Social Worker Trainee - Social And Human Services

The State of Connecticut, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind, is recruiting for a Social Worker Trainee position.  This Social Worker Trainee will provide blindness rehabilitation services in an itinerant fashion, interviewing clients in their homes to assess rehabilitation needs and making referrals for services to other staff and community service providers.   The selected candidate will also provide case management oversight of services being provided and track client progress. This is a full time (40 hours a week, Monday through Friday) position located in Windsor, CT and will require travel.

All applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application with their submission.  Please Note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Rebecca Martinez at rebecca.martinez@ct.gov or (860)424-4985.

This position will be filled in accordance with reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

If selected to interview, please bring the following at the time of interview: Non State Employee: Three (3) professional references from current or former Supervisors. State Employee: Two (2) most recent service ratings at the time of interview.

In a state agency or institution this class is accountable for receiving intensive training in the provision of social case work services to individuals and families.

Receives training in agency social work procedures, personnel policies, program guidelines and legal reporting requirements; receives training in and is given progressively complex assignments involving utilization of interviewing techniques required to assess client needs, elicit information and establish community referral sources; provides basic counseling services to a limited number of clients enrolled in departmental programs, inmates or patients in residence or families of clients receiving services; prepares initial treatment plans, psychosocial evaluation, case histories and other case records as components of a small assigned caseload; refers clients, patients and family members for community or social services, medical or psychological services or housing, financial and employment assistance; motivates clients to increase ability to understand and cope with problems, frustration and anxiety; performs a greater number of specific and complex social work duties and maintains a larger caseload as skills are acquired during training program; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of reciprocal relationship between individuals and their social, economic and cultural environment; basic knowledge of human social behavior; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to relate to different cultural and economic backgrounds; ability to organize time, set priorities and manage workload.

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in social work or a closely related field OR a Bachelor's degree and one (1) year of professional experience in 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. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: A degree in a closely related field is required.

• Knowledge of case management.
• Knowledge of social service programs and resources.
• Knowledge of experience with persons with disabilities.  
• Ability to manage a large caseload of clients with legal blindness. 

1. Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are completed.
2. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Incumbents in this class are required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
3. OTHER AGENCIES: Incumbents may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License
4. COMMISSION ON THE DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED: Incumbents in this class must be able to communicate fluently in American Sign Language.
5. Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.
6. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.