About the Opportunity

**** This recruitment will close after 50 applications are received*****

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office fights mass incarceration by providing zealous representation to low-income people facing criminal charges

THE IDEAL CANDIDATEThe ideal candidate is passionate about social justice, civil rights, or public service and have demonstrated that through your educational, employment or volunteer choices. You are committed to working alongside people who are marginalized, knowing that everyone in the criminal justice system can move forward and deserves support.

The ideal candidate is also a creative problem-solver, who will tenaciously seek out innovative and efficient solutions to the obstacles that clients face moving through the criminal justice system. You are emotionally resilient, with developed strategies that allow you to witness harm and come back motivated to fight the next day. Finally, the ideal candidate works effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team within the Public Defender’s Office and with other various agencies, county staff and the public.

The Public Defender’s Office values lived experiences that overlap with our clients and allow Client Support Specialists to better build trust and rapport with our served community. We urge people who have been personally impacted by the criminal legal system or share other lived experiences with public defender clients to apply.

ABOUT THE POSITION

As a Client Support Specialist I/II, you will directly support public defender clients to help keep them out of jail and connect them with supportive community services. You will also work to prevent the non-criminal consequences of arrest that can impact clients’ housing, employment, public benefits, and many other areas of their lives. Your role will include working with attorneys and clients to assess client needs, develop service plans, and make referrals to appropriate community resources to meet clients’ social service or civil legal needs. Beyond simply making a referral, you will take the extra step to ensure your clients can access services, reducing barriers that may stand in their way. Client Support Specialists become experts in the services and other resources available to the Stanislaus County community, researching and building relationships with referral partners.

Client Support Specialists also assist clients and their families by explaining the court process and developing post-release plans. Finally, you may assist attorneys by gathering information about a client’s life history, current goals, and services they are accessing. This information is presented informally or in a written report to prosecutors or the court to obtain a better criminal case outcome for clients. The Client Support Specialist II differs from the Client Support Specialist I in that people in the Client Support Specialist II role will focus on supporting clients who suffer from substance use and/or mental health disorders.
Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Community & Health Services bargaining unit for labor relations purposes. Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months, for a total of eighteen months. Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).
The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab.

Typical Tasks

CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST I (CASEWORKER I)

• Conduct interviews and build relationships with clients by visiting them in their homes, in jail, and in other non-office settings;
• Depending on client needs and attorney direction, assist clients with issues such as (but not limited to):
  • Development of re-entry plans;
  • Assistance with program placement for behavioral health or substance use counseling;
  • Connection to supportive services to assist clients with meeting basic needs, such as emergency housing, job training, identification, and public benefits;
  • Obtaining representation in housing, employment, family, or immigration-related legal matters that are connected to the client’s criminal case;
  • Maintaining or obtaining employment or driver’s licenses;
  • Assistance with enrollment in schooling or other educational programs;

Partner closely with attorneys to support arguments for better legal outcomes, including providing relevant information and records, and drafting persuasive narrative reports; Research, evaluate, and recommend alternatives to incarceration which would adequately address client needs and court requirements; Maintain detailed knowledge of criminal legal processes and requirements; share information with Public Defender clients and their families about the criminal legal process, and assist them in overcoming barriers to reaching their goals; Appear in court for court hearings to support clients and their family members, as needed; Maintain accurate and specific case records and logs of assignments and tasks performed, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; Build relationships with schools, hospitals, community-based organizations, and other service providers, and; Perform related duties as assigned.
CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST II (CASEWORKER II)


The same tasks described in level I plus:

• Interview and assess clients in office or in non-office settings, such as jail, prison or mental health treatment facilities, etc. Gather social history information for use by clinicians or attorneys in developing case plans, primarily focusing on clients who suffer from substance use disorders and/or mental health disorders which are manageable with medication;
• Recommend, refer, and facilitate placement of willing clients to inpatient or outpatient drug or alcohol treatment program; and
• Perform intensive casework services with clients and their families.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)

KNOWLEDGE
CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST I (CASEWORKER I)

• Principles and techniques of motivational interviewing and maintaining social casework records;
• Laws, rules and regulations governing a public defense agency, departmental policies, rules and regulations;
• Community organization and the use of public and private community resources;
• Current trends and methodology in the field of public social services;
• Dynamics of individual and group behavior, human growth and development, family relationships; medical-psycho-socio- economic factors affecting individuals and families;
• Adult and juvenile court processes and procedures;
• Culturally proficient practices with diverse case load;
• Basic theories of alcohol and drug problems and addictions, and psychological development disorders;
• Scope and activities of the public and private health and welfare agencies and other available resources; and
• Principles and techniques of mental health education, prevention, and crisis intervention within the community.

CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST II (CASEWORKER II)
Demonstrated knowledge required in level I plus:

• Current recovery models for recovery from substance use disorders; and
• State regulations pertaining to client confidentiality.

SKILLS/ABILITIES
CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST I/II (CASEWORKER I/II)

• Conduct motivational interviewing;
• Work collaboratively as part of a team, under the direction of behavioral health staff and/or attorneys;
• Prepare and present clear and concise reports and records;
• Communicate effectively in verbal and written form;
• Manage a caseload in a timely and effective manner;
• Demonstrate skilled casework methods and practices;
• Demonstrate adaptability to change;
• Work independently;
• Appreciate and understand history and dynamics associated with poverty and childhood trauma, and generational addiction or behavior health family dynamics;
• Relate appropriately to persons in times of emergency and crisis;
• Work effectively with a variety of human values and social backgrounds;
• Obtain and record social, educational, and work histories; understand and evaluate technically written materials; and
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with other County departments, State and Federal agencies and members of the defense team.

We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST I (CASEWORKER I)
PATTERN I

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice or closely related field.
• NOTE: Additional professional substance abuse treatment or casework experience may substitute for the education on a year for year basis.

PATTERN II

• One (1) year of full time, professional experience in a social work or substance use disorder treatment setting.

CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST II (CASEWORKER II)PATTERN I

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice or a closely-related field.
• NOTE: Additional professional substance abuse treatment or casework experience may substitute for the education on a year for year basis.

PATTERN II

• Three (3) years of full time, professional experience in a social work or substance use disorder treatment setting including a minimum of two (2) years performing substance use disorder evaluations and referrals.
• NOTE: Possession of a current Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist credential may substitute for one (1) year of the education/experience requirement.

Proof of education is required for verification purposes at the time of application. Applicants who are unable to submit proof must call 209-525-4214 to make other arrangements before 5 pm on the final filing date. Failure to submit proof or make other arrangements before the final filing deadline may result in disqualification.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicant screening will focus on the following desirable qualifications. Please list any of these qualifications you may have within the "Duties" section of the online application.

• One (1) year of experience working in a Public Defender office, Legal Aid office, public interest law organization or similar setting; OR
• One (1) year of full-time experience providing client-centered social services within marginalized communities, such as public benefits enrollment, housing or healthcare navigation, or job readiness training.

Application and Selection Procedures

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES
Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.

EXAMINATION PROCESS
Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position.
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE Application Deadline: 50 applications or March 10, 2025
Oral Examination: Tentatively the week of March 24, 2025

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County .

GENERAL INFORMATION
Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment drug screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation.

Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver’s license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions.

Stanislaus County supports the good health of its workforce. More information is available at http://myclubwellness.org

Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627.

Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary .

Closing Date/Time: 3/10/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Stanislaus County

(209) 525-6341