Social Services Advocate - PDD Malden

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Malden, MA

21h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking applicants for two full-time Social Services Advocate positions in their Malden 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 clients. CPCS fights for equal justice and human dignity by supporting clients in achieving their legal and life goals, zealously advocating for individual rights and promoting just public policy. CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal representation to those who cannot afford an attorney in various case types including criminal, delinquency, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, and sexually dangerous person cases. The agency emphasizes the need for culturally competent staff to work with a diverse client base. The Social Services Advocate works as part of a multidisciplinary legal defense team to provide zealous advocacy to adult criminal defendants. The SSA helps identify social and clinical issues that preceded arrest and may result from court involvement, adhering to attorney-client confidentiality. SSAs work under the supervision of the Social Services Advocate Director, with administrative direction from the Attorney in Charge. The role involves bio-psychosocial interviewing and assessment, social history investigation, forensic case management, advocacy within various systems, fostering family interactions, treatment and sentencing planning, report writing, testifying, and connecting clients with programs. Social services intervention occurs throughout the court process, from arraignment to 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

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

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level