Children Services Worker Office/On-site #260720-1923FK-001

About the role

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center – Hospital – North Campus, is currently accepting applications for multiple Children Services Worker opportunities. Positions are available for full-time and part-time roles, including 1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts, and weekends.

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

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

Skills

• 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
• 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

Benefits

View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!

Pay

Starting salary information: New hires to the classification of Children Services Worker shall be paid an hourly rate of $30.40 (FJ18). Upon successful completion of the working test period, effective the payroll period following, the Employee shall be compensated at an hourly rate of $31.93 (FK18).

Schedule

• Full-time or Part-time
• 40 hours or 32 hours per week
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Weekend Shifts
• 1st Shift: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm
• 2nd Shift: 2:45 pm – 11:15 pm
• 3rd Shift: 11:10 pm – 7:10 pm