Lead Children Services Worker (40 Hour)

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference? Are you looking to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!    

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families' (DCF) is seeking a motivated and talented Lead Children Services Worker - Operations Office (Staffing Coordinator).  

You will discover the opportunity to:  

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
• Make a difference in the public sector;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.  

Position Highlights:

• Full Time
• 40 hours per week
• 2nd shift: 2:45pm – 11:15pm
• Week 1: Saturday/Sunday off
• Week 2: Friday/Tuesday off
• Location: Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center - South Campus in Middletown, CT

Schedules include non-standard starting/end times, holidays and weekends, and shall be determined based on operational needs and after contractual obligations are met.     

The Role:

Job duties include, but are not limited to:  

• Leads and advises staff in care, custody and therapeutic treatment of patients in unit.  
• Provides for adequate coverage of unit and takes necessary action in case of absences.  
• Provides for maintenance of a therapeutic milieu by assuring patients psychological and physical needs are met. 
• Assists in development of recreational activities and programs for patients. 
• Works with caseworkers and/or social workers and other professional staff in making decisions through evaluation of patients progress and adjustment.     

About Us:

The 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.  

The Albert J. Solnit Children's Center is part of DCF, widely recognized as a center of excellence for family-centered treatment of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances. This state-administered Psychiatric Hospital provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents under the age of eighteen, with severe mental illness and related behavioral and emotional problems who cannot be safely assessed or treated in a less restrictive setting. The South Campus consists of four co-ed hospital units and three female adolescent psychiatric residential treatment facility cottages (PRTF).  

Our 67-acre campus is centrally located in Middletown, Connecticut overlooking the Connecticut River. The Solnit Center facilities support our dedication to helping youth improve their individual and social competencies. The campus includes: two schools, an indoor pool, playgrounds, a ball field, two gyms, recreation rooms, seven program-specific residential units, and an outdoor picnic area.                 

We hope you take this opportunity to make a difference!

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.  

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 childcare facility or program this class is accountable for the administration of a shift of one or more assigned areas of residential living or program activity and for leading staff responsible for the treatment and care of an assigned group of children and youth.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • general procedures concerning routine functioning of institution; 
  • problems of adolescents and influences of environment; 
• Knowledge of
  • security procedures regarding contraband and runaway searches, etc.; 
  • disciplinary techniques and guidelines for use; 
  • how to transport clients in a controlled and safe way; 
  • fire safety procedures; 
  • principles and practices of family therapy; 
  • basic first aid techniques and materials; 
• Considerable interpersonal skills; 
• Ability to
  • assess situations and use good judgment; 
  • lead staff; 
  • efficiently organize time, manage work and coordinate programs.

Two (2) years of experience as a Children Services Worker.

• Experience in hospital and residential treatment programs with adolescents.

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift or 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.

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.