Job Description

Social Worker Trainee - Social And Human Services

Office/On-site

Recruitment # 260427-7746SH-100

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 4/29/2026 12:00:00 AM

Salary $60,530 - $76,139/year

Job Type Open to Agency Employees

Close Date 5/13/2026 11:59:00 PM

Go Back Apply View Benefits (

• Introduction

The State of Connecticut ( , Department of Children and Families (DCF ( ) – is currently accepting applications for multiple Social Worker Trainee ( positions throughout Connecticut.

Our mission is to partner with communities and empower families to raise resilient children who thrive! We are seeking individuals who are looking to advance their career and make a difference.

Position Highlights:

• Full-time | 1 st shift | 40 Hours per week | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

• Possible Work Locations:

• Region 1: Bridgeport and Norwalk

• Region 2: Milford and New Haven

• Region 3: Middletown, Norwich and Willimantic (Please note: Willimantic is part of Windham)

• Region 4: Hartford and Manchester

• Region 5: Danbury, Torrington and Waterbury

• Region 6: New Britain and Meriden

Salary Information:

• Entry into classification through completion of four (4) months – SH 18 Step 1 ($60,530.00).

• Completion of four (4) months through the completion of one (1) year – SH 18 Step 4 ($66,676.00).

• Completion of one (1) year through the completion of a second year – SH 21 Step 1 ($70,026.00).

• Note: For current state employees compensation will be in accordance with the guidelines for computing salary adjustments set forth by the Department of Administrative Services, Determining Salary Upon Change in Class.

In your role as a Social Worker Trainee, you will have the opportunity to:

• Receive training in agency social work procedures, personnel policies, program guild lines and legal reporting requirements;

• Receive training in and be given progressively complex assignments involving utilization of interviewing techniques required to assess client needs, elicit information and establish community referral sources;

• Provide basic counseling services to a limited number of clients enrolled in departmental programs, inmates or patients in residence or families of clients receiving services;

• Prepare initial treatment plans, psychosocial evaluation, case histories and other case records as components of a small assigned caseload;

• Refer clients, patients and family members for community or social services, medical or psychological services or housing, financial and employment assistance;

• Motivate clients to increase ability to understand and cope with problems, frustration and anxiety;

• Perform a greater number of specific and complex social work duties and maintain a larger caseload as skills are acquired during training program;

• Perform related work as required.

What we can offer you:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview ( page!

• 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.

Alt Text: Career progression pathway within the State of Connecticut: starting with Social Worker Case Aide or Social Worker Trainee, advancing to Social Worker - Social and Human Services, then Children Services Consultant, and ending at Social Work Supervisor.

Selection Plan

Please be advised this is a promotional opportunity for employees in the recruiting agency. The selected employee will be promoted by reclassification in position. This is not a vacancy.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

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

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• 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.

• 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.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!

• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.

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

• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Ethan Ives at Ethan.Ives@ct.gov .

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

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. Apply Online

Job Tags

Similar Jobs