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

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

Job summary

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, seeks a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to join the Connecticut Mental Health Center Inpatient Unit in New Haven. You will support adults with serious psychiatric and substance use conditions, helping stabilize, heal, and plan for safe discharge.

Responsibilities include individual therapy, case management, and treatment planning, with collaboration across a multidisciplinary team to ensure evidence-based care and

Qualifications

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in Connecticut.
• Experience in inpatient behavioral health settings is preferred.
• Experience delivering individual, group, and family therapy in an inpatient setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual therapy, case management, and treatment planning for adults with serious psychiatric and substance use disorders.
• Maintain a clinical caseload addressing instability, medication needs, and recovery.
• Lead evidence-based group therapies and participate in discharge planning.

Skills

Clinical social work

Case management

Treatment planning

Group therapy

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Motivational interviewing

Education

LCSW license (CT)

Job description

Introduction

Are you a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)? Make a makingful impact in Inpatient Behavioral Health Care!

The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a Clinical Social Worker to join the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) Inpatient Unit in New Haven, CT. In this role, you will support adults with severe psychiatric and substance use disorders, helping them stabilize, heal, and transition toward healthier, safer lives.

Position Highlights

• FACILITY: Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC)
• ADDRESS: 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT
• UNIT: Inpatient Unit
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday (First Shift)
• POSITION NUMBER: 80439

Why the State of Connecticut

• Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer
• Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development
• Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees

Discover the Opportunity To

• Provide individual therapy, case management, and treatment planning for adults with serious psychiatric and behavioral health disorders
• Maintain a dedicated clinical caseload, delivering services that address instability, medication needs, and long-term recovery
• Lead evidence-based group therapies that support skill-building, stabilization, and readiness for discharge
• Conduct all-provider meetings and family support sessions to develop safe, person-centered discharge plans
• Independently complete comprehensive clinical assessments, taking into account cultural, developmental, medical, environmental, and psychological factors
• Utilize motivational interviewing to guide clients toward recovery goals and improved wellness
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary inpatient team including psychiatry, nursing, and rehabilitation staff

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.

CMHC is an urban community mental health center with more than 50 years of experience serving individuals with serious mental illness and addiction. Established in 1966, CMHC is a partnership between DMHAS and the Yale Department of Psychiatry. The center is nationally recognized for its research into the causes and treatment of mental illness and addiction, supported by the Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities and numerous specialized research programs. CMHC also serves as a major training site for future professionals in psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, and pastoral care.

The CMHC Inpatient Unit provides short-term psychiatric care for adults in the Greater New Haven area. A multidisciplinary team offers comprehensive assessment, stabilization, medication management, and therapeutic interventions. Treatment includes individual, group, and family support, along with coordinated discharge planning to ensure safe transition to community care. Length of stay varies based on each individual’s clinical needs.

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.

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In a state agency behavioral health program as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for independently providing clinical social work services.

OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE: This class is accountable for serving as a case manager and advocate for clients that have received or need to receive behavioral health care services.

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.

OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE

• 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.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an inpatient or hospital setting treating patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
• Experience utilizing evidence-based practices, such as Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), or Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM) in an inpatient setting
• Experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and trauma in an inpatient setting
• Experience incorporating cultural sensitivity into client care in an inpatient setting
• Experience leading group sessions in an inpatient setting
• Experience developing treatment plans for clients in an inpatient setting

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.

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.