Introduction
Looking to join our team and be a part of an organization that is making a difference in the lives of individuals in our custody and in the community? Apply now to become a Professional Counselor at the Connecticut Department of Correction!
What we can offer you
At the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC), we offer an exceptional opportunity for Professional Counselors who are looking to foster their careers in Connecticut. By joining our team at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown, you will have the chance to work in a world-class organization that values your expertise and dedication. Apply today and take the next step in your career!
As a part of our team, you can expect the following:
- Explore our new State Employee Benefits Overview page to get an understanding of the various benefits we provide to our employees.
- 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! This recognition highlights our commitment to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment.
- Professional growth and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. We believe in investing in our employees' success.
- A healthy work/life balance is a priority for us. We are committed to fostering an environment that supports the personal and professional growth of all employees.
Position highlights
As a Licensed Professional Counselor within the correctional setting, you will play a vital role in providing a range of clinical and case management functions to men entering the custody of the Department of Correction. This position presents a unique opportunity for you to make a positive impact and contribute to the well-being of individuals in need.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Work within a clinically rich setting where you can apply your expertise to help individuals in challenging circumstances.
- Provide intake assessments, individual psychotherapy, crisis management, suicide risk assessment, case management services, and other clinical activities. Your skills and compassion will directly contribute to the rehabilitation and well-being of the individuals in our care.
- Collaborate with external support services and contribute to programming that supports successful reintegration and positive outcomes for our clients.
- Collaborate with a dynamic, multidisciplinary team comprised of social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, APRNs, medical personnel, and custody staff. Together, we are dedicated to providing high-quality care and support to those in our custody.
This position is full time on second shift, Monday through Friday, from 2:00 PM until 10:00 PM with rotating weekends and holidays.
For more details about this role, please refer to the class specification.
About us
The Connecticut Department of Correction has been proudly serving and protecting the citizens of the State of Connecticut since 1968. We operate 14 correctional facilities and are widely recognized as a national model for safety, security, and order. Our mission is to not only ensure the safety and security of our facilities but also to provide programming, education, and treatment that empower willing inmates to improve themselves and successfully reintegrate into society.
At the Department of Correction, our dedicated correctional professionals embody our values of Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Dignity, and Excellence (PRIDE) every day. We foster an inclusive and collaborative work environment that values and respects everyone's contributions.
Selection Plan
Important note
Applicants for this position are required to have an active Professional Counselor License to be considered. To verify if your Professional Counselor License (LPC Only) is valid, please click here.
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.
- Applicants should ensure that they meet the minimum experience and qualifications by the closing date of this job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Please make sure that your application is thorough and includes all necessary information before submitting it. To adhere to Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut has made changes to the initial application process, and resumes are no longer required. Please note that revisions cannot be made once your application has been 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 job posting may require you to answer additional referral questions (RQs). You will receive an email with the RQs after the posting's closing date or you can find them on your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Please make sure to submit your responses by the expiration date of the questionnaire. It is important to regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please also check your SPAM and/or Junk folders regularly in case auto-notification emails are filtered there.
- While applicants will primarily receive correspondence through email, we also encourage them to regularly check their Personal Status Board for updates on their application status, important notices, and any tasks they need to complete during 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.
For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.
For technical questions regarding the filling of your application, please contact Benjamin Beaudry at Benjamin.Beaudry@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 counseling services.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- As a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services, provides case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs;
- Develops, implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients;
- Works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability;
- Develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews;
- Provides clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning;
- Makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs;
- Interprets and synthesizes client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services;
- Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans, documents treatment in clinical records;
- Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies;
- Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients;
- Maintains counseling treatment and standards as required;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Knowledge of
- principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment;
- family and interpersonal relationship dynamics;
- values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional counseling work;
- community resources;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Connecticut.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Correctional or Forensic Behavioral health treatment experience;
- Experience with crisis intervention;
- Experience with behavior management;
- Experience with individual and group psychotherapy;
- Experience with criminal justice involved adults.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (a-f) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
- 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.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.
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.