STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Clinical Social Worker (40 Hour)

Recruitment #210908-0966FP-002

Introduction



Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? If so, We have an excellent opportunity for you to join our team of individuals committed to the goal of making a difference for individuals with mental health challenges!

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services seeks a qualified individual for the position of Clinical Social Worker for our Western CT Mental Health Network, Outpatient Team. This position (PCN #12870) is located at 249 Winsted Road Torrington, CT. The schedule is full-time (40 hours per week), first shift, Monday through Thursday (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM) and Fridays (10:00 AM - 6:30 PM).

The Clinical Social Worker will be a member of the agency’s Outpatient team, which provides individual, group and family treatment to individuals who often have complex clinical presentations and severe symptomology. The Outpatient team clinicians also routinely assess risks of harm to self or others for clients who are living in the community. This improves not only the personal safety of our clients, but of the surrounding communities. 

The Outpatient team clinicians spend considerable time collaborating and consulting with contract agency paraprofessional staff, who provide residential support services for approximately twenty percent of the program’s census. Collaboration with the agency’s Outpatient clinicians is critical for clients having success in these higher levels of care and transitioning to independent living.

You will have the opportunity to:
  • Provides trauma-informed services and care to clients.
  • Assesses and manages risk and coordinates responsive care to clients who are in crisis.
  • Participates in case conferences and critical incident reviews.
  • Consults and works collaboratively with contract agencies, community providers and state and community hospitals around coordinating client care.
The mission of Western Connecticut Mental Health Network is to provide a comprehensive and effective recovery-oriented system of mental health and addiction services that promotes self-sufficiency, dignity, cultural sensitivity and respect.

The 
State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.
 
Our employees participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, and a retirement plan, as well as paid time off! We encourage a healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Selection Plan

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

State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders 13F (3a) and 13G (3a).

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
 
Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. 

Candidates that are extended an interview should bring three letters of recommendation, preferably supervisory.

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
 
This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Chanhda.Ly@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE, this class is accountable for serving as a case manager and advocate for clients that have received or need to receive behavioral health care services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE: Manages a caseload of consumer behavioral healthcare insurance complaints concerning coverage and/or payment; reviews and assesses medical records including psychological assessment and treatment plans, concerning but not limited to mental, emotional, behavioral and addictive disorders to determine appropriate treatment plans and eligibility for insurance benefit payment; participates in insurance appeal hearings and serves as clinical expert to defend and demonstrate that the diagnostic assessment and treatment plans are appropriate and required to address client behavioral healthcare needs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Licensure as a clinical social worker in the State of Connecticut.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Our ideal candidate would possess:

  • Experience providing clinical services including individual, group and family therapy as well as other treatment interventions to adults with behavioral health, substance abuse and trauma issues.
  • Experience completing intake (psychosocial) assessments, risk assessments, and person centered recovery plans.
  • Experience providing clinical direction to paraprofessional staff about effectively providing behavioral health care.
  • Experience with evidence-based treatment modalities.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  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 may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

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.