional counselors. This is a 35 hour week position with the ability to work on weekends. Professional Counselors within the correctional setting work as a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team providing case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs; develops, implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients; works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability; develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews; provides clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning; makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs; interprets and synthesizes client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services; 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; maintains counseling treatment and standards as required; performs related duties as required.

The Department of Correction work within a dynamic, multidisciplinary team comprised of social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and APRNs, as well as medical personnel and custody staff, all sharing the common goal of providing high quality, service oriented care to incarcerated individuals. 

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

• Copy of Professional Counselor License
• Motor Vehicle Operators License

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.  

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.  Candidates who submit an untimely, incomplete or inaccurate application will not be considered for this employment opportunity.  Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Patty Meskers at Patricia.Meskers@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 counseling services.

As a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services provides case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs; develops, implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients; works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability; develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews; provides clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning; makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs; interprets and synthesizes client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services; 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; maintains counseling treatment and standards as required; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment; knowledge of family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; knowledge of values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional counseling work; knowledge of community resources; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs.

Licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Connecticut with some experience working in a behavioral health facility or in a juvenile justice setting.

As a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services provides case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs; develops, implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients; works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability; develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews; provides clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning; makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs; interprets and synthesizes client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services; 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; maintains counseling treatment and standards as required.

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (a-f) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
2. 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.
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
4. Incumbents in this class may 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.