STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Connecticut Careers Trainee (Social & Human Services) (Hybrid)

Target Class Social Services Investigator - Child Support

Recruitment #230120-1992SH-001

Introduction


Are you looking for an entry level opportunity with the State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS)? Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference and help enforce child support obligations? If this sounds like something you are interested in then we invite you to read more!

At DSS we are looking for multiple qualified applicants to join our team as a Connecticut Careers Trainee (CCT), with a target class of Social Services Investigator - Child Support! State employees participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes: 
  • Excellent health and dental coverage 
  • A generous retirement plan
  • Paid time off
  • 13 paid holidays
Your role as a CCT 
In this role you would be receive on the job training to learn the skills necessary to become a Child Support, Social Services Investigator. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Conducting interviews and gathering sensitive/confidential information
  • Gathering information and drafting complex correspondence
  • Learning any and all skills needed to be successful in your future role
Position Highlights
  • Full-time, 40 hour per week, with a Monday through Friday schedule
  • First shift hours are 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • Opportunities available in our office across the state including: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford Central Office (Hartford), Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, Norwich, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury, Willimantic (Windham), Greater Hartford Office (Windsor)
  • Statewide travel to DSS sub-offices, state courts and administrative state agencies may be required
  • We are creating a pool that will be used to fill current and future vacancies in this job class. When applying for this position, please be sure to check of all locations you are interested in
Pay rate*
First Year of Training  
Bachelor's degree SH 15 Step 1 
Master's degree SH 15 Step 2 
Second Year of Training  
         General Rate SH 15 Step 5 
The salary for an employee who completes any of the above Minimum Requirements after initial appointment to the Connecticut Careers Trainee job class will be adjusted commensurate with the schedule above and effective the pay period following the date the Master's degree has been conferred or the pay period following the date the appropriate number of credits as indicated above have been earned. 
For current state employees compensation will be in accordance with guidelines for computing salary adjustments set forth by the Department of Administrative Services, Determining Salary Upon Change in Class manual.

Training program/Appointment information
For candidates with a Bachelor's Degree:
LENGTH OF TARGET CLASS EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING      LENGTH OF TRAINING PERIOD 
Five (5) Years One (1) Year 
Six (6) Years Two (2) Years 
Seven (7) Years Three (3) Years 
If a candidate has a Master's Degree that is an Allowed Substitution for the target classification the training program may be reduced by one (1) year.
Appointment to positions in this class will be for a period not to exceed a maximum of three years unless there is change in the employing agency or designated target class.
All appointments to this class shall be under terms of a training program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. All training plans must be approved by the Department of Administrative Services prior to appointment to this class.

Who we are
At DSS, we deliver and fund a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. We serve about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, and online and phone access options. 

We hope you take this chance to join our team. Follow us on twitter@ctdss and see what we are all about!

Selection Plan

To Apply:

  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. We are no longer accepting resumes in accordance with PA 21-69. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
Important Information After You Apply:
  • 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.
  • These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules
  • 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.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
  • Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Ethan Ives via email at Ethan.Ives@ct.gov.
#INDLP

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional position.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

In a department or institution receives training in introductory governmental work for development of skills and knowledge in field of public administration in order to qualify for advancement into agency professional positions; performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during course of training period; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Oral and written communication skills; ability to acquire knowledge and skills required for the target classification; ability to understand, evaluate and solve problems by exercising judgement and logic; ability to read, interpret and understand written material; ability to perform basic arithmetical computations; ability to interpret charts, graphs and tables; learning and reasoning ability; ability to establish and maintain cooperative relations with superiors, associates and general public; ability to utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Possession of a Bachelor's or Master's degree.

NOTE:

  1. If the target job classification has a Substitution Allowed that requires the Bachelor's or Master's degree to be in a specific area(s), then these specific degree areas are required for appointment to the Connecticut Career Trainee classification.
  2. Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are complete.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with conducting interviews, gathering, and analyzing sensitive and confidential information that involves considerable phone, email, and/or in person contact while working in-office and remotely
  • Experience with caseload management in a public service environment
  • Experience with legal proceedings or course work in criminal justice
  • Experience with investigations and investigative techniques 
  • Experience or course work in reviewing or assessing financial information
  • Experience or course work in mediation and problem resolution 
  • Experience researching, gathering detailed data ,and drafting complex correspondence and reports
  • Using Microsoft 365 programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel ,Teams, etc.

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.