Correctional Counselor Trainee

Do you possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or social work? If you are ready for that next step in your career, we encourage you to apply for this unique opportunity with the State of Connecticut!

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is currently recruiting for full-time Correctional Counselor Trainees at all correctional facilities statewide.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
This position is responsible for a full range of case management functions. Candidates should be able to demonstrate how their education and work experience qualify them for this position.

Incumbents in this class will be eligible for promotion upon completion of a two-year period of training and satisfactory service in the promoting agency. Therefore, you will receive evaluations every 3 months during the two-year training tenure.

Key duties of this position include:

• Assist Counselor Supervisor or Unit Manager as needed in all areas of operation, program and treatment;
• Required to check emails and voicemails daily, and return both by end of business day;
• Be available to meet with the offenders assigned to your caseload every day, on various issues including but not limited to; inmate accounts, property, visiting, crisis management, release programs, parole, phone procedures, parole issues, release dates, etc.;
• Refer offenders to available services and treatment programs;
• Prepare assessment and program plans when requested;
• Accompany Warden, Deputy Wardens, Counselor Supervisor during tours of the assigned housing unit (s);
• Conduct Legal calls as requested by the offender or an outside agency;
• Filing;
• Ensure confidentiality in all dealings with the offender population;
• Tour assigned housing units daily;
• May facilitate facility programs;
• Respond to facility emergency codes;
• Communicate with the housing unit officers and supervisors, share pertinent information concerning safety and security of the facility;
• Maintain control of equipment to include radio, keys, body alarm;
• Enforce all Administrative and Unit Directives and facility policies;
• Assist Counselor Supervisor or Unit Manager as needed in all areas of operation, program and treatment.

These positions are full time, 36.25 hours per week. Candidates will be assigned a mentor. Your facility location assignment is based on agency needs and priority, however the Department of Correction will do its best to assign a location that is close to your home. Currently, most positions are first shift (7:45 a.m. - 3:00 pm.) however, there are some second shift (2:45 pm, - 10:00 pm.) opportunities available as well.

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.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:  Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

To Apply:
• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• 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.
• 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.

Important Information After You Apply:
• 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 questionnaire'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.
• 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.
• 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, 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.

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jake Ferrari at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

In a Department of Correction facility or community setting this class is accountable for receiving intensive training in the provision of counseling services to offenders and their families.

• Receives training in agency counseling procedures, personnel policies, program guidelines and legal reporting requirements;
• Receives training in and is given progressively complex assignments involving utilization of interviewing techniques required to assess client needs, elicit information and establish community referral sources;
• Provides basic counseling services to a limited number of offenders enrolled in departmental programs or their family members receiving services;
• Prepares initial treatment plans, psycho-social evaluation, case histories and other case records as components of a small assigned caseload;
• Refers offenders and family members for community or social services, medical or psychological services or housing, financial and employment assistance;
• Motivates offenders to increase their ability to understand and cope with problems, frustration and anxiety;
• Performs a greater number of specific and complex counselor duties and maintains a larger caseload as skills are acquired during training program;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of
  • individual and group behavior;
  • reciprocal relationship between individuals and their social, economic and cultural environment;
  • counseling and interviewing techniques;
  • cultural competencies and ethical standards;
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • interpret policies and procedures;
  • relate to different cultural and economic backgrounds;
  • organize time, set priorities and manage workload;
  • utilize computer software.

Possession of a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or social work.

NOTE: Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are completed.

One (1) year of successful and satisfactory job performance as a Correction Officer and possession of a bachelor’s degree in counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or social work or a related social and human services degree may be appointed to this class.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to successfully complete a formal training course in correctional work to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the class.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for appointment.

• Incumbents in this class must have general good health, be free from any disease or injury which would impair health or usefulness and possess and retain sufficient physical strength, stamina, agility, endurance and visual and auditory acuity required to perform all the duties of the class.
• A comprehensive medical examination, including a controlled substance screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to a considerable degree of danger of injury or assault by offenders.

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.