Social Services Advocate - PDD Worcester

Committee for Public Counsel Services•Worcester, MA

About The Position

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking applicants for a full-time Social Services Advocate position in our Worcester Office. As an integral part of the defense team, Social Service Advocates work closely with attorneys, investigators, and other key defense players to obtain the best possible legal and life outcomes for our clients. We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all. Our Values C ourage A ccountability R espect E xcellence DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community. AGENCY OVERVIEW CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters. The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics. OFFICE OVERVIEW The Public Defender Division of CPCS, Worcester Office is located in downtown Worcester, a five-time recipient of the All-American City Award. It is New England’s second largest city and combines the historic charm of a small town with the conveniences of a thriving metropolis. With more than 70 cultural venues, including world-class museums, concert halls, theaters, renowned breweries, and over 100 local restaurants, it also provides a central location from which to visit all of New England, located 45 minutes from both Boston and Rhode Island. POSITION OVERVIEW The Social Services Advocate works as part of a multidisciplinary legal defense team to provide zealous advocacy to adult criminal defendants in order to achieve the best possible legal and life outcomes. As part of the defense team, SSAs works collaboratively with attorneys, investigators, support staff, retained experts, law students and other interns. Working with the attorney on the pending legal case, the SSA helps identify the social and clinical issues that preceded arrest and those that may result from court involvement. The SSA must adhere to the rules of confidentiality under the attorney-client relationship. SSAs work under the supervision of the Social Services Advocate Director, with administrative direction provided by the Attorney in Charge. The SSA’s role includes bio-psychosocial interviewing and assessment, social history investigation, forensic case management, advocacy for clients within court, carceral, mental health, and social service systems, fostering family interactions and intervention, treatment and sentencing planning, report writing, testifying, and making direct connections between clients and programs. Social services intervention occurs at all stages of the court process, from the initial arraignment through resolution and post-conviction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social service field and one year of related experience, or an equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience
Must have access to insured, reliable and available transportation, and a valid MA driver’s license
Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely
Experience working with individuals and families of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, educational, and economic backgrounds
Knowledge of social, psychological, environmental, economic, legal, and medical factors that influence behavior
Understanding of social structures and institutional barriers that cause disparities, such as systemic racism and poverty
Culturally appropriate skills in client interviewing, assessment, case management, and treatment planning
Knowledge of public and private social services systems and resources
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively orally and in writing
Proven ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within the office and the service provider community
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple clients and responsibilities
Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends to meet with clients, bring clients to programs, attend meetings, conduct collateral interviews, and handle emergencies

Nice To Haves

A Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field is strongly preferred.
Knowledge of defense practice, the criminal legal system, and/or corrections is a plus
Bilingual abilities are a plus.

Responsibilities

Maintaining close contact with clients over the duration of their case to build strong working relationships
Conducting both brief and in-depth interviews with clients respecting their individuality and with cultural humility to obtain client histories; connecting with and interviewing collateral contacts
Performing needs assessments, developing treatment or service plans, referring clients to service providers, and making direct connections between clients and programs
Gaining comprehensive knowledge of statewide and local programming and services, and working collaboratively with community-based services that support clients
Collaborating with defense counsel to develop defense strategies and dispositional options which demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of our clients’ whole lives
Preparing and presenting courtroom testimony to describe services and dispositional alternatives arranged for the client
Preparing detailed and persuasive written advocacy for sentencing and mitigation purposes
Advocating for clients in a client-directed practice to facilitate best possible outcomes
Other duties as assigned

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