Parole & Community Services Correctional Counselor Supervisor

Introduction

Looking to advance in your career?

Check out this opportunity with the Connecticut Department of Correction!

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC), Parole & Community Services Division (P&CS), is seeking a Counselor Supervisor to join our division. This position will oversee the Residential Intake Unit and/or the Central Intake Unit. This position will also supervise all functions of offender classification and records for the Parole and Community Services Division.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
DOC's Parole & Community Services Division, supervises and provides support services to offenders released to the community under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Correction and the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Division is comprised of district offices located in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich, and Waterbury and the following specialized units: Residential Services, Residential Intake, Central Intake, Special Management, Mental Health, Fugitive Investigations, Women’s Re-Entry, Support Services, and Training and Staff Development.

P&CS continually strives to enhance public safety by providing offenders opportunities to successfully re-integrate into the community and be productive, accountable members of society.

This is a full-time position, 40 hours a week, Monday-Friday, based out of a P&CS District Office located in Bridgeport, New Haven, Norwich, Waterbury, or Hartford based on divisional needs. Please note that since this is not a facility-based position, meal allowance is not included.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOUWe take part in a competitive benefits plan which includes:

• NEW: Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• A Hazardous Duty retirement plan;
• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick and personal);
• Excellent health, dental and supplemental benefits;
• State license reimbursement;
• Eligibility to apply for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

ABOUT USThe State of Connecticut Department of Correction shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law-abiding and accountable behaviors. Safe and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

For an inside look at how State of Connecticut employees Make an ImpaCT, watch the video below!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:  Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

To Apply:
• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• 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.

Important Information After You Apply:
• 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 questionnaire'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.
• 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.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• 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, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jake Ferrari at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a Department of Correction facility or community setting this class is accountable for supervising the counseling and classification function of an inmate treatment program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Supervises assigned and adjunct staff including orientation, training, counseling, evaluation and discipline in accordance with departmental standards
• Determines priorities and assigns unit duties, oversees and reviews results for accuracy, effectiveness and consistent application of policies and procedures;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts performance evaluations;
• Studies, analyzes and evaluates tasks performed by staff; 
• Ensures appropriate case management including screening of eligible inmates for programs;
• Researches, organizes, plans and directs inmate counseling and classification program including supervision of records function and staff;
• Coordinates activities with parole and community services system;
• Organizes and develops admission and pre-release orientation programs;
• Serves as executive officer of Classification Committee;
• Participates on interdisciplinary teams;
• Counsels individual inmates with difficult problems;
• Works collaboratively and acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
• Interprets institution and its programs to interested lay and professional groups;
• Maintains records and prepares reports and correspondence;
• Facilitates in-service training for inmates and staff;
• May provide administrative and clinical supervision for substance abuse staff;
• May direct administrative and clinical team meetings;
• May participate in and/or supervise special programs (Community Release, addiction services, etc.);
• May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances and otherwise assist custodial forces;
• May supervise staff in multiple geographical locations;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant agency policies and procedures; 
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations;
  • case work methods and techniques and current correctional practices including inmate classification systems and parole practices;
  • individual and social factors contributing to delinquency and crime;
  • counseling principles and techniques;
  • welfare resources;
• Knowledge of substance abuse and current correctional treatment practices;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability to plan and organize a case work program;
• Ability to utilize computer software;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of experience in social case work, counseling, probation or parole.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in correctional treatment services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training in counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology or social work may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology or social work may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• One (1) year of experience as a Correctional Counselor or Correctional Substance Abuse Counselor may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of and experience working with records, classification, release mechanisms, and the release process;
• Knowledge of and experience working with CaseNotes;
• Knowledge if and experience working with provider networks and working with provider networks;
• Knowledge of Board of Pardons and Paroles and Parole and Community Services procedures and administrative directives;
• Knowledge of and experience working with Provider Data Management System (PDMS).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in positions that supervise Correctional Substance Abuse Counselors are required to possess and retain current Certification or Licensure as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
• Incumbents in this class are required to possess a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification by the time of appointment.
• 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.

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 before persons are certified for appointment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must have general good health, be free from any disease or injury which would impair health or usefulness and possess and retain sufficient physical strength, stamina, agility, endurance and visual and auditory acuity required to perform all the duties of the class.
• A comprehensive medical examination, including a controlled substance screening, may be required of applicants.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or assault by inmates.

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.