Social Service Case Manager

Lancaster County•Lancaster, PA

16d

About The Position

The Social Service Case Manager provides psychosocial support services to clients on behalf of Public Defender's Office attorneys during criminal legal representation. The role works directly with Assistant Public Defenders to assess clients’ psychosocial needs, recommend alternatives to incarceration, develop disposition and sentencing plans, and connect clients with relevant social services and community-based programs. The position may also support competency and criminal-responsibility determinations, serious-case mitigation investigations, court testimony, and prison re-entry planning. The Case Manager interviews clients and relevant witnesses, including clients in jail, and gathers and maintains records relating to mental health, social services, counseling, treatment, medical care, and education. The role serves as a liaison to community agencies, assists attorneys and investigators with witness coordination, collaborates with expert witnesses, tracks referrals and recidivism data, and consults quarterly with the Chief Public Defender for grant reporting. The position requires regular local travel and significant time at Lancaster County Prison. Work is moderately sedentary, with no special physical demands apart from driving a motor vehicle for work.

Requirements

At least two years of experience as a Caseworker for Lancaster County or a comparable agency; or a bachelor’s degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or another related social science and three years of professional social casework experience in a public or private social service agency; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that includes 12 college credits in the listed or related social sciences.
Commitment to providing professional, confidential, ethical, compassionate, and energetic service to indigent adults charged with crimes and juveniles in delinquency proceedings.
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, and ability to establish rapport with a diverse client population.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive legal information.
Ability to work independently while maintaining regular and effective communication with attorneys.
Ability to analyze and evaluate facts, evidence, and related information, and to apply creative thinking and problem-solving.
Ability to collaborate with multiple agencies, including mental health providers, community resources, and court-related agencies and personnel.
Strong organizational skills, complex problem-solving ability, and ability to manage multiple tasks under deadlines.
Computer literacy, typing skills, and proficiency with software including Microsoft Word and Excel and internet-based programs.
Meet Lancaster County Transportation Policy criteria for driver designation and comply with its Authorized Driver Guidelines.
Complete a Pennsylvania State Criminal History background check.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of and experience with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing local social service and criminal justice systems is highly valued.
Bilingual English/Spanish capability is desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide psychosocial support services to clients during criminal legal representation.
Work with Assistant Public Defenders in representing clients in the criminal justice system.
Assess client psychosocial needs throughout legal representation, including needs related to mental health, substance abuse, employment, education, and housing.
Identify and recommend sentencing alternatives to incarceration and prepare written reports on client needs and recommended actions under the direction of Assistant Public Defenders.
Gather treatment records to assist with court competency and criminal-responsibility determinations.
Connect clients with social service and community-based programs and agencies, and testify about client needs and programs when necessary.
Assist attorneys in developing and implementing disposition and sentencing plans intended to avoid unnecessary incarceration or supervision and reduce recidivism and related costs.
Assist with mitigation investigations in serious cases, including capital homicide cases.
Meet and interview clients in and out of jail and relevant witnesses to gather information and assess clients’ psychosocial histories and development.
Serve as the Public Defender’s Office liaison with mental health, social service, and community-based programs and agencies; maintain a case tracking system for clients with primary mental health needs.
Gather and maintain mental health, social service, counseling, treatment, medical, school, and other records for assessment and service, disposition, and sentencing planning.
Prepare written summaries, special reports, and memoranda concerning past and potential social service and treatment options.
Assist Assistant Public Defenders and investigators in identifying, coordinating, and securing relevant witness testimony when necessary.
Coordinate and facilitate prison re-entry plans and services, including treatment placement when appropriate, in collaboration with County agencies.
Collaborate with expert witnesses, including death penalty mitigation specialists, by providing documentation and accompanying them to client evaluations when necessary.
Maintain current knowledge of best practices and developments in social service programming, jail diversion, treatment courts, prison re-entry, and forensic treatments and strategies.
Attend required meetings and relevant training sessions.
Collect and maintain data on client referrals to County Human Service agencies, track referrals resulting in opened services, and track client recidivism for evaluating collaborative interventions.
Consult quarterly with the Chief Public Defender for grant reporting purposes.
Perform other job-related duties assigned by the Chief Public Defender or designee.