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Professional Counselor (40 Hour)


Job Location:

Newtown, PA - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 90629 - 122474
Posted: 22 August 2026 (30+ days ago)
Application Deadline: 19 November 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Introduction


The State of Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC)isseeking to fill a position for a highly motivated Professional Counselor at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown CT.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
  • This position is full-time following a second shift schedule 40 hours a week scheduledMonday - Friday between 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm with rotating weekends and holidays.
  • This is a Hazardous Duty Position and offers a pension plan - the State Employees Retirement System Tier IV.
  • Licensed Professional Counselors within the correctional setting provide a range of clinical and case management functions to those entering the custody of the Department of Correction.
  • Professional Counselors at the Garner Correctional Institution work within a dynamic multidisciplinary team comprised of social workers psychologists psychiatrists and APRNs as well as medical personnel and custody staff all sharing the common goal of providing high quality service-oriented care.
In this position you will also discover the opportunity to:
  • Work within a clinically rich setting;
  • Provide intake assessments individual psychotherapy and group therapy crisis management suicide risk assessment case management services and other clinical activities; ans
  • Engage in collaborative discharge planning with external support services and research driven programming.
NOTE: Additional opportunities to engage in collaborative discharge planning with external support services and research driven programming are also encouraged and available.
    ABOUT US
    The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees from Correction Officers to Educators to Managers and Skilled Professionals. We value differences that make us stronger as a team and support our mission statement.

    The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The agency operates 13 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences of imprisonments in facilities that are safe human and provide re-entry programming.

    The State of Connecticut Department of Correction is a unified system; all sentenced and un-sentenced offenders are supervised by the DOC. The Department also provides supervision for offenders on parole community release and other discretionary release programs.

    The DOC 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. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff victims citizens and offenders.

    OUR FACILITY
    The Garner Correctional Institution incarcerates both pretrial and sentenced offenders. Through proven programmatic innovation and intervention the Garner Correctional Institution provides positive alternatives for inmates to assist in their successful reintegration into the community as productive members of society.

    Under the administration of then Commissioner Theresa C. Lantz care and treatment for adult male offenders with significant mental health issues throughout the Department of Correction were consolidated at this level 4 high-security facility.

    Based upon their mental health needs offenders from throughout the system both pretrial and sentenced are assigned here. The facilitys staff utilizes a highly progressive mental health treatment approach. Individualized treatment plans based upon an offenders level of functionality include extensive programming and therapy in a group and one on one setting. The staff at the facility both custody and mental health operate through an integrated team approach which insures a continuity of custody care treatment and control.

    The program is designed to return as many of these offenders as is possible to the ability to function in either a general population prison setting or ultimately to life in the community.

    For an inside look at what its like to work as an employee for the State of Connecticut please watch the video below!

    Selection Plan

    FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

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

    BEFORE YOU APPLY:

    • 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:

      • Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updatessuch as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling linksplease check yourPersonal Status Boardregularly.
      • For added convenience you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this log in to your Personal Status Board and select Update My Contact Information.
      • Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs) which must be completed by the questionnaires 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 employer may participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I9 information to confirm work authorization.

      QUESTIONS WERE 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 Alejandro G. Dávila-Hurtado at .

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

      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 counseling services.
      EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
      • As a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services provides case management needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths weaknesses and needs;
      • Develops implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients;
      • Works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability;
      • Develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews;
      • Provides clinical treatment services such as: triage crisis intervention individual and/or group counseling screening and planning;
      • Makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs;
      • Interprets and synthesizes client information professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services;
      • Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans documents treatment in clinical records;
      • Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies;
      • Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients;
      • Maintains counseling treatment and standards as required;
      • Performs related duties as required.
      KNOWLEDGE SKILL AND ABILITY
      • Knowledge of
        • principles methodology casework and techniques of counseling interviewing and psychosocial assessment;
        • family and interpersonal relationship dynamics;
        • values sanctions purposes and ethics of professional counseling work;
        • community resources;
      • Considerable
        • interpersonal skills;
        • oral and written communication skills;
      • Ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs.
      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
      Licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Connecticut.
      PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
      • Experience with Correctional or Forensic Behavioral health treatment;
      • Experience with crisis intervention;
      • Experience with behavior management;
      • Experience with individual and group psychotherapy; and
      • Experience with criminal justice involved adults.
      SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
      • Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (aa-jj) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
      • 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.
      WORKING CONDITIONS
      Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.
      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.

      Required Experience:

      Unclear Seniority


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