STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Children Services Consultant

Hybrid

Recruitment #230914-1927SH-001

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Introduction



Do you have experience providing consultation, coordination and delivery of specialized children services program activities?
If so, keep on reading!

The State of Connecticut, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), is accepting applications from qualified agency employees for the position of Children Services Consultant within the Transitional Supports and Success Division, a team committed to helping young people navigate life's challenges and develop into thriving adults. 


Comprehensive Benefit Offerings: 
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.
  • The opportunity 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.
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown's Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings.
  • Comprehensive Benefits which include industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage.
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
  • Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
  • Professional growth and development opportunities.
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
Position Highlights:
  • The position will be located in Central Office, 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT.
  • This position is hybrid: telework and in-office, full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday.
  • Expected state-wide travel. 
The Role:
  • Within the Department, this Children Services Consultant will serve in the role of TAY Interagency Navigator, a liaison between DCF and other State of Connecticut agencies. This liaison's primary role is to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships, facilitate communications and coordinate activities among multiple agencies, but specifically between DCF, CSSD and DOC. These efforts also expand out to community providers.
  • Serves as the in-house expert for DCF, DOC and CSSD; 
  • The primary contact for all DCF/DOC/CSSD staff who have questions/concerns or need to develop planning for incarcerated youth, children and families of incarcerated parents; 
  • Carries a caseload of DOC incarcerated youth who meet the standards for transfer from the Area Office SW, as outlined in policy; 
  • Maintains data on the incarcerated/detained youth at DOC and CSSD and submit it to stakeholders on a monthly basis;
  • Identify barriers and troubleshoot with DOC and CSSD to best meet the needs of the DCF client; 
  • Facilitate discharge planning meetings/triage meetings for DOC and CSSD; 
  • Offer training and tours to both DCF, DOC and CSSD staff as requested. 
Mission and Beliefs:
  • Our Mission Statement is Caring, Healing and Teaching. Partnering with children, families and communities to build hope and create opportunities. We are widely recognized as a center of excellence for family-centered treatment of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances.
We believe that:
  • Children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders can lead productive and satisfying lives.
  • Children, youth and their families have the right and responsibility to participate in their treatment.
  • No child will be refused treatment based on their ability to pay for services.
  • Our services work best when integrated with community care.

Selection Plan

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applicants may be considered.

To Apply:

  • 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. 

  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.
  • For assistance in applying, please visit our Applicant Tips on How to Apply page.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
Connect With Us:
  • If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Anamaria Giangarra at Anamaria.giangarra@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number. 
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 

  • This class is accountable for providing consultation, coordination and delivery of specialized children services program activities.

OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE 

  • This class is responsible for assisting the Child Advocate in securing and ensuring the legal, civil and special rights of children residing in the state of Connecticut.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 
  • Plans, develops and implements new special programs and projects as assigned; 
  • Develops and negotiates contracts; 
  • Monitors, evaluates and makes recommendations for modifications in existing programs; 
  • Provides consultative services to regional offices within department, social services agencies, courts, child caring institutions and individuals in matters relating to child and foster care, adoption, protective services, private child placing agencies or child caring institutions; 
  • Participates in preparation of manual material, forms and interpretative material; 
  • Provides consultation to field staff in solution to problems; 
  • Plans and participates in training programs and workshops for field staff in conjunction with the training section; 
  • Facilitates flow of information among courts, judges, public officials, auxiliary services and other departments; 
  • Acts for director in communicating changes in procedures, practices and policies throughout various regional offices and following up for consistency in their implementation; 
  • May represent department in committees to improve children's services and use of financial and human resources; 
  • Performs related duties as required.
OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE 
  • Assists Child Advocate in securing and ensuring legal, civil and special rights of children residing in State of Connecticut; 
  • Evaluates delivery of services to children by state agencies; 
  • Reviews procedures of state agencies providing services to children with a view toward rights of children; 
  • Investigates complaints regarding children receiving state services; 
  • Visits residential facilities to review procedures, assure safety and assess facilities; 
  • May recommend changes in state policies concerning children including changes in system of providing juvenile justice, child care, foster care and treatment; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge and understanding of case work principles, methods and techniques; 
  • Considerable knowledge
    • of factors which influence attitudes and behavior of individuals and families; 
    • departmental programs, policies and procedures; 
  • Knowledge of
    • legal basis for departmental programs and requirements; 
    • community resources and services they provide; 
    • group process including group leadership skills; 
  • Considerable
    • oral and written communication skills; 
    • interpersonal skills; 
  • Ability to understand and explain complex written materials.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience in work having as its primary responsibility the autonomous and self directed use of case management techniques and therapeutic counseling to sustain or restore client functioning.

NOTE: 

  • Qualifying experience at this level shall include:
    • use of professional interviewing techniques; 
    • provision of skilled therapeutic counseling to an assigned client caseload; 
    • assessment of basic client needs (nutritional, environmental, financial, medical, protective service, etc.) through continuing personal observation during home visits and intervention; 
    • evaluation of social work interns.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) credit hours equaling six (6) months of employment to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in counseling or psychology may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience for a total of five (5) years.
  • A Master's degree in social work or child welfare may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience for a total of six (6) years.
  • For state employees two (2) years of experience as a Social Worker-Social and Human Services with responsibility for a caseload focused on children and youth may be substituted for the entire General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bilingual in Spanish and English 
  • Experience with grants and contract management 
  • Experience in managing budgets
  • Experience in Microsoft Excel, including data analytics and reports

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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