Clinical Social Worker (40 Hour) (Office/On-Site)

State of Connecticut; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Connecticut seeks a licensed clinical social worker for the SWCMHS forensic team in Bridgeport. This full-time role provides court, office and community-based services to individuals involved with the justice system, including PSRB and competency restoration clients.

You will assess, develop and monitor treatment plans, conduct crisis intervention, and testify in hearings when required. Collaboration with hospitals, police and outpatient teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Licensed clinical social worker in Connecticut (CT) required.
• Experience conducting clinical assessments and developing treatment plans.
• Experience using de-escalation techniques during crisis intervention.
• Experience providing testimony in forensic or clinical hearings.
• Experience with mental health, substance use, and trauma‑informed care forforensically involved individuals.
• Ability to collaborate with community providers, hospitals, police, and outpatient teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with clients and families.
• Develop and implement measurable treatment plans.
• Provide clinical treatment services (triage, crisis intervention, individual/group/family therapy).
• Advocate for clients and build networks of social and clinical services.
• Monitor and document treatment outcomes in records.
• Provide forensic evaluations and, when required, court testimony.
• Supervise Licensed Master Social Workers as needed.
• Collaborate with other behavioral health providers to improve care delivery.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Assessment & treatment planning

Testimony in hearings

Ethical practice & confidentiality

Collaboration with providers

Forensic/clinical experience

Education

Clinical Social Work License (CT)

Job description

Introduction

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference? Are you looking to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Position Highlights

• Facility: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• Team: Forensic Team
• Address: Bridgeport, CT
• Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours, 1st Shift, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Position number: 155477

Why the State of Connecticut

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development
• Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees

The Role

The SWCMHS Regional forensic services play a pivotal role in the agency’s mission. The department provides services that are statutorily mandated and provide services that allow individuals to live safely in the community with services and support.

This position provides court, office and community-based work to any individual with criminal justice system involvement, which includes the provision of services to patients involved with the CT Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB), and 54-56D patients who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial by the judicial system due to mental health issues and are referred to receive outpatient restoration to competency treatment in the community.

About Us

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

More About the Facility

Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) is responsible for overseeing and managing contracts with private not-for-profit agencies and residential providers providing mental health services in the southwest region of the state. With locations in Bridgeport and Stamford, SWCMHS provides inpatient, outpatient and assertive community treatment (ACT) services and community support services for adults with severe behavioral health disabilities; mental health services for people who are deaf or hearing impaired and a mobile crisis intervention team. SWCMHS also provides outreach to people who are homeless and mentally ill. Special agency programs include Shelter Plus Care, a housing program for people who are homeless and who have a history of substance abuse or mental illness or who have AIDS.

Please note: A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment. All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensure as a clinical social worker in the State of Connecticut.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting clinical assessments and developing treatment plans tailored to individual needs.
• Experience applying de-escalation techniques during crisis intervention.
• Experience delivering formal presentations or providing testimony in hearings, including those related to forensic or clinical matters.
• Experience using ethical considerations in clinical practice, including confidentiality and informed consent.
• Experience using community resources and managed care systems to support clients effectively.
• Experience with mental health disorders, substance use issues, and trauma-informed care of forensically involved individuals.
• Experience collaborating with community providers, local hospitals, police departments, and outpatient clinical teams.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice clinical social work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (m-z) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
• Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. § 1320a-7b(f).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

Knowledge of social work methodology, casework, group work and community mobilization; family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional social work; social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence attitudes and behaviors of clients and families; mental illnesses and approaches to treatment;

Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills;

Ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs; independently apply current psychiatric treatment modalities to address client needs.

Examples of Duties

• As a member of multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community-based behavioral health services develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with assigned clients and families which include consideration of developmental, social and/or cultural, substance abuse, psychological, environmental and medical issues;
• Develops treatment plans including measurable treatment objectives;
• Provides clinical treatment services in the form of triage, crisis intervention, individual, group and/or family therapy, screening and planning;
• Advocates and develops networks of social and clinical services to assist clients in meeting identified needs;
• Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans and documents treatment in clinical records;
• Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies;
• Provides clinical supervision to Licensed Master Social Workers;
• Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients;
• Provides forensic evaluations and court testimony as required;
• Maintains social work treatment and standards as required;
• May participate in research projects;
• Performs related duties as required;
• Manages a caseload of consumer behavioral healthcare insurance complaints concerning coverage and/or payment;
• Reviews and assesses medical records including psychological assessment and treatment plans, concerning but not limited to mental, emotional, behavioral and addictive disorders to determine appropriate treatment plans and eligibility for insurance benefit payment;
• Participates in insurance appeal hearings and serves as clinical expert to defend and demonstrate that the diagnostic assessment and treatment plans are appropriate and required to address client behavioral healthcare needs;
• Performs related duties as required.

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.

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.