At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people "I work for the County of Marin." Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture on the Department of Human Resources website. Read on to find out more about this opportunity.

There is currently one (1) full-time position in the Public Defender's Office that will be filled at either the Social Service Worker II - Monolingual or Social Service Worker II - Bilingual level.

This recruitment is for the Social Service Worker II - Bilingual level only. A separate application must be completed if you are interested in being considered for the Social Service Worker II - Monolingual level.

Social Service Workers provide integral and necessary reentry, reintegration, and mitigation services to system-involved Public Defender clients, ensuring that these community members address underlying social service needs that likely contributed to their involvement in the criminal legal system in the first instance, and support addressing these needs to establish long-term success within the community. Social Service Workers provide intensive clinical case management services and advocacy for clients at all stages of their criminal case.

The Public Defender's Office is developing a team to specifically address our client's social service needs. Initially, the Social Service Worker role will largely involve the development of the Public Defender's Social Services Unit and will likely be required to be in the office on a full time, rather than flex time, basis until the program is established. The Social Service Worker, under the supervision of the Chief Deputy, will work in tandem with the office's outreach coordinator, DMV Liaison, and Contract Case Manager to provide holistic care to Public Defender clients. At the outset, the position will include learning about the various programs and services available to Public Defender clients and building relationships with service providers in other County Departments, Community Based Organizations, and treatment facilities. The Social Service Worker will establish roles and division of labor among the team to best accommodate the social service needs of Public Defender clients. Once the program is established, the Social Service Worker will be able to transition into a hybrid work schedule, subject to the needs of the Public Defender's Office.

Some of the responsibilities for this position include: 

• Working under the supervision of the Chief Deputy, developing practices and procedures of the Social Services Unit of the Public Defender's Office 
• Leadership in the continued development of the Social Services Unit as well as participation in the Collaborative Courts (i.e. Adult Drug Court, Veteran's Treatment Court, CARE Court, and STAR Court) 
• Assisting in other social work-related program development and evaluation
• Preparing clinical needs assessments, mitigation materials and reports, biopsychosocial evaluations, and treatment and reentry plans; providing client-centered support, crisis intervention, and case management
• Meeting with clients, including with those who are incarcerated
• Working with mental health experts, community treatment providers, the Marin County Jail and other local detention facilities, pretrial services and probation officers, the court, and prosecutors
• Collaborating with Deputy Public Defenders and other staff regarding client needs, including on an after-hours and emergency basis
• Leading volunteer staff, including interns/externs
• Providing internal and panel training on relevant topics
• Creating and submission of materials and resource listings for the Office's web page

The Public Defender's Office has embraced a hybrid work schedule. Initially, the Social Service Worker role will largely involve the development of the Public Defender's Social Services Unit and will likely be required to be in the office on a full time, rather than flex time, basis until the program is established. Once the program is established, the Public Defender's Office considers that some duties of this position may be performed remotely and telework options are available; however, the successful candidate must be able to report to County facilities for various meetings and work assignments upon short notice, as needed and deemed appropriate. Remote and hybrid in-office/telework options may be discussed at time of hire. 

Our Highly Qualified Candidate: has a desire for assisting and working directly with the clients of the Public Defender's Office. The successful candidate must be organized, have a professional demeanor, work well independently and in group settings, and be able to establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with colleagues, clients, and various local and State agencies. The candidate possesses the ability to maintain confidentiality and compassion for the individuals they meet, while maintaining sensitivity to the competing needs of a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. The candidate will have a strong work ethic, be able to maintain case files in an orderly fashion and complete tasks in a timely manner. The highly qualified candidate will be bilingual in English and Spanish as the population this position works with includes individuals who speak both English and/or Spanish.  

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques of social work.
• The role and function of a public social services agency.
• Principles and techniques of interviewing.
• Methods of social work record keeping, including computer applications related to the work.
• Community organizations and resources and the social problems calling for the use of public and private resources.
• Social research methods.
• Basic principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of a social service agency.
• Goals of and current trends toward client rehabilitation.

Ability to:

• Principles, practices and techniques of social work.
• The role and function of a public social services agency.
• Principles and techniques of interviewing.
• Methods of social work record keeping, including computer applications related to the work.
• Community organizations and resources and the social problems calling for the use of public and private resources.
• Social research methods.
• Basic principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of a social service agency.
• Goals of and current trends toward client rehabilitation.

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list.  The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.
 
Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
 
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095.  If you have questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Linda Kline at linda.kline@marincounty.gov.