Social Worker

Job Description

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, any and/or all of the following:

• Provides clinical expertise to support the legal position(s) being advocated for the client to the court.
• Attends collaborative meetings with the client and attorney; helps assess the client’s needs for services and develop a case service plan for the client; assists clients in establishing connections with local social services agencies.
• Makes appropriate referrals and provides temporary assistance to address clients’ social services needs (e.g., substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, housing and other benefits); and advocates to social services agencies for the clients when needed.
• Gathers factual information to assist the attorneys in presenting mitigation issues or plans on behalf of the clients through interviews, and obtaining and analyzing records.
• Researches and recommends alternatives to incarceration; including preparation of memoranda for submission to judges and prosecutors through the assistant public defenders.
• Completes special projects and other duties assigned by the Public Defender or First Assistant Public Defenders.
• Communicates and interacts with social workers and assistant public defenders employed by other public defender offices as needed on behalf of clients as needed or requested by the assistant public defense attorneys.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Training and Experience

Masters degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy from an accredited institution. One to two years of relevant professional experience in a social worker role.

Licenses and Certifications:
Must possess a State of Michigan licensure as a Licensed Master's Social Worker, Limited Licensed Master's Social Worker, Licensed Psychologist, or Limited Licensed Psychologist. A valid motor vehicle operator’s license from the State of Michigan.

Please note that candidates with a bachelor’s degree in social work with a license will be considered. Bachelor’s degree candidates would be paid at paygrade 8, $27.55 - $35.81/hour.

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Thorough working knowledge of professional social work principles, methodology and ethics.
• Thorough working knowledge of the use of therapeutic relationship, therapeutic theories, techniques and the therapeutic process to foster client self-determination.
• Thorough working knowledge of human psychosocial development within the context of family, community and culture.
• Thorough working knowledge of techniques for facilitating client motivation to change behavior problems.
• Thorough working knowledge of social welfare policy. Thorough working knowledge of health and social issues impacting clients and community well-being.
• Thorough working knowledge of systems theory.
• Crisis intervention skills. Client advocacy skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of the cultural and ethnic groups represented in Ottawa County and cultural norms affecting behavior.
• Thorough working knowledge of professional and ethical practice standards.
• Basic computer literacy, including knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet and database management applications software.
• Knowledge of health care and other community resources available to client populations.
• Work independently and collaboratively in a legal services team atmosphere.
• Oral and written fluency in one or more languages spoken by demographic groups with significant representation in the Ottawa County population is strongly preferred.
• Possess a demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and/or indigent defense.

Job Description

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, any and/or all of the following:

• Provides clinical expertise to support the legal position(s) being advocated for the client to the court.
• Attends collaborative meetings with the client and attorney; helps assess the client’s needs for services and develop a case service plan for the client; assists clients in establishing connections with local social services agencies.
• Makes appropriate referrals and provides temporary assistance to address clients’ social services needs (e.g., substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, housing and other benefits); and advocates to social services agencies for the clients when needed.
• Gathers factual information to assist the attorneys in presenting mitigation issues or plans on behalf of the clients through interviews, and obtaining and analyzing records.
• Researches and recommends alternatives to incarceration; including preparation of memoranda for submission to judges and prosecutors through the assistant public defenders.
• Completes special projects and other duties assigned by the Public Defender or First Assistant Public Defenders.
• Communicates and interacts with social workers and assistant public defenders employed by other public defender offices as needed on behalf of clients as needed or requested by the assistant public defense attorneys.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Training and Experience

Masters degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy from an accredited institution. One to two years of relevant professional experience in a social worker role.

Licenses and Certifications:
Must possess a State of Michigan licensure as a Licensed Master's Social Worker, Limited Licensed Master's Social Worker, Licensed Psychologist, or Limited Licensed Psychologist. A valid motor vehicle operator’s license from the State of Michigan.

Please note that candidates with a bachelor’s degree in social work with a license will be considered. Bachelor’s degree candidates would be paid at paygrade 8, $27.55 - $35.81/hour.

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Thorough working knowledge of professional social work principles, methodology and ethics.
• Thorough working knowledge of the use of therapeutic relationship, therapeutic theories, techniques and the therapeutic process to foster client self-determination.
• Thorough working knowledge of human psychosocial development within the context of family, community and culture.
• Thorough working knowledge of techniques for facilitating client motivation to change behavior problems.
• Thorough working knowledge of social welfare policy. Thorough working knowledge of health and social issues impacting clients and community well-being.
• Thorough working knowledge of systems theory.
• Crisis intervention skills. Client advocacy skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of the cultural and ethnic groups represented in Ottawa County and cultural norms affecting behavior.
• Thorough working knowledge of professional and ethical practice standards.
• Basic computer literacy, including knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet and database management applications software.
• Knowledge of health care and other community resources available to client populations.
• Work independently and collaboratively in a legal services team atmosphere.
• Oral and written fluency in one or more languages spoken by demographic groups with significant representation in the Ottawa County population is strongly preferred.
• Possess a demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and/or indigent defense.

This position is benefited and is subject to the Group T manual.

Ottawa County offers a wide range of benefits to support you in your career. View the Benefits Summary for more information.

The current Group T manual can be viewed here. The Ottawa County Universal Wage Scale can be found here.

**Part-time benefitted positions will receive prorated benefits.