Social Worker Trainee - Social And Human Services(Hybrid)

Social Worker Trainee - Social And Human Services

Hybrid

Recruitment #251125-7746SH-001

Location Bridgeport, CT

Danbury, CT

Hartford, CT

Manchester, CT

Meriden, CT

Middletown, CT

Milford, CT

New Britain, CT

New Haven, CT

Norwalk, CT

Norwich, CT

Torrington, CT

Waterbury, CT

Windham, CT

Date Opened 11/26/2025 12:00:00 PM Salary $60,530* - $76,139/year (*New State Employees start at minimum salary range) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 1/2/2026 11:59:00 PM

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Introduction

Are you passionate about serving the children and families of CT in need? If so, we invite you to discover this outstanding opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) is recruiting for Social Worker Trainee vacancies (Full time, 40 hours per week, 8am to 5pm). Our mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive; sharpening the safety focus through prevention across the child welfare system. We are seeking individuals who are looking to advance their career and make a difference.

Work locations will be in offices located in the following Regions:

• Region 1: Bridgeport and Norwalk
• Region 2: Milford and New Haven
• Region 3: Middletown, Norwich and Willimantic (Please note: Willimantic is part of Windham County)
• Region 4: Hartford and Manchester
• Region 5: Danbury, Torrington and Waterbury
• Region 6: New Britain and Meriden
  
  

Applicants selected for hire should expect to be assigned to one of the above listed offices. State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off.

Note

If You Have

• A Master's degree in social work or a closely related field and one (1) year of experience in the self-directed use of case management techniques and counseling to sustain or restore client functioning OR
• A Bachelor's degree in social work or a closely related field and two (2) years of experience in the self-directed use of case management techniques and counseling to sustain or restore client functioning.
• If so we encourage you to apply for any of our Social Worker Recruitment.
• Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.
• Not all applicants will be contacted for an interview and you are encouraged to apply for future posting.
  
  

You can learn more about working for our state here and by checking out our latest YouTube video to see what it is like to work at Department of Children and Families.

Selection Plan

The Department of Children and Families hiring process includes the following key stages. From application to appointment this process can take a number of weeks.

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

• Application Period:
• Please ensure that your application is complete. You are unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.
• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Candidates who submit an untimely, incomplete or inaccurate application will not be considered for this employment opportunity. Due to the large volume of applications, please do not call/email to confirm receipt or status of your application. If your application submits successfully, a pop-up confirmation displays, which is followed by a confirmation email. You can view all emailed notices on your Personal Status Board by clicking the date in the Last Notice column for this recruitment.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: 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.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
• If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Christopher Lavallee at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Referral Questions:
  
  

These questions are designed to allow hiring managers to learn more about your abilities and skills related to the Social Worker position.

• The Referral Questionnaire notice is sent to your personal email address and is also viewable on your Online Employment Center Personal Status Board, in the Certification Questionnaires section. To continue on in the hiring process, you must respond to and officially submit the Referral Questionnaire by the deadline stated in the notice. Applicants are urged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status and view all emailed notices, in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Please do not call or email about status updates regarding referral questions. If you successfully submit your questionnaire on time, a confirmation page displays immediately following your submission. On your Personal Status Board, the submission date and time display in the Certification Questionnaires section.
• Important Note: By the terms of use agreement you acknowledged when you registered for the Online Employment Center, you may only have one (1) profile set up. If you created multiple profiles, you will be unable to access the referral questions. If you suspect you have more than one profile, please email Applicant Support at DAS.SHRM@ct.gov no later than two (2) days before the referral questionnaire deadline to request a profile merge. Please provide the following information in your email:
• First and last name (including any hyphenated last name, or those with suffixes such as Jr)
• First three (3) letters of your last name at birth
• Address
• Day of birth
• Primary phone number
• Email address
  
  

• First Stage of Interview process:
• Selected Candidates will also meet with DCF Academy for Workforce Development to learn more about the role and responsibilities of a Social Worker/Trainee and will receive a writing assessment.
• Selected candidates will have a panel interview with DCF Regional staff.
• Second Stage of Interview process:
• Recommended candidates are contacted by the Department Children and Families Human Resources team members for additional documents. Candidates will be asked to supply:
• Official transcripts for degrees listed on application
• 3 Written Supervisory References including current supervisor (s) and former supervisor (s).
• Background Investigation:
  
  

Recommended candidates will go through a comprehensive review of employment, education, criminal, motor vehicle history and a physical examination (including drug screening).

• Appointment:
  
  

Selected candidates are scheduled for their first day of work!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency or institution this class is accountable for receiving intensive training in the provision of social case work services to individuals and families.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Receives training in agency social work procedures, personnel policies, program guidelines and legal reporting requirements;
• Receives training in and is given progressively complex assignments involving utilization of interviewing techniques required to assess client needs, elicit information and establish community referral sources;
• Provides basic counseling services to a limited number of clients enrolled in departmental programs, inmates or patients in residence or families of clients receiving services;
• Prepares initial treatment plans, psychosocial evaluation, case histories and other case records as components of a small assigned caseload;
• Refers clients, patients and family members for community or social services, medical or psychological services or housing, financial and employment assistance;
• Motivates clients to increase ability to understand and cope with problems, frustration and anxiety;
• Performs a greater number of specific and complex social work duties and maintains a larger caseload as skills are acquired during training program;
• Performs related duties as required.
  
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• reciprocal relationship between individuals and their social, economic and cultural environment;
• human social behavior;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
• relate to different cultural and economic backgrounds;
• organize time, set priorities and manage workload.
  

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in social work or a closely related field.

NOTE: Closely related fields are: applied sociology, child development, child welfare, clinical psychology, counseling, human development and family studies, human service, marriage and family therapy, nursing, social and/or human services, education and criminal justice.

Special Requirements

• Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are completed.
• DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Incumbents in this class are required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
• DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES: Incumbents in this class must be able to communicate fluently in American Sign Language.
• OTHER AGENCIES: Incumbents may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.
• 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.

Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.