Caseworker - Public Defender's Office - TIDC-Grant Funded Position - J07090 - 25300

Nueces County•Village of Fonda, NY

About The Position

The Nueces County Public Defender’s Office Caseworker assists attorneys representing indigent individuals with mental health and/or intellectual disability issues. The Caseworker identifies client needs and eligibility for appropriate community services, assists with investigating defenses, and develops specialized sentencing recommendations. The employee may also perform related duties as assigned and must be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies when directed by the Department Head. The role manages a reasonable caseload of social work and mitigation requests, interviews clients and members of their support networks, assesses needs, makes service referrals, and obtains relevant psychosocial, mental health, and treatment records. The Caseworker coordinates attorney-client meetings, drafts correspondence and court-appropriate reports, tracks court settings, provides trial investigation and mitigation support, and testifies as needed. The position collaborates with attorneys, service providers, and community resources, maintains case records and statistics, prioritizes deadlines and court appearances, and attends training as requested. The position requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Social Work or a social/behavioral science and a valid Texas driver’s license. At least one year of case management, client advocacy, or mitigation experience is preferred. Texas social work licensure and Spanish language ability are also preferred. The role requires effective communication, interviewing, report writing, computer and case-management software skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work with clients in crisis. The job involves frequent outdoor work and site visits in neighborhoods with known crime problems, as well as visits to clients in county jails or prison facilities. The employee may be exposed to communicable diseases, vicious dogs, and mentally unstable clients. Physical demands include frequent sitting, regular talking or hearing, occasional standing, walking, and handling objects, and occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Social Work or a social/behavioral science.
Valid Texas driver’s license.
If licensed by a professional board, provide verification of licensure.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals and present information effectively.
Ability to work with probability and statistical inference and apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to solve practical problems and interpret written, oral, diagram, or schedule instructions.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to operate a computer, including word processing programs, Adobe, Excel, and case management software.
Ability to prepare accurate and complete records and reports and meet deadlines.
Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, discretion, firmness, fairness, and cultural sensitivity with clients and the public.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, county employees, officials, and the general public.
Ability to deal with clients in crisis situations.
Employees who drive on official business must have a driving record that meets County and County insurance-carrier standards.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of experience in case management, client advocacy, or mitigation.
LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW licensure from the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners.
Ability to speak Spanish.

Responsibilities

Manage a reasonable client caseload based on attorney requests for social work and mitigation assistance.
Interview clients, assess service needs, and make appropriate referrals.
Acquire records concerning clients’ psychosocial histories, mental health diagnoses, and treatment.
Identify and interview family members, friends, employers, and other community support-system members who can assist clients.
Coordinate attorney-client meetings as requested.
Draft client correspondence and reports suitable for court proceedings.
Attend and track client court settings as requested by attorneys.
Provide fact-investigation and trial-punishment mitigation support as necessary.
Testify in court as necessary.
Collaborate with the public defender team, service providers, and community resources to provide holistic indigent defense.
Prioritize and organize work to meet deadlines and court appearances.
Maintain case evaluation and activity records and provide case statistics to the Chief Public Defender as requested.
Attend mental health and public defender office training as requested by the Chief Public Defender.
Be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies when directed by the Department Head.
Perform other duties as assigned.