Holistic Defense Advocate

This recruitment will establish an employment list to fill current and any future vacancies within the Tulare County Public Defender’s Office. The anticipated life of the employment list is six months. If interested in employment for this position for current or future vacancies, please submit an online application for consideration.

Current vacancy is with the Public Defender’s Office located in Visalia and Porterville. The anticipated life of the list is six months.

Casework management includes providing client needs assessments; development of re-entry plans; address medical care and mental health needs of incarcerated clients by evaluation, inside or outside of correctional facilities; assist out of custody clients to access medical, mental health, and substance abuse services; assist clients to obtain housing, employment, and education; provide coaching/mentoring to assist clients in accessing services and completing programs of training to help them lead successful productive lives and to keep them from re-offending; act as liaison between attorneys, clients and mental health or other service providers; advise attorneys on sociological/mental health aspects of cases; identify, locate, and interview a variety of witnesses; identify, collect, and review a vast array of records; identify and analyze issues in the case; prepare independent reports concerning the life history of the client; provide casework consultation or program consultation to staff members; refer and transport clients to specialized services for specific types of counseling, therapy, or rehabilitation; prepare and maintain case records, case narratives, and reports; maintain confidentiality of all information and materials handled; participate in staff development programs to increase technical competence; prepare memos, letters, and reports; assist the attorneys in preparing evidence and witnesses to present to the jury as mitigation; prepare and maintain case records; maintain confidentiality of all information and materials handled; prepare memos, letters, and reports; interpret rules, regulations, and policies to clients; attend pre-trials and other court hearings and other court hearings, present testimony and answer questions; conduct assessments and compile psychological histories to develop recommendations for appropriate pretrial release, detention, conditions of probation or diversion, and sentencing and post-sentencing options; conduct home visits to interview clients and/or individuals relevant to case and assess possible mitigating factors in case plan; identify and evaluate client's needs for social services referrals; works with community agencies to provide resources for housing, family counseling, education or training, employment resources, mental health and substance abuse treatment or other appropriate services; interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, rules and regulations governing public safety realignment programs and judicial procedures; counsel and advise clients to help resolve problems, acknowledge, understand, and accomplish case plan goals; collaborate with community organizations and resource providers to coordinate joint planning, case plan development, evaluation and monitoring cases; may attend community outreach events as an office liaison; may act as a liaison between judges, attorneys, probation officers, clients and service providers; may be an agency witness in court hearings; work holiday, evening, and weekend hours; conduct in-custody interviews at detention facilities in Tulare County; travel significantly throughout Tulare County visiting various detention facilities and other community agencies; travel significantly throughout California and out-of-state.

Essential job duties may be assigned that are not listed above but are relative to this job classification. (Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum qualifications are used as a guide for establishing the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license which are required and equivalent to the following.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, Sociology, Psychology, Counseling, or a closely related field. 

Experience: Two (2) years of social casework experience working with the public or one (1) year working in indigent defense. 

Knowledge of: Principles and techniques of interviewing, information gathering, and counseling; laws, rules, and regulations affecting the work of social service agencies; substance abuse, mental health issues, interpersonal and family dynamics and crisis intervention; criminal justice and legal terminology; behavioral science principles and their application to casework; current socio-economic issues affecting communities; report writing principles including rules of correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure; current problems and methodology in the field of public social service; community resources available to assist clients; techniques for diagnosing family situations and problems are sufficient to develop, implement and monitor treatment plans; caseload management methods and techniques; basic computer skills and word processing applications. 

Skill/Ability to: Work and communicate effectively with people of various education and socioeconomic backgrounds by respecting beliefs, interpersonal styles and behaviors of both clients and co-workers; operate contemporary office equipment inclusive of computer, keyboard, and all applicable electronic equipment; develop, implement, and monitor treatment plans in casework areas; effectively manage a complex caseload; evaluate personal and psychological factors within the family's situation; identify and evaluate functional limitations that impede independent living; learn and apply federal, state, and local criminal justice laws, regulations, codes and ordinances; conduct in-depth assessments involving psychosocial, rehabilitation and environmental issues; act effectively in stressful situations; analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action; read, interpret and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to social services programs; write clear, concise, grammatically correct case narratives, reports, records and letters; establish client-worker rapport on an individual basis; establish and maintain an effective working relationship with agency staff, community groups and organizations and the general public; verbally communicate sufficiently to explain technical information to people of various socio-economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds.

DESIRABLE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Skills/Ability to:

Speak Spanish; demonstrate interest in or exposure to criminal offender population.

Conditions of Employment:  Candidates selected will be required to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Additionally, a background investigation may also be conducted, which may include a re-investigation every 10 years for some positions. An Employment Eligibility Verification using E-Verify may be required on the first day of employment for some positions. Some job classes may also require a physical exam.  

College Cost Reduction Access Act: This may be a qualifying position for student loan forgiveness through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA). Only student loan payments made after October 1, 2007 and in a qualified repayment plan are eligible. For more information you are encouraged to speak with your student loan service or visit: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Salary : $59,836 - $72,924