Children Services Worker

State of Connecticut • Middletown, CT

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) has current and anticipated vacancies for multiple Children Services Worker positions at Solnit South located in Middletown, CT. This role involves performing a full range of basic counseling and custodial activities for residents. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) works together with families and communities to improve child safety, ensure more children have permanent families, and advance the overall well-being of children. DCF protects children who are being abused or neglected, strengthens families through support and advocacy, and builds on existing family and community strengths to help children facing emotional and behavioral challenges, including those committed by the juvenile justice system. Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center - South Campus is a state-administered Psychiatric facility for Connecticut’s children under eighteen, providing comprehensive care to children and adolescents with severe mental illness and related behavior and emotional problems.

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.
• Knowledge of human behavior and emotions
• Knowledge of behaviors characteristic of clients with emotional and/or behavioral disorders
• Knowledge of proper procedures in threatening or emergency situations
• Considerable interpersonal skills
• Ability to foster self-worth and self-identity in clients
• Ability to counsel and motivate clients in coping with problems and setting achievable goals
• Ability to use good judgment and assess situations

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Counsel and advise residents individually on such matters as purpose of institutionalization, problems, progress in unit and placement plans
• Participate in maintaining a therapeutic milieu by meeting psychological and physical needs of residents
• Oversee daily living activities to ensure proper care of residents
• Teach residents in unit self-support skills such as basic money management, daily living habits, hygiene, etc.
• Dispense rewards to residents as a result of behavior
• Oversee recreational activities for residents
• Write reports of significant events in unit such as runaways and accidents
• Check temperatures of residents and dispense selected medications
• Record daily activities in log book
• Escort residents to destinations on and off grounds, to and from meals, class, infirmary, court, placements, etc.
• Discipline children who are acting out and follow up with appropriate action
• Attend staff meetings and training sessions to improve treatment and therapy skills
• Perform related duties as required

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, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree