STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Pupil Services Specialist (12 Month) (35 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #240118-6659T4-001

Introduction



The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families' (DCF) is recruiting multiple candidates to join our newly created Juvenile Justice Educational Oversight Unit (JJEOU) as a Pupil Services Specialist located at our Central Office in Hartford, CT.

Position Highlights:
  • Full-time, 35 hours per week
  • First (1st) shift
  • Monday - Friday
  • Hartford, CT
Please Note:
Although this position is located at our Central Office in Hartford, CT, this position will require statewide travel.

About Us:
The Department of Children and Families' (DCF), mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter.

The JJEOU was established to assure youth and young adults in juvenile justice facilities are receiving educational services and supports consistent with the standards of the Connecticut State Department of Education and meets the performance expectation of the Commissioner of the DCF. 

The Role:
The Pupil Service Specialist would be entrusted to perform services for students in one of the following areas: 
  • Educational diagnosis 
  • Counseling 
  • Social work 
  • Specialized instruction or psychological services and assessments. 
Additional expectations include:
  • Serve in a resource capacity to educational staff and other appropriate individuals
  • Confer with parents, guardians, and teachers concerning individual students and assist in planning educational programs
  • Keep records and make necessary reports, including but not limited to, IEP's state assessments and educational histories
  • Serve as a liaison with school systems and community services
  • Collaborate with facility clinicians by participating in Care Plan and Discharge meetings
  • Update transcripts and determine courses needed to meet graduation requirements.
Our Ideal Candidate Will: 
  • Be organized, resourceful, and have strong time management skills
  • Possess strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Have the ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet deadlines
  • Be detail-oriented and be adaptable
  • Have experience working with confidential and time-sensitive information
  • 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.
What’s In It For You:
  • To work for a Forbes top company: ‘ForbesState of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule;
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
  • Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
  • Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
  • A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
Discover the opportunity to: 
  • Engage in a rewarding career
  • Assist our employees so they can achieve success
  • Make a difference in the public sector
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment  

Selection Plan

For Assistance in Applying:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Application Process:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

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

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified.

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

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.

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the state of Connecticut.

Selection Process:

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Contact Information:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Christopher Lavallee at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state institution, facility or region within a state unified school district, performs professional services within the area of pupil personnel and special education services in a school setting and serves in a resource capacity and consultant to teachers.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs services for students in the area of special training such as educational diagnosis, counseling, speech and hearing, social work, or psychological services; serves in a resource capacity to educational staff and other appropriate individuals; confers with parents and teachers concerning individual students and assists in planning educational programs; keeps records and makes necessary reports; may serve as liaison with school systems and community services; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of the philosophy and methods of service delivery to the assigned disciplines; knowledge of the principles and practices of education and or services for special needs population; ability to motivate students; ability to communicate at the appropriate level; ability to establish cooperative relationships with those contacted in planning educational programs; ability to prepare written reports; ability to perform educational testing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Master's degree which includes a planned program of preparation for the field in which the special services are performed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience acting as a liaison between students, former education placements, outside agencies, local school programs, and other interested parties 
  • Experience with individual and group counseling of students
  • Experience participating and contributing student information as a member of the Student Study Teams (SST) and Planning and Placement Team (PPT) process
  • Experience monitoring the achievement of Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Individual Transition Plan (ITP) objectives 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class must possess an appropriate certificate issued by the Connecticut State Board of Education in special education or special services areas such as school counselor (elementary or secondary), speech and hearing consultant, school psychologist, psychological examiner or school social worker.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a current Connecticut Motor Vehicle operator's license.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made prior to appointment.

Conclusion

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.