Children Services Worker Office/On-site #260701-1923FK-001

About the role

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks multiple Children Services Workers at Solnit South in Middletown, CT.

Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Qualifications

• 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

Skills

• Bilingual or fluency in American Sign Language
• Valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license
• Travel

Benefits

• 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

Pay

• $66,656* - $89,108/year (*New State Employees start at minimum salary range)

Schedule

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• Part-Time, 32 hours per week
• First (1st) shift, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
• Second (2nd) shift, 2:45 pm - 11:15 pm
• Third (3rd) shift, 11:10 pm - 7:10 am
• Specific days to be determined