Social Work Supervisor (Hybrid)

Introduction

Are you a current State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) employee who is driven and motivated to making a positive impact with those you work with? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our team of individuals committed to the goal of making a difference in our communities!

At the DSS, we are seeking a qualified individual to join our team as a Social Work Supervisor, which will be based in Bridgeport, CT.

Position Highlights 

• This position is full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week role with a schedule of Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Your Role As A Social Worker Supervisor

In this role we will entrust you to:

• Schedule, assign, oversee and review work of staff
• Provide staff training and assistance
• Conduct performance evaluations
• Determine priorities and plan unit work
• Establish and maintain unit procedures
• Other related duties as required

What We Can Offer You:

• Visit our new State 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 development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

Who We Are:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS serves about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, online and phone access options.

We hope you pursue joining our team and encourage you to detail your related experience on the application!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

Please note for this recruitment you will need the following:

Two (2) most recent PARA or service ratings

Attendance records for the last two (2) years

For Assistance in Applying:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Application Process:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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 [email protected].

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the state of Connecticut.

Selection Process:

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

Contact Information:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. 

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Ethan Ives at [email protected].

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Social Services this class is accountable for supervising social work staff in the provision of direct social case work services to individuals.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts performance evaluations;
• Determines priorities and plans unit work;
• Establishes and maintains unit procedures;
• Develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards;
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
• Prepares reports and correspondence;
• Performs related duties as required.

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ADMINISTRATIVE CASE SUPERVISION):

• Completes administrative case review to ensure treatment plan as developed by Social Worker and Social Worker Supervisor for each child and/or youth in placement is appropriate;
• Completes Special Review Investigation on cases that have experienced serious injury or death of a client to ensure case management and/or treatment plans for child and/or family were appropriate;
• Identifies best practice deficiencies and determines necessary corrective action;
• Facilitates case planning process with involved parties on each reviewed case to develop case consensus regarding permanent plan;
• Reviews and approves revisions to permanent plan for each child and/or youth to ensure conformance to decisions made during review;
• Ensures corrective action taken by Social Worker and/or Social Worker Supervisor; 
• Ensures documentation of treatment plan meets all federal, state and departmental policy guidelines;
• Provides leadership in encouraging parental participation;
• Establishes specific timetables for action by case related professionals and parents;
• Participates in formulating policy and regulations relating to work of unit;
• Provides consultation to field staff in solution of problems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
• relevant agency policies and procedures;
• and understanding of case work principles, methods and techniques;
• factors which influence attitudes and behavior of individuals and families;
• Knowledge of
• community resources (e.g. facilities serving social, mental health, medical, educational and legal needs, etc.) and services provided;
• legal basis for departmental programs and requirements;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to interpret complex written material;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Possession of a Master’s degree in social work or a closely related field and two (2) years of experience in the self-directed use of case management techniques and counseling to sustain or restore client functioning OR a Bachelor’s degree in social work or a closely related field and three (3) years of experience in the self-directed use of case management techniques and counseling to sustain or restore client functioning.

NOTES:

• Closely related fields are: applied sociology, child development, child welfare, clinical psychology, counseling, human development and family studies, human service, marriage and family therapy, nursing, social and/or human services, education and criminal justice.
• Qualifying experience at this level must include the use of professional interviewing techniques, provision of skilled counseling to an assigned client caseload and assessment of basic client needs (nutritional, environmental, financial, medical, protective service) through continuing personal observation during visits, intervention and evaluation. Qualifying experience must be at the full working level above the level of Social Worker Trainee.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience assessing risk and safety to vulnerable adults
• Case management experience with elderly individuals or individuals with disabilities who have multiple conditions
• Experience working in a rapidly-changing environment, making critical decisions and measuring decision effectiveness
• Experience listening and responding to client and stakeholder complaints
• Experience working under pressure and navigating tense situations while remaining professional
• Experience communicating with multiple stakeholders
• Experience managing multiple skills and keeping attention to detail
• Master’s degree in Social Work
• Familiarity with case management software and data reporting tools

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILES: Incumbents in this class are required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.
• DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES: Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

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.

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