Children Services Worker (FT and PT Positions)(Office/On-site)

Introduction

Do you have a passion for helping children? If so, we invite you to take this opportunity to join our team!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center- Hospital – North and South Campus, is currently accepting applications for multiple Children Services Worker opportunities located in either East Windsor or Middletown, CT.

At the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center, we treat our youth and each other with dignity and respect. It is in this relational, cultural and gender sensitive surrounding that our therapeutic milieu is based. Interdisciplinary teams develop, implement and continually assess individualized treatment plans.

*STARTING SALARY INFORMATION:

• New hires to the classification of Children Services Worker shall be paid an hourly rate of $28.94 (FJ18)
• Upon successful completion of the working test period, effective the payroll period following, the Employee shall be compensated at an hourly rate of $30.39 (FK18)
• Employees who have previously completed a working test period in a 1199-covered direct-care position shall not be subject to this reduced training rate upon transfer or promotion.

Position Highlights:

• Full-time | Part-time
• First (1st), Second (2nd), Third (3rd) shift
• However, schedule flexibility required to meet the needs of the agency

In your role as a Children Services Worker, you will have the opportunity to:

• Counsel and advise residents individually on such matters as purpose of institutionalization, problems, progress in unit and placement plans;
• Participate in maintaining a therapeutic milieu by meeting psychological and physical needs of residents;
• Oversee daily living activities to ensure proper care of residents;
• Teach residents in unit self-support skills such as basic money management, daily living habits, hygiene, etc.;
• Dispense rewards to residents as result of behavior;
• Oversee recreational activities for residents;
• Write reports of significant events in unit such as runaways and incidents;
• Check temperatures of residents and dispense selected medications;
• Record daily activities in log book;
• Escort residents to destinations on and off grounds, to and from meals, class, infirmary, court, placements, etc.;
• Discipline Children who are acting out and follow up with appropriate actions;
• Attend staff meetings and training sessions to improve treatment and therapy skills;
• Perform related duties as required;

What we can offer you:

Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!

• Work at a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on both America's Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024. With our dynamic job market and commitment to fostering a thriving workforce, Connecticut stands out as a top destination for both seasoned professionals and fresh graduates seeking to launch their careers.
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
• State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

DCF Mission Statement:

Caring, healing and teaching -partnering with children, families and communities to build hope and create opportunities.

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.

About the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center – North Campus:

The North Campus serves as a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, providing treatment to adolescent males between the ages of 13 and 17 with complex psychiatric needs. The program is designed to be the bridge from hospital to home and community or as a diversionary placement to avoid the need for a hospital stay.

The facility provides an educational program, work experience opportunities and rehabilitation including therapeutic recreation and occupational and music therapies. The Solnit Children’s Center utilizes a strength based, family centered relational approach based on youth -adult partnership. The program model has been designed to focus on treatment strategies which are trauma informed and gender responsive.

About the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center – South Campus:

The South Campus is a state-administered Psychiatric facility for Connecticut’s children who are under the age of eighteen, located on a 67-acre campus overlooking the Connecticut River in Middletown, CT. The center provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents with severe mental illness and related behavior and emotional problems who cannot be safely assessed or treated in a less restrictive setting.

The campus includes: Four coed hospital units, three female adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility cottages (PRTF), two schools, an indoor pool, playgrounds, ball field, two gyms, recreation rooms, and outdoor picnic area.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

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

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Continuous Recruitment: This recruitment is continuous, and applications may be filed until further notice.
• 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.
• 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 at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.

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

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state childcare facility or program this class is accountable for performing a full range of basic counseling and custodial activities for residents.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Counsels and advises residents individually on such matters as purpose of institutionalization, problems, progress in unit and placement plans;
• Participates in maintaining a therapeutic milieu by meeting psychological and physical needs of residents;
• Oversees daily living activities to ensure proper care of residents;
• Teaches residents in unit self-support skills such as basic money management, daily living habits, hygiene, etc.;
• Dispenses rewards to residents as a result of behavior;
• Oversees recreational activities for residents;
• Writes reports of significant events in unit such as runaways and accidents;
• Checks temperatures of residents and dispenses selected medications;
• Records daily activities in log book; escorts residents to destinations on and off grounds, to and from meals, class, infirmary, court, placements, etc;
• Disciplines children who are acting out and follows up with appropriate action;
• Attends staff meetings and training sessions to improve treatment and therapy skills;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • human behavior and emotions;
  • behaviors characteristic of clients with emotional and/or behavioral disorders;
  • proper procedures in threatening or emergency situations;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• Ability to
  • foster self-worth and self-identity in clients;
  • counsel and motivate clients in coping with problems and setting achievable goals;
  • use good judgment and assess situations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of paraprofessional experience in an applied treatment program for emotionally disturbed, delinquent, behaviorally disordered, educationally deficient or intellectually disabled children or youth.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• 
  An Associate's degree in the health, human services or mental health areas may be substituted for the General Experience.
  
  
• 
  Thirty (30) college credits in a course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree in the behavioral sciences may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in congregate care treatment programs
• Experience working in a psychiatric/behavioral health, medical or hospital setting
• Experience working as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team
• Experience with documenting significant events, critical incidents, and/or interventions
• Experience with escorting residents to destinations on and off grounds
• Experience advocating and teaching self-support skills to youth, reinforcing positive behaviors, and/or applying therapeutic interventions

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• 
  Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
  
  
• 
  Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and maintain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
  
  
• 
  Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

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.

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.