Clinical Social Worker (32 Hour)

State of Connecticut•Waterbury, CT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Western Connecticut Mental Health Network (WCMHN), under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Clinical Social Worker to join and be a vital member of our Jail Diversion Community Reentry Program (CORP) in Waterbury. This is a part-time position (32 hours/week), Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Jail Diversion Program collaborates with multiple courts to identify and facilitate clinical alternatives to incarceration for defendants with mental and substance abuse disorders. Services include facilitating treatment continuation, timely referrals, and linkage to community and correctional treatment services. Clinicians assess and refer individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders during pre-arraignment lock-up, while out on bond, or on a Promise to Appear. They collaborate with court personnel to ensure treatment needs are considered in disposition and provide linkage to community providers. The program aims to find the best match between individuals and community services providers.

Requirements

Licensure as a clinical social worker in the State of Connecticut.
Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice clinical social work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (m-z) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. § 1320a-7b(f).
Knowledge of social work methodology, casework, group work and community mobilization; family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional social work; social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence attitudes and behaviors of clients and families; mental illnesses and approaches to treatment.
Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.
Ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs.
Ability to independently apply current psychiatric treatment modalities to address client needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in treating adults in an outpatient setting with severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders.
Experience in working with clients with severe legal involvement and oversite.
Experience in testifying in a court setting.
Experience in running clinical groups.
Ability to be approved to go into prisons.
Knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
Ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.

Responsibilities

Working as part of the Community Reentry Program (CORP) team to coordinate care across multiple agencies and service systems.
Collaborating closely with community providers, state-operated services, Court Support Services Division, hospitals, and Western CT Mental Health Network – Waterbury Area (WCMHN-WA).
Traveling to Department of Corrections facilities and Whiting Forensics Hospital to co-lead psycho-educational groups and engage directly with clients.
Serving as liaison between correctional discharge planners and WCMHN-WA to support smooth transitions from incarceration to community-based services.
Providing case management support to assist clients during reentry and helping facilitate their engagement with treatment teams.
Reviewing and synthesizing medical records, psychological assessments, and treatment documentation to determine appropriate next steps for client care.
Building and maintaining networks of social and clinical resources to ensure clients receive comprehensive support upon release.
Documenting client progress, completing required reporting, and ensuring compliance with agency standards and accrediting bodies.
Consulting with behavioral health partners to enhance service coordination and address client needs more effectively.
Conducting forensic evaluations as required by program needs.
Offering guidance or oversight to junior staff, students, or clerical personnel when needed.
Participating in program-related research initiatives or other assigned tasks that support program goals.
Develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with assigned clients and families which include consideration of developmental, social and/or cultural, substance abuse, psychological, environmental and medical issues.
Develops treatment plans including measurable treatment objectives.
Provides clinical treatment services in the form of triage, crisis intervention, individual, group and/or family therapy, screening and planning.
Advocates and develops networks of social and clinical services to assist clients in meeting identified needs.
Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans and documents treatment in clinical records.
Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies.
Provides clinical supervision to Licensed Master Social Workers.
Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients.
Provides forensic evaluations and court testimony as required.
Maintains social work treatment and standards as required.
May participate in research projects.
Performs related duties as required.