Children Services Specialist (40 Hour)

Are you interested in a career that you are passionate about and receive personal fulfillment while making a difference? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families' (DCF) mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter.  

We are recruiting for a talented and dynamic Children Services Specialist to join our team at the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center – North Campus which serves as a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, providing treatment to adolescent males between the ages of 13 and 17 with complex psychiatric needs.  The program is designed to be the bridge from hospital to home and community or as a diversionary placement to avoid the need for a hospital stay.  

The facility provides an educational program, work experience opportunities and rehabilitation including therapeutic recreation and occupational and music therapies. The Solnit Children's Center utilizes a strength based, family centered relational approach based on youth -adult partnership. The program model has been designed to focus treatment strategies which are trauma informed and gender responsive.   

You will discover the opportunity to:

• Engage is a rewarding career;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Thrive in an exciting fast paced environment;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.   

The Schedule:

• Full-time
• 2nd Shift with one day working first shift
• 40 hours per week
• Monday - Thursday: 12:30pm - 9:00pm, Sunday: 9:00am-5:30pm, Friday and Saturday off
• Located at the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center, North Campus, East Windsor, CT  

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us and make an impact by serving your state!

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.     

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

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization.  

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 

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

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. 

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.   

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, transcripts, diplomas, 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. 

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.  

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker, at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

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.

In a state child care facility or program this class is accountable for independently performing specialized services for the treatment and care of delinquent, emotionally disturbed or neglected and abused children and youth and for performing individual and group counseling.

Conducts group counseling sessions; participates in implementation of behavior modification programs including therapeutic recreation programs; leads group interaction (Guided Group Interaction or motivational sessions) meeting with residents of unit; confers with parents regarding behavior and progress of residents; attends meetings with unit staff to discuss behavioral problems and progress of residents in unit; recommends other professional services, doctors, dentists, social workers, etc. for residents; explains institutional programs, rules and regulations to residents and parents; determines appropriate awards for behavior modification program and dispenses accordingly; perform first aid and emergency medical procedures; writes progress reports on residents; trains and advises Children Services Workers in care of residents; attends parent visits with residents on grounds; works with caseworkers and/or social workers and other professional staff in making decisions through evaluation of residents progress and adjustment; assists professional staff with advanced level tasks; may perform related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of physiological and perceptual disorders such as learning disabilities, perceptual handicaps, etc.; considerable knowledge of problems of adolescents and influences of environment; knowledge of psychosis, personality disorder, psycho-pathology and violence; knowledge of processes of normal human behavior such as motivation, emotion, neurosis, etc.; knowledge of individual and group therapy techniques such as client centered, behavior modification techniques; knowledge of crisis intervention;knowledge of first aid procedures in case of injury and life saving techniques as a result of choking, shock, etc.; knowledge of various symptoms caused by non-prescription drugs; considerable interpersonal skills; clinical skill in recognizing non-verbal communication such as cues and body language; ability to assess individual behavior and observe changes in clients; ability to mediate problems between staff members and clients; ability to logically analyze problem situations and come to workable solutions; ability to assess client behavior in terms of desired objectives and in relation to others.

1. Three (3) years in the care of residents in an institution or facility for emotionally disturbed or delinquent children at the level of Children Services Worker including the utilization of therapy techniques to achieve behavioral change.
   
2. A Bachelor's degree in health, human services, mental health or recreation therapy may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

• Experience working with adolescents with complex psychiatric profiles.
• Experience working in behavioral health.
• Experience as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American sign language
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain residents and may have significant exposure to risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive residents.

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.