STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Professional Counselor (40 Hour)

Recruitment #210915-6355FP-002

Introduction

 "Serving Those Who Served" 

Are you looking for the next step in health care and searching for a chance to continue helping our State’s veterans?  If so, we encourage you to apply today! 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Professional Counselor to join our team located in Rocky Hill.  It is full-time, 40 hour per week position.  The work schedule is 1st shift, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The position number is 129244. 

Connecticut has provided care for Veterans and their dependents for over 140 years.  At the DVA, we provide general medical care for veterans honorably discharged from the Armed Forces.  We have a Health Care Facility that provides extended health care to veterans and a domicile that provides residents with a continuum of rehabilitation care. 

We are dedicated to providing compassionate care to meet the unique needs of Veteran patients; built on the foundation of integrity, honor, and respect. We pride ourselves on fostering these qualities as we honor Veteran patients for their service and encourage the innate bond between them. 

Discover the opportunity to:

  • Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals; 
  • Provide support to hospital that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve; 
  • Assist our clients so they can achieve success; 
  • Make a difference in the public sector; and 
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment.   

We participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, 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. Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications - as listed on the job opening - will be considered for this role, as determined by qualifications stated on the submitted application. 

Please note any 1199 permanent Connecticut state employee needs to apply in order to be considered. 

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

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

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.  

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account. 

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. 

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.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Doreen Clemson at Doreen.Clemson@ct.gov or (860) 785-9855.

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 counseling services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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, SKILL AND ABILITY

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in the treatment approaches of mental illness. 
  • Experience using an electronic medical record system. 
  • Experience utilizing behavioral health management therapy with patients. 
  • Experience working with Veterans and their families. 
  • Experience applying crisis intervention techniques with patients.            

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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.

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.