Social Worker II

City of Indianapolis and Marion County•Indianapolis, IN

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Marion County Public Defender Agency provides legal representation for Marion County citizens who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer in matters involving liberty interests, including criminal cases. Our services are provided as a public service. We work with the felony, misdemeanor, Title IV D, civil commitment, and juvenile courts. We also work on cases related to termination of parental rights as well as appeals. Our agency also offers education, services, and programs focused on different ways to serve jail sentences. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County. The position will be assigned to handle cases for the Major Felony, Juvenile or Conflict Divisions. The position is responsible for providing clinical and consultation work as part of the legal team, including locating treatment, housing, and other concrete supports to reduce recidivism. In addition, maintain a professional support relationship with clients and function as an advocate or guide to help with solutions to incarceration or long-term commitment. Independent judgment may be utilized as long as it is performed at the request of the supervising attorney. Independent judgment will also be exercised in researching and offering consultative opinions and litigation. Social workers are also responsible for directing, investigating, developing and compiling a comprehensive and well-documented psycho-social history on clients charged with serious cases; analyzes the significance of the information in terms of impact on development, including the effect on personality and behavior; finds mitigating themes in the client’s life history; identifies the need for expert assistance; assists in locating appropriate experts; provides social history information to experts to enable them to conduct competent and reliable evaluations; and works with the defense team and experts to develop a comprehensive and cohesive case in mitigation.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or a Master's degree in a related field.
Two (2) years of experience as a Social Worker required.
Must be computer literate.
Knowledge of legal terminology, ethics, and court procedures required.
Ability to communicate effectively, handle responsibility, collaborate independently with clients and co-workers.
Must have ability to interact with people of different cultures, positions and walks of life.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Social Worker (LSW), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) preferred.

Responsibilities

Address and assess need for competency and intervention
Assesses client needs and eligibility for services
Develop and maintain client case records, plans, and reports
Compile information for attorney use and for reporting purposes for grant
Conducts mitigation; interviews clients and their families, reviews relevant records, identifies statutorily numerated and un-enumerated mitigators, prepares written reports for sentencing hearings, conducts research
Refer clients to services and placement as appropriate
Work with outside agencies to coordinate and facilitate alternative placement options for agency clients
Conduct biopsychosocial evaluations with select agency clients as appropriate
Confers with attorneys and other staff on agency cases
Participate in gathering of mitigation information on behalf of the client
Attends and testifies at court proceedings
Participate in agency and community planning and education
Conduct intake evaluations and screenings with selected agency clients
Participates in alternative placement discussions with attorneys in devising a plan for treatment
Report and provide information as the program require, including success rates and caseload numbers
Must maintain confidentiality at all times