Social Worker Trainee - Social And Human Services (Hybrid)

State of Connecticut - Department of Children & Families -
Bridgeport, CT

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Job Details

Full-time
$63,596 - $79,995 a year

Benefits

Professional development assistance
Loan forgiveness

Qualifications

Individual case management in social services
Supportive counseling

Full Job Description

Are you passionate about serving the children and families of Connecticut? If so, we invite you to learn more about this incredible opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) – is currently accepting applications for multiple Social Worker Trainee positions throughout Connecticut.

At the Department of Children and Families, our mission is to partner with communities and empower families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are seeking compassionate, motivated individuals who are looking to advance their careers while making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families across our state.

As a Social Worker Trainee, you will participate in a comprehensive training program designed to build the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for a successful career in social work. Under professional guidance, you will receive training in agency social work procedures, personnel policies, program guidelines, and legal reporting requirements while gaining hands-on experience working with clients and families.

Trainees progressively develop expertise in interviewing and assessment techniques, case management, counseling, treatment planning, and connecting individuals with critical community resources. As skills and competencies grow, trainees assume increasingly complex social work responsibilities and manage a larger caseload, helping clients navigate challenges and access services that promote safety, stability, and well-being.

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who are committed to public service, passionate about supporting children and families, and eager to build a rewarding career dedicated to strengthening communities and improving lives.

Please Note:

We encourage you to view our Social Worker Recruitment if you have the following:

A Master's degree in social work or a closely related field and one (1) year 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 worker 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.

Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.

Not all applicants will be contacted for an interview, and you are encouraged to apply for future postings.

Position Highlights:

Full-time | 1st shift | 40 Hours per week | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Work locations will be in offices located in the following Regions:

Region 1: Bridgeport and Norwalk
Region 2: Milford and New Haven
Region 3: Middletown, Norwich and Willimantic (Please note: Willimantic is part of Windham)
Region 4: Hartford and Manchester
Region 5: Danbury, Torrington and Waterbury
Region 6: New Britain and Meriden

Applicants selected for hire should expect to be assigned to one of the above listed offices.

Salary Information:

Entry into classification through completion of four (4) months – SH 18 Step 1 ($63,596.00).
Completion of four (4) months through the completion of one (1) year – SH 18 Step 4 ($70,052.00).
Completion of one (1) year through the completion of a second year – SH 21 Step 1 ($73,572.00 ).
Note: For current state employees compensation will be in accordance with the guidelines for computing salary adjustments set forth by the Department of Administrative Services, Determining Salary Upon Change in Class.

What we can offer you:

View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

About the Department of Children and Families:

The Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) vision is that CT’s children are safe and sound and that they live with loving and supportive families.
We partner with communities and families to raise resilient, thriving children.

Selection Plan

The Department of Children and Families hiring process includes the following key stages. From application to appointment this process can take a number of weeks. The stages are:

1. Application Period:

Please ensure that your application is complete. You are unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut. Applicant Support can be reached by email at [email protected].
Candidates who submit an untimely, incomplete or inaccurate application will not be considered for this employment opportunity. Due to the large volume of applications, please do not call/email to confirm receipt or status of your application. If your application submits successfully, a pop-up confirmation displays, which is followed by a confirmation email. You can view all emailed notices on your Personal Status Board by clicking the date in the Last Notice column for this recruitment.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications between now and December 31, 2024 will be considered.
Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.

2. Referral Questions:

These questions are designed to allow hiring managers to learn more about your abilities and skills related to the Social Worker position.

The Referral Questionnaire notice is sent to your personal email address and is also viewable on your Online Employment Center Personal Status Board, in the Certification Questionnaires section. To continue on in the hiring process, you must respond to and officially submit the Referral Questionnaire by the deadline stated in the notice. Applicants are urged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status and view all emailed notices, in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
Please do not call or email about status updates regarding referral questions. If you successfully submit your questionnaire on time, a confirmation page displays immediately following your submission. On your Personal Status Board, the submission date and time display in the Certification Questionnaires section.
Important Note: By the terms of use agreement you acknowledged when you registered for the Online Employment Center, you may only have one (1) profile set up. If you created multiple profiles, you will be unable to access the referral questions. If you suspect you have more than one profile, please email Applicant Support at [email protected] no later than two (2) days before the referral questionnaire deadline to request a profile merge. Please provide the following information in your email:
First and last name (including any hyphenated last name, or those with suffixes such as Jr)
First three (3) letters of your last name at birth
Address
Day of birth
Primary phone number
Email address

3. First Stage of Interview process:

Selected Candidates will also meet with DCF Academy for Workforce Development to learn more about the role and responsibilities of a Social Worker/Trainee and will receive a writing assessment.

Selected candidates will have a panel interview with DCF Regional staff.

4. Second Stage of Interview process:

Recommended candidates are contacted by the Department Children and Families Human Resources team members for additional documents. Candidates will be asked to supply:

Official transcripts for degrees listed on application
3 Written Supervisory References including current supervisor (s) and former supervisor (s).

5. Background Investigation:

Recommended candidates will go through a comprehensive review of employment, education, criminal, motor vehicle history and a physical examination (including drug screening).

6. Appointment:

Selected candidates are scheduled for their first day of work!

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FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected].
Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Rocky Young at [email protected]

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency or institution this class is accountable for receiving intensive training in the provision of social case work services to individuals and families.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Receives training in agency social work procedures, personnel policies, program guidelines and legal reporting requirements;
Receives training in and is given progressively complex assignments involving utilization of interviewing techniques required to assess client needs, elicit information and establish community referral sources;
Provides basic counseling services to a limited number of clients enrolled in departmental programs, inmates or patients in residence or families of clients receiving services;
Prepares initial treatment plans, psychosocial evaluation, case histories and other case records as components of a small assigned caseload;
Refers clients, patients and family members for community or social services, medical or psychological services or housing, financial and employment assistance;
Motivates clients to increase ability to understand and cope with problems, frustration and anxiety;
Performs a greater number of specific and complex social work duties and maintains a larger caseload as skills are acquired during training program;
Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of
- reciprocal relationship between individuals and their social, economic and cultural environment;
- human social behavior;
Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
Ability to
- relate to different cultural and economic backgrounds;
- organize time, set priorities and manage workload.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in social work or a closely related field.

NOTE: 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.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are completed.
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Incumbents in this class are required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES: Incumbents in this class must be able to communicate fluently in American Sign Language.
OTHER AGENCIES: Incumbents may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.
Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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Selection Plan

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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