PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
- This class is accountable for providing consultation, coordination and delivery of specialized children services program activities.
OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE
- This class is responsible for assisting the Child Advocate in securing and ensuring the legal, civil and special rights of children residing in the state of Connecticut.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Works under the limited supervision of an employee of a higher grade.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
May lead lower level employees as assigned.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
- Plans, develops and implements new special programs and projects as assigned;
- Develops and negotiates contracts;
- Monitors, evaluates and makes recommendations for modifications in existing programs;
- Provides consultative services to regional offices within department, social services agencies, courts, child caring institutions and individuals in matters relating to child and foster care, adoption, protective services, private child placing agencies or child caring institutions;
- Participates in preparation of manual material, forms and interpretative material;
- Provides consultation to field staff in solution to problems;
- Plans and participates in training programs and workshops for field staff in conjunction with the training section;
- Facilitates flow of information among courts, judges, public officials, auxiliary services and other departments;
- Acts for director in communicating changes in procedures, practices and policies throughout various regional offices and following up for consistency in their implementation;
- May represent department in committees to improve children's services and use of financial and human resources;
- Performs related duties as required.
OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE
- Assists Child Advocate in securing and ensuring legal, civil and special rights of children residing in State of Connecticut;
- Evaluates delivery of services to children by state agencies;
- Reviews procedures of state agencies providing services to children with a view toward rights of children;
- Investigates complaints regarding children receiving state services;
- Visits residential facilities to review procedures, assure safety and assess facilities;
- May recommend changes in state policies concerning children including changes in system of providing juvenile justice, child care, foster care and treatment;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge and understanding of case work principles, methods and techniques;
- Considerable knowledge
- of factors which influence attitudes and behavior of individuals and families;
- departmental programs, policies and procedures;
- Knowledge of
- legal basis for departmental programs and requirements;
- community resources and services they provide;
- group process including group leadership skills;
- Considerable
- oral and written communication skills;
- interpersonal skills;
- Ability to understand and explain complex written materials.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Eight (8) years of experience in work having as its primary responsibility the autonomous and self directed use of case management techniques and therapeutic counseling to sustain or restore client functioning.
NOTE:
- Qualifying experience at this level shall include:
- use of professional interviewing techniques;
- provision of skilled therapeutic counseling to an assigned client caseload;
- assessment of basic client needs (nutritional, environmental, financial, medical, protective service, etc.) through continuing personal observation during home visits and intervention;
- evaluation of social work interns.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
-
College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) credit hours equaling six (6) months of employment to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
-
A Master's degree in counseling or psychology may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience for a total of five (5) years.
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A Master's degree in social work or child welfare may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience for a total of six (6) years.
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For state employees two (2) years of experience as a Social Worker-Social and Human Services with responsibility for a caseload focused on children and youth may be substituted for the entire General Experience.
JOB CLASS DESIGNATION
Classified/Competitive
OCCUPATIONAL GROUP
(33)-Social Services
BARGAINING UNIT
(12)-SOCIAL SERV (P-2)
EEO
(2)-Professional
SALARY INFORMATION
SH 25
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.
CANCELLATION CLAUSE
This replaces the existing specification for the class of Children Services Consultant in Salary Group SH 25 approved effective July 31, 2009. (Revised to modernize format and add Acknowledgement section) Final No. 23-239
EFFECTIVE DATE
09/12/2023
CLASS: 1927SH;
EST: 10/17/1969;
REV: 9/12/2023;