Developmental Services Transition Advisor

Are you a self-starter? Do you have a passion for supporting others? Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal human services environment in the public sector? If so, we want you to join us!  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) – West Region seeks a talented and qualified individual for the position of Developmental Services Transition Advisor located in Cheshire, CT.  Effective 7/1/2022, the weekly work week will increase to 37.5 hours with a work schedule of Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm.  However, work schedule flexibility is required in order to meet the demands of the job.  The selected candidate will be permitted to telework up to 50% during the probationary period and will be re-evaluated afterwards based on employee need and program rules.

Make your mark improving lives of transition age youth and young adults! As a DDS Transition Advisor, you will collaborate with students, families, school systems, adult service agencies, and DDS case managers in planning a student’s transition from school to adult life. In addition to other job responsibilities, you will present and provide information about the Department to families, education professionals, and other community stakeholders. Do you consider yourself a team player who enjoys collaborating with others to promote better outcomes for individuals?  

You will discover the opportunity to:  

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;
• Assist our individuals so they can achieve success;
• Make a difference in the public sector;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.  

As a state employee, you will be open to a terrific work life balance and competitive benefits package. This includes; excellent health care, generous leave policies, a retirement plan, a deferred compensation program, and more.  

We hope you take this opportunity to make an impact by serving your state!  

*This salary range shall increase effective July 1, 2022.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization.  

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.   

Note:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

• Incumbent must possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle License.
• Incumbent will be required to travel.  

If you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Jennifer Borenski, EEO Specialist 2 at (860) 418-6143 or Jennifer.Borenski@ct.gov.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker, at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

In the Department of Developmental Services, this class is accountable for independently providing consultation and assistance to individuals with intellectual disabilities, and their families and legal guardians, to understand the individual’s educational rights and opportunities and to plan, prepare and achieve a successful transition from secondary school to adult life and/or to plan, prepare for and achieve a successful transition into meaningful employment.

Guides individuals and their families or guardians in the formulation of a transition plan; provides information about the Department to the individuals, families education  and other team members in the school system and state and private agencies; assists individuals and their families to identify, navigate, obtain and coordinate needed health, community education, or employment services; consults and assists in the completion of the Level of Need (LON) assessment for individuals in conjunction with schools and families to determine eligibility for Department programs and state and federal resources as needed; attends and participates in the school district interdisciplinary Planning and Placement Team (PPT) or DDS Individual Planning (IP) meetings for individual transition planning purposes; provides consultation to the PPT/IP with regard to individual profile information and recommends needed testing (not limited to behavioral, adaptive, physical/occupational therapy, sensory, vocational), accommodations or modifications to further plan and develop for a successful transition; evaluates education and services provided by the school or department in support of the transition plan; gathers, interprets and analyzes data to determine trends impacting agency eligibility and program services; develops transition educational materials and provides related in-service training; prepares case notes, prepares reports summarizing consultation services provided and maintains relevant documentation; assists the department Case Manager in the development of individualized budgets; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of intellectual disabilities, individual centered planning and Individual Education Plans, and Individual Plans; considerable knowledge of developmental, educational and employment milestones; considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles of self-determination and the Department's Employment Initiative; knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; knowledge of educational school systems, educational assessments and teaching practices; knowledge of businesses and community resources; knowledge of cultural competencies; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communications skills; ability to counsel individuals and to design and implement family interventions; ability to utilize computer software.

A Bachelor's degree in Education, Educational Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation or a closely related field from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of professional experience in one of the following:

1. Providing professional services to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

OR

2. Delivering special education services in an accredited school system.

A Master's degree in Education, Educational Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation or a closely related field and one (1) year of the professional experience noted above may be substituted for the General Experience.

Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience:  

• Experience with educational school systems, educational assessments and teaching practices.  
• Experience with businesses and community resources.  
• Experience with cultural competencies as they may relate to students.  
• Experience applying effective interpersonal skills.
• Experience communicating in writing and verbally to diverse populations and skill levels.  
• Experience developing presentations and presenting in person to large groups of individuals.    
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.