State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Departments of Children and Families this class is accountable for supervising social work staff in the provision of direct social case work services to clients and providing case work quality improvement for an assigned region through a process of administrative case supervision or Special Review Investigation.

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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.