Social Work Professional Youth Defense Division (4717-47)

SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALYOUTH DEFENSE DIVISION (4717-47)

Minimum Hourly Rate: $26.21
EEO Category: Professional
Maximum Hourly Rate: $39.32

Job Function Statement:
The Hamilton County Public Defender Youth Defense Division is seeking a social work professional. Under the general supervision and direction from the Director of the Youth Defense Division and assigned supervisor and in collaboration with youth defense trial attorneys the social work professional will work with indigent clients on cases involving juvenile delinquency where youth in need of family support service referrals or are facing serious charges potential placement outside of their home or transfer to adult court. The social work professional will also collaborate with other social work professionals youth defense attorneys investigators and other support staff to provide specialized knowledge on how to best defend Public Defender youth clients. The social work professional will provide forensic social work services including but not limited to case planning interviewing treatment planning community resources and human development. The social work professional will assist attorneys in gathering client information presentation of mitigation assessing court-ordered evaluations and obtaining independent evaluations in cases where youth are facing placement outside of the home transfer to adult court or invocation of adult sentences in blended-sentencing cases. The social work professional will assist in collaborating and maintaining relationships with community organizations that support youth clients. The social work professional will also coordinate and supervise social work students and assist in developing protocols and a structure that will sustain ongoing social support services.

Minimum Qualifications:
Four (4) year degree in an accredited college or university in social work or closely related curricula; Masters in Social Work preferred; Current license for social work in the State of Ohio; One (1) year of experience in the field of social work preferably associated with the juvenile justice system counseling and knowledge of local social agencies and services; Must have a car good driving record valid drivers license and automobile insurance.

Illustrative Duties:
Effectively communicates with juvenile clients and others both inside and outside the Public Defender organization. Interviews clients and their families and all pertinent parties to compile social histories and information relative to clients presenting problems environment behavior patterns etc.
Obtains signed release forms from families and gathers all service provider history and provides psychosocial write-ups and case summaries to defense attorney. Maintains confidentiality of information relative to clients and other associates.
Collaborates with staff attorneys court personnel social services agencies psychologists court appointed guardian ad litems probation officers and other professionals to provide best possible dispositional outcomes for client. Remains in contact with these professionals and completes community visits when necessary.
Investigates and proposes positive alternatives to incarceration removal of child from the home or other potential penalties faced by the client. Assist in identifying service needs and treatment gaps of clients.
Visits clients in the Juvenile Detention Center and completes home visits when necessary.
Educates clients on the workings of the court system and provides information and referrals on community services to clients and families.
Creates educational materials for child clients families and attorneys.
Assists in designing and implementing a community training in participatory defense and other community outreach activities.
Creates a system to engage social work students in client support activities and supervises those students.
Develops protocols for ongoing data collection.
Attends court hearings and other necessary meetings for all clients and works with staff attorneys on defense strategies and on-going needs of the case.
Maintains a working knowledge of social agencies and community service providers and an open line of communication with such agencies.
Performs other similar and related duties as may be designated by the Director social worker supervisor or staff attorneys.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
The following are necessary to perform the duties of this classification. Items with an * may be developed after employment.

Knowledge of:
Case management; interviewing; psychology and/or human behavior; sociology or social work; agency and/or community counseling programs and services; federal and state regulations governing delivery of services specific to area in which employed; treatment team concepts; agency/institution practices and procedures; public relations; *Ohio juvenile court systems; Microsoft word Westlaw; case management.

Skill in:
Excellent organizational communication and interpersonal; critical thinking; emotional intelligence; public speaking; ability to effectively communicate with minor children; working knowledge of community services and resources; multi-tasking to meet deadlines.

Ability to:
Define problems; collect data establish facts and draw valid conclusions; apply principles to solve problems dealing with variety of variables; review critique individual programming and make feasible recommendations; gather collate and classify information about data people or things; develop good rapport with clients and respective families; be an effective advocate for children and young people; understand child and adolescent development and the consequences of poverty on parenting and child and adolescent development; handle sensitive face-to-face contacts and inquiries; cooperate with co-workers attorneys service providers stakeholders and other court personnel; establish goals and objectives; use statistical analysis; write accurate and meaningful reports; carry out instructions in written or oral form.