STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (40 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #230530-0966FP-001

Introduction


Are you looking to help your state in a time of need?
Does a career in state service as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker excite you?!
If so, come Make an ImpaCT by serving your state!
Read below and apply today!

THE ROLE:
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently accepting applications for multiple Clinical Social Worker vacancies and anticipated openings within Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH). We are seeking dedicated and compassionate individuals to join our team to improve the well-being for our clients/patients.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Divisions: General Psychiatry Division (GPD) or Addiction Services Division (ASD)
  • Locations: Middletown or Hartford 
  • Hours: Full-Time, 40 hours weekly
  • Shift: First or Second
  • PCNs128305; 130044; 136720; 117322; 79937; 27108; 128302; 25617; 27300; 25434; 104568; 99065; 100408; 130043
  • Note: These positions can be assigned any unit/location and work schedule/shift throughout GPD or ASD.
THESE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER POSITIONS ARE ON THE FOLLOWING UNITS: 

GENERAL PSYCHIATRY DIVISION:
  • Battell 2 South, Battell 3 North, Battell 3 South & Battell 4 South: Acute general psychiatric treatment units with a maximum census of twenty-two patients. These units provide psychiatric treatment and stabilization for individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness, with the goal of discharge to the community in the most integrated setting possible. 
  • Battell 4 North: Acute general psychiatric treatment unit with a maximum census of twenty-two patients.  The unit provides psychiatric treatment and stabilization to men living with severe and persistent mental illness, with the goal of discharge to the community in the most integrated setting possible.
  • Woodward 2 North: Geriatric psychiatry unit with a maximum census of fifteen patients.  The unit serves an aging patient population of men suffering from severe and chronic mental illness, as well as patients with complex medical and nursing needs.  The goal of treatment is psychiatric stabilization with the goal of living in an appropriately supportive community setting with the least restrictions possible.   
ADDICTION SERVICES DIVISION:
  • Merritt 4B: Co-ed withdrawal management unit providing care for same level.  This unit specializes in the treatment of patients with co-occurring disorders and serves up to 30 clients over the age of 18.  A full range of medication-assisted treatment is offered. 
  • Merritt 2AB & Merritt 3AB: 30-bed rehabilitation unit providing intensive rehabilitation treatment.  This unit specializes in trauma informed care, dialectical behavior therapy, and variety of other clinical approaches to provide holistic care to the individuals we serve. A full range of medication assisted treatment is offered. 
  • Blue Hills Acute: Co-ed withdrawal management unit providing care for asam level. 4.0 and 3.7.  This unit specializes in the treatment of patients with co-occurring disorders and serves up to 21 clients over the age of 18.  A full range of medication-assisted treatment is offered.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER - Comprehensive Benefit Offerings:
  • To work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule;
  • Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage;
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
  • Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
  • Professional growth and development opportunities; and
  • As a loan forgiveness organization, you may be able to qualify for one or more State or Federal loan forgiveness programs;
  • A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
IN THIS ROLE AS A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER YOU WILL:
  • Serve as a clinician on a multidisciplinary clinical team to develop psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with assigned clients and families;
  • Develop treatment plans and provide clinical treatment services in the form of individual, group and/or family therapy;
  • Conduct evidence-based treatment groups to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness;
  • Advocate and develop networks of social and clinical services to assist clients in meeting identified needs;
  • Establish appropriate community reintegration plan for those individuals moving to a less restrictive setting.
NOTE:
  • Current DMHAS permanent employees in the classification of Clinical Social Worker should not apply.
  • Permanent DMHAS employees in the classification of Clinical Social Worker transfers will be handled through the DMHAS Lateral Transfer Agreement.
  • Positions through this posting are permanent positions with temporary assignments.
  • Permanent assignments will be completed at a later date after the agency transfer list has been cleared.

OUR MISSION:
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.

ABOUT THE HOSPITAL:
CVH opened in 1868 as the State’s public hospital for the treatment of persons with mental illness. Throughout its history, it has experienced the multitude of medical, social and political changes affecting such facilities. In 1995, the Governor and General Assembly through a statewide restructuring of services for persons with psychological and addiction disabilities called for a renewed commitment to specialized treatment at CVH by expanding community options for patients and staff while closing two other hospitals and consolidating inpatient services here. The hospital became the amalgamation of four formerly freestanding psychiatric hospitals, four freestanding substance use disorder treatment facilities, and one maximum security hospital. Then in 2010, the former Cedarcrest Regional Hospital (with 2 campuses – Cedar Ridge campus in Newington and Blue Hills campus in Hartford) consolidated services with CVH. On May 1, 2018, the Whiting Forensic Division of CVH separated, creating two separate hospitals; Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) and Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH). Today, CVH is comprised of 17 inpatient units over two campuses (Middletown and Hartford).

We welcome you to be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals and assist our clients/patients so they can achieve success. You will experience the opportunity to make a difference in the public sector as well as Make an ImpaCT as a Clinical Social Worker for the State of Connecticut! We encourage you to apply today!

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • 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.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • 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 which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
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. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Pamela Rochette via email at Pamela.Rochette@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; provides clinical supervision to Licensed Master Social Workers; 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.

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.

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.