Clinical Social Worker (40 Hour) Office/On-Site #260722-0966FP-003

Join our team as a Clinical Social Worker to provide professional clinical social work services to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and those who may be dually diagnosed within the State of Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).

About Us

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is a healthcare agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency.

The Western Connecticut Mental Health Network (WCMHN), formed in 1996, coordinates clinical, fiscal, and administrative oversight of Region 5 contracted and state-operated mental health services. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive and effective recovery-oriented system of mental health and addiction services that promotes self-sufficiency, dignity, cultural sensitivity, and respect. WCMHN partners with three state-operated Local Mental Health Authorities in Waterbury, Danbury, and Torrington to provide and coordinate local clinical services. Over 200 staff, including psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation, and mental health workers, serve approximately 7,000 clients through programs such as peer support, recovery services, supported employment, homeless services, residential, crisis services, jail diversion, outpatient, case management, Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACTT), and young adult services.

About the Role

This position is accountable for independently providing clinical social work services as part of a multidisciplinary team. You will develop psychosocial assessments, treatment plans, and provide clinical treatment services, including triage, crisis intervention, individual, group, and family therapy. The role involves advocating for clients, monitoring and evaluating treatment effectiveness, and maintaining clinical documentation and standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with clients and families, considering developmental, social, cultural, substance abuse, psychological, environmental, and medical issues.
• Create and implement treatment plans with measurable objectives.
• Provide clinical treatment services, including triage, crisis intervention, individual, group, and family therapy.
• Advocate for clients and develop networks of social and clinical services to meet their needs.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment plans; document progress in clinical records.
• Complete reports in accordance with agency and accrediting body requirements.
• Provide clinical supervision to Licensed Master Social Workers.
• Consult and collaborate with other behavioral health providers to improve service delivery.
• Provide forensic evaluations and court testimony as required.
• Work independently and collaborate effectively within a complex service delivery system.
• Provide both individual and group treatment, including modalities such as IMR, IDDT, and Trauma.
• Develop and implement treatment plans, monitor client progress, and ensure confidentiality and client rights.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation, medical records, and data entry.
• Provide clinical and case management services in the community.
• Participate in crisis intervention and recovery-oriented practice.
• Attend required meetings and engage in process improvement activities to maintain client and program safety.
• Apply psychiatric rehabilitation principles, mental illness and crisis intervention concepts, and a variety of intervention and support strategies.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with community representatives and staff.

Requirements

• Licensure as a clinical social worker in the State of Connecticut.
• Knowledge of social work methodology, casework, group work, and community mobilization.
• Understanding of family and interpersonal relationship dynamics, as well as the values, ethics, and purposes of professional social work.
• Awareness of social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological, and legal issues influencing client and family attitudes and behaviors.
• Familiarity with mental illnesses and treatment approaches.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to devise and implement treatment plans with measurable goals addressing client needs.
• Capability to independently apply current psychiatric treatment modalities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with state agencies, state and local hospitals, community, and nonprofit organizations.
• Experience in written documentation and managing large volumes of paperwork.
• Experience working with mental health, substance abuse, and/or trauma populations.
• Experience working with high-risk populations.
• Experience in risk management, crisis intervention, and triage.

Special Requirements

• Must possess and retain a license to practice clinical social work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (m-z) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
• Must maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S.1320a-7b(f).
• May be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
• May be required to have Spanish oral and written communication ability in certain designated positions.
• May be required to travel.
• A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required upon a conditional offer of employment. All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug-Free Workplace.

Schedule

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
• First Shift, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance.
• For more details, visit the State Employee Benefits Overview page.

Location

Western Connecticut Mental Health Network (WCMHN), 95 Thomaston Ave., Waterbury, CT.