Holistic Defense Advocate

County of Tulare•Visalia, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This recruitment will establish an employment list to fill current and any future vacancies within the Public Defender’s department. 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. The anticipated life of the list is six months. This position is eligible for a 4% Cost of Living Increase effective 06/28/2026

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, Sociology, Psychology, Counseling, or a closely related field.
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.
Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations affecting the work of social service agencies.
Knowledge of substance abuse, mental health issues, interpersonal and family dynamics and crisis intervention.
Knowledge of criminal justice and legal terminology.
Knowledge of behavioral science principles and their application to casework.
Knowledge of current socio-economic issues affecting communities.
Knowledge of report writing principles including rules of correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Knowledge of current problems and methodology in the field of public social service.
Knowledge of community resources available to assist clients.
Knowledge of techniques for diagnosing family situations and problems are sufficient to develop, implement and monitor treatment plans.
Knowledge of caseload management methods and techniques.
Knowledge of basic computer skills and word processing applications.
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.
Ability to operate contemporary office equipment inclusive of computer, keyboard, and all applicable electronic equipment.
Ability to develop, implement, and monitor treatment plans in casework areas.
Ability to effectively manage a complex caseload.
Ability to evaluate personal and psychological factors within the family's situation.
Ability to identify and evaluate functional limitations that impede independent living.
Ability to learn and apply federal, state, and local criminal justice laws, regulations, codes and ordinances.
Ability to conduct in-depth assessments involving psychosocial, rehabilitation and environmental issues.
Ability to act effectively in stressful situations.
Ability to analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action.
Ability to read, interpret and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to social services programs.
Ability to write clear, concise, grammatically correct case narratives, reports, records and letters.
Ability to establish client-worker rapport on an individual basis.
Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with agency staff, community groups and organizations and the general public.
Ability to verbally communicate sufficiently to explain technical information to people of various socio-economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Speak Spanish.
Demonstrated interest in or exposure to criminal offender population.

Responsibilities

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.