Social Work Assistant

State of Ohio • Marietta, OH

2d • $25 - $31 • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Work Assistant works in the Washington County Office of the Office of the Ohio Public Defender’s Trial Services Division, providing basic social services to indigent clients facing criminal charges. The role collaborates with attorneys and administrative staff as part of a client’s case team to provide holistic, client-centered support throughout the legal process. It assesses needs for community resources, makes referrals, tracks client data, and helps identify appropriate outpatient or intensive inpatient treatment programs. The position includes intermittent travel throughout Washington County, which may vary from month to month based on business or client needs, and requires comfort communicating through Teams or other conferencing software when needed.

The social work program provides resource connections and service referrals, case management, client support, case collaboration and advocacy, and legal navigation. The Social Work Assistant helps address clients’ emotional, psychological, and practical needs to support them through legal challenges and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. The position is permanent and full-time, with work hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The work location is 125 Putnam Street, Suite 200, Marietta, Ohio.

Requirements

• Current registration as a Social Work Assistant issued by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage & Family Therapist Board, in accordance with ORC 4757.29.
• Mental health is listed as a primary job skill.
• Self-motivated and comfortable communicating via Teams or other conferencing software when needed.

Nice To Haves

• Passion for working with a large team and assisting people facing the challenges of poverty.
• Professional or volunteer experience helping to pursue a fair justice system.
• Strong communication and organization skills.

Responsibilities

• Assess clients’ needs for medical, financial, housing, and other community assistance, including referred clients at moderate-high risk of reoffending and clients judicially released to diversion or community control.
• Interview clients, review case files, consult with clients’ attorneys, and request relevant records, including court, medical, education, jail, and program records.
• Research available resources and make referrals; submit paperwork for providers’ eligibility determinations.
• Assist clients in obtaining medical benefits, housing, utility assistance, veterans assistance, and other support.
• Identify appropriate and accessible community interventions and coordinate community linkage services for clients and their families while cases are pending disposition, during diversion, or while community control continues.
• Participate in planning support systems for clients and track client progress and outcomes.
• Maintain data on current clients and local social services, and track court-ordered evaluations, scheduling, completion, and records in communication with stakeholders.
• Enter records and case notes into a web-based case management system and prepare and maintain required reports and progress notes.
• Maintain working relationships with attorneys, justice stakeholders, clients, families, and facilities.
• Under the direction of State Assistant Public Defenders, prepare written and oral statements for in-court presentations as needed.
• Answer phone calls and forward them to appropriate parties.
• Coordinate attorney calls to clients and attorney visits to county jails and state prisons.
• Retrieve documents from county, state, and federal courts and other offices.
• Provide administrative and clerical assistance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including Employee Development Funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional deferred compensation through Ohio Deferred Compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed