Licensed Master Social Worker (40 Hour) (Utilization Review | Office/On-site)

Introduction

\r\n\r\n\r\nAre you a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) ready to support high-quality, cost-effective behavioral health care?\r\nJoin our Utilization Review team and help strengthen service delivery across Southeastern Connecticut!\r\n\r\n\r\nThe State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a�Licensed Master Social Worker�(LMSW) to join the Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA) in a dedicated Utilization Review role. This position focuses on reviewing service documentation, supporting audit readiness, and ensuring compliance with Medicare, Medicaid, and behavioral health regulations.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPOSITION HIGHLIGHTS:�\r\n\r\n\r\n DIVISION: Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA)\r\n LOCATION: Norwich, CT\r\n UNIT:�Quality Management - Utilization Review\r\n SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), First Shift, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday\r\n POSITION NUMBER: 84269\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWHY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer\r\n Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development\r\n Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n THE ROLE:\r\n In this systems-focused position, you will:\r\n \r\n \r\n Support management of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR)\r\n Conduct and assist with Medicare/Medicaid billing audits\r\n Participate in medical cost-containment and documentation quality initiatives\r\n Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations, Joint Commission standards, and HIPAA\r\n Contribute to agency-wide efforts that promote cost-effective, high-quality behavioral health care\r\n \r\n This role is essentiall to maintaining documentation accuracy, supporting financial sustainability, and ensuring the delivery of safe and effective care across SMHA's outpatient behavioral health programs.�\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n ABOUT US:\r\n \r\n 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.\r\n \r\n \r\n SMHA is a community mental health agency serving adults in Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, Lisbon, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington, Voluntown, and Waterford providing high quality behavioral health services to those with mental health and substance use disorders. Services offered include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services. SMHA is responsible for administering all DMHAS contract funded behavioral health services in Southeastern Connecticut.�\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:�\r\nCheck out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources?� Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.�\r\nBEFORE YOU APPLY:�\r\n\r\n 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. �\r\n 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.�\r\n 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.�\r\n 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.�\r\n 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.�\r\n 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.�\r\n\r\n\r\n 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.\r\n\r\nAFTER YOU APPLY:�\r\n\r\n Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.\r\n 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.”\r\n 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).� �\r\n\r\n\r\n 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!�\r\n 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.��\r\n The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.��\r\n 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 www.ct.gov/ethics.\r\n\r\n\r\n This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.\r\n\r\nQUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:�\r\nDue 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 Alyssa Hovanec at Alyssa.Hovanec@ct.gov�\r\nJoin the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!\r\n

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency facility or hospital this class is accountable for providing clinical social work services to a limited number of agency clients under the guidance of a licensed clinical social worker or other licensed clinical professional.\r\n

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Provides clinical social work services to agency clients initially under close supervision;�\r\n Works more independently with acquired experience;�\r\n Participates as a member of a treatment team;�\r\n Participates in or develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with assigned clients and families;�\r\n Develops treatment plans, prepares discharge summaries and provides individual, group and family therapy, under supervision;�\r\n Advocates for clients and develops resources to assist clients in meeting identified needs;�\r\n Completes all required documentation including progress notes and makes clinical observations of behavior of patients and/or clients;�\r\n Provides case management services as needed;�\r\n Prepares assigned client research and reading activities;�\r\n Performs a greater number of specific and complex clinical social work duties and maintains a larger caseload as skills are acquired;�\r\n May diagnose behavioral health conditions in consultation with licensed behavioral health care professionals;�\r\n Performs related duties as required.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

\r\n\r\n\r\n Knowledge of\r\n \r\n social work methodology, casework, group work and community mobilization;�\r\n family and interpersonal relationship dynamics;�\r\n values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional social work;�\r\n social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence attitudes and behaviors of clients and families;�\r\n mental illnesses and substance use disorders and approaches to treatment;�\r\n \r\n \r\n Skills\r\n \r\n interpersonal skills;�\r\n oral and written communication skills;�\r\n \r\n \r\n Ability to devise and implement an appropriate client treatment plan.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Possess the credentials of a Licensed Master Social Worker in the state of Connecticut.\r\n

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

\r\n\r\n Experience with medical records systems\r\n Experience with utilization review and management in a healthcare setting\r\n Experience conducting quality audits for compliance with regulations\r\n Experience with state and federal behavioral health standards and regulations, including but not limited to: The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Department of Public Health (DPH)\r\n Experience in quality assurance, including writing reports, creating tables and graphs, analyzing data, and implementing performance improvement protocols\r\n\r\n\r\n

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

\r\n 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).�\r\n 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.\r\n Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.\r\n Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.\r\n\r\n

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER\r\nThe State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.\r\n

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.\r\n