Position/Program Information
L aw Office of the Los Angeles County PUBLIC DEFENDER EXAM NUMBER: L9035E-EA
RECRUITMENT TYPE: Open Competitive - Emergency
The Law Office of the Los Angeles Public Defender is the nation's finest client-centered criminal defense firm, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system.
When to Apply: Applications will be accepted from
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) until the needs of the services are met.
Application filing period is subject to closure without prior notice. The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.
The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Psychiatric Social Worker (PSW) II vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.
Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.
Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.
Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to PSW II.
Essential Job Functions
About the Position: PSW IIs independently perform professional social work services in connection with the assessment and treatment recommendations of clients in need of mental health services and report to the Mental Health Clinical Supervisor.
Examples of duties include but are not limited to the following: - Conducting interviews with justice-involved individuals (i.e., juveniles and adults) and other necessary individuals (e.g., family, spouse, partners, or friends), by phone, virtually, or wherever located (e.g., home, public areas, and detention facilities), to obtain the client’s complete biopsychosocial assessment that includes family, social, educational, employment, medical, substance use, developmental, and mental health history; establishing rapport with clients; and eliciting specific information and accurately documents all information gathered during these meetings to assist attorneys as part of the defense team.
- Developing and recommending a tentative support plan by assessing the client’s functioning in their environmental setting, and their biopsychosocial needs (e.g., psychiatric, educational, and developmental); and providing timelines and recommendations which may include referrals and/or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services (e.g., housing, community-based mental health, substance use disorder programs, and regional center) to support the client’s defense.
- Implementing the attorney-approved support plan to provide advocacy on behalf of the client; attending various meetings (e.g., inter-agency, Individualized Education Program [IEP], Multidisciplinary Team [MDT], and regional center); coordinating with representatives from various agencies to provide referrals and/or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services (e.g., housing, community-based mental health, substance use disorder programs, and regional center); and ensuring delivery of these services to support the client through the legal process.
- Gathering and reviewing the client’s background information (e.g., school and medical records, interviews, and psychological evaluations) to provide clinical assessments and consultation, and preparing biopsychosocial reports detailing the needs of the client to support the attorney’s casework; attends court to support client; and provide formal or informal testimony in defense of the client.
Requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS A valid and active license as a Licensed
Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.*
*Candidates must attach a copy of their valid and active license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences at the time of filing or email a copy to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from the date the application is filed.
You MUST meet the above requirement in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.
LICENSE:
A valid California Class "C" Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
PHYSICAL CLASS II - LIGHT:This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.
Additional Information
Our Assessment Process Before the end of your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.
Application & Filing Information - APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.
- Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button for this posting. Please review your application for accuracy before submitting it. You can also track the status of your application by visiting www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty and logging into your account.
- Many important notifications including application rejections and notice of exam results will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. It is your responsibility to provide a valid email address and review all notifications sent to you. Please add Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov, aosorio@pubdef.lacounty.gov , personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov , noreply@governmentjobs.com, to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.
- Applicants have the ability to opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications. You can always access some of these notifications by logging into your profile inbox at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.
- Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the first day of filing as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/carees/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
- The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements . Fill out your application and Supplemental Questionnaire completely. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION.
- Applicants must submit all applicable documents at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the date the application is filed via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov . Include the examination number and title in your email's subject line. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application.
Social Security Number Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
Computer and Internet Access at Public LibrariesFor candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Applicants can find out more information about select in-person library services and locations by visiting the Los Angeles County Library website.
No Sharing of User ID and PasswordAll applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password.
Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
Fair Chance Initiative The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
Questions? Contact us:Exam Number: L9035E-EA
Department Contact Name: Amannda Osorio
Department Contact Phone: (213)948-2711
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
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