Social Services Advocate - PCD Administration

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Social Services Advocate - PCD Administration (260005OO)

Job Description

Social Services Advocate - PCD Administration - ( 260005OO )

Description

The Private Counsel Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking applicants for a Social Services Advocate position. This state-wide position will be part of the Private Social Work Services Unit. They will work closely with the Innocence Program, the Parole Unit, Alternative Commitment and Registration Support Unit (ACRSU), and the Post-Conviction Unit under the guidance of the Director of Private Social Work Services, providing direct client support and advocacy, resource development, and consultation and training to defense attorneys.

This position is statewide. While the PCD SSA can be seated in any CPCS office that has available space, the position involves travel across the state to meet with clients, collaterals, and attend in-person meetings.

We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equityand inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience;

(2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community.

CPCSis the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.

The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.

The Private Counsel Division (PCD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking to fill a full-time Social Services Advocate (SSA) position to provide direct client support for the Innocence Program, the Parole Unit, Alternative Commitment and Registration Support Unit (ACRSU), and the Post-Conviction Unit. Clients represented by these units have been convicted of a criminal matter and are seeking relief through parole, the appellate process, or other post-conviction legal proceedings.

The PCD SSA will work to ensure CPCS clients achieve the most favorable legal and life outcomes. This position also provides consultation and training for attorneys and resource development for the SSA Unit.

The position requires flexibility, the ability to prioritize and problem-solve, excellent organizational and written advocacy skills, good judgement, attention to detail, and a trauma-informed, person-centered approach. The PCD SSA must be able, and willing, to enter county and state correctional facilities. The PCD SSA is expected to adhere to the rules of confidentiality under the attorney-client relationship.

The Social Services…