STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Supervising Addiction Counselor (40 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #251203-2352FX-001

Introduction




Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is seeking to hire a Supervising Addiction Counselor.



POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

  • Schedule:
    • Monday - Friday
    • Full-time (40 hours per week)
    • First shift (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM)
  • Facility: Connecticut Valley Hospital
  • Unit: CVH Addiction Services Division Merritt 3AB
  • Location: 39 Tynan Circle in Middletown, CT
  • Work Environment: Office/On-site
  • Position Number: 114589
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

THE ROLE

The Supervising Addiction Counselor position at DMHAS/CVH Merritt 3AB offers a valuable leadership opportunity within a 30-bed residential rehabilitation unit serving individuals with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. This role provides meaningful impact through direct clinical involvement as well as oversight of Certified Addiction Counselors, ensuring high-quality treatment delivery and strong continuity of care. The position offers the advantage of working closely with a multidisciplinary clinical team and forming effective partnerships with community-based treatment providers, which supports patient transitions and comprehensive care planning. It also provides professional growth in supervisory practice, regulatory compliance, treatment planning, and coordination with external agencies.

As a Supervising Addiction Counselor, the primary responsibilities include providing weekly individual and group supervision to Certified Addiction Counselors, managing schedules, and assigning caseloads and treatment groups. The position ensures compliance with CMS and 1115 Demonstration Waiver requirements related to treatment delivery and documentation standards. In addition to supervisory duties, the counselor provides direct clinical services including individual and group treatment, case management, and assistance with timely discharge planning. The role also serves as a key liaison with community behavioral health providers to ensure smooth transitions to lower levels of care. Overall, this position is essential in maintaining treatment quality, supporting staff, improving patient outcomes, and upholding the mission and regulatory standards of the Merritt 3AB unit.

ABOUT US

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services 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.

CVH opened in 1868 as the State’s public hospital for the treatment of persons with mental illness.

All of the services provided by CVH are designed with the concept of "Recovery to Wellness" as their operational framework. Recovery is a process of restoring or developing a positive and meaningful sense of identity apart from one’s condition and then rebuilding one’s life in the fullest sense. Recovery is an individualized patient-centered approach. Achieving and maintaining an optimal state of health and wellness is integrated in our recovery approach. Individuals acquire and practice life skills that will assist them in their recovery process.

Vision Statement:

To promote recovery through collaborative, compassionate, and culturally competent treatment in a safe, healthy, and caring environment.

Mission Statement:

Connecticut Valley Hospital provides trauma informed gender responsive treatment that empowers individuals to manage recovery, improve quality of life and return to the community.

Merritt 3AB is a 30-bed rehabilitation unit providing American Society of Addiction Medicine (A.S.A.M.) level 3.7 intensive rehabilitation treatment. This unit specializes in trauma informed care, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and a variety of other clinical approaches to provide holistic care to the individuals we serve. A full range of medication-assisted treatment is also offered.

PLEASE NOTE:

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources?  Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process. 

BEFORE YOU APPLY: 

  • Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.  
  • Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting. 
  • Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency. 
  • Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift. 
  • Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State.  Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov
  • Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. 
  • Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY: 

  • Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).   
  • Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression! 
  • Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.  
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.  
  • Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP: 

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Frank DeCusati at frank.decusati@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Veterans Affairs this class is accountable for supervising the delivery of specialized counseling service to clients in a behavioral health treatment program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff; 
  • Provides staff training and assistance; 
  • Conducts performance evaluations of lower level counseling staff; 
  • Determines priorities and plans unit work; 
  • Establishes and maintains unit procedures; 
  • Develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards; 
  • Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; 
  • Prepares reports and correspondence; 
  • Conducts and/or oversees counseling services to alcohol and drug dependent clients; 
  • Coordinates counseling services; 
  • Assists in selection of counseling staff; 
  • May oversee case management activities; 
  • May assist in supervision of a rehabilitation facility; 
  • May coordinate program operations as necessary; 
  • May serve as liaison with service providers to assure comprehensive integrated care; 
  • May represent program at community events and seminars; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • physical, psychological, social, family and economic effects of substance abuse; 
    • counseling principles and techniques; 
    • relevant agency policies and procedures; 
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
    • community resources; 
    • confidentiality provisions; 
  • Knowledge of infectious diseases; 
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to prepare statistical reports; 
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Licensure as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and two (2) years experience at the level of Certified Addiction Counselor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

Certification as a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) by the Connecticut Certification Board may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience supervising clinical staff in a behavioral health setting, providing treatment to persons with co-occurring disorders
  • Experience working with a multidisciplinary clinical team
  • Experience partnering with external behavioral health treatment providers
  • Possess a valid driver's license

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class who are licensed must maintain licensure as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
  • Incumbents in this class who are certified must maintain certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and certification as a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) by the Connecticut Certification Board.
  • Individuals recovering from addiction to alcohol or drugs are required to have two (2) years of substance free time to be considered for a position in a substance abuse program.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess advanced training in the area of sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis and blood borne pathogens.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language or be fluent in American Sign Language.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid driver's license.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

A medical and/or psychiatric examination may be required prior to appointment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to perform moderate amounts of lifting or restraining of patients and be exposed to communicable and/or infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive and/or abuse patients.

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.


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