Social Worker - CAFL Fall River

Social Worker

The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking a full-time Social Worker to work with attorneys representing children and indigent parents in our Fall River office. 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 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.

Attorneys working with CPCS's Children and Family Law Division represent parents, children and older youth, custodians, and guardians in cases in which the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking custody of children and a limited number of other civil cases relating to families. Attorneys appointed to these cases represent clients in care and protection matters (known elsewhere as dependency or abuse and neglect cases) and in termination of parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor, and child requiring assistance cases.

The Children & Family Law Division is seeking a full-time Social Worker to work with attorneys representing children and indigent parents in care and protection, child requiring assistance, and termination of parental rights cases in our Fall River office. Social Workers in the Children and Family Law Trial Offices are integral members of the legal team. Led by the attorney, the team zealously represents and advocates for clients.

Social workers work with attorneys and other team members to prepare a client's case and to get the best possible outcome for the client. Social work intervention occurs at all stages of the court process.

Social Worker responsibilities include, but are not limited to: interviewing clients and conducting home visits; performing needs assessments, developing service plans, referring clients to service providers, and making direct connections between clients and programs; developing linkages with local government agencies and service providers; helping attorneys prepare for litigation; advocating for clients in a client-directed practice; and, other duties as assigned.

Applicants must have:
Bachelor's degree in social work, or other related degree, and one year of related experience, or an equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience; experience working with children and families, preferably in an outreach capacity; insured, reliable and available transportation, and a valid driver's license; and, access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely. An ideal candidate will have a MSW and a Massachusetts LCSW/LICSW license.

In addition, candidates will have: a commitment to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population; a commitment to fighting the racial and ethnic disparities in the family regulation system; experience related to and knowledge of clinical issues regarding child placement and adoption, substance abuse, domestic violence, and related fields; experience in the field of child welfare; knowledge of social, psychological, medical, economic, and legal factors that influence behavior;

skills and experience in interviewing clients, assessing their needs, case management, and service planning; good organizational skills and the ability to track and monitor individual client cases; skills and experience in interacting with persons of various social, racial, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds; knowledge of public and private social services systems and programs; demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, both orally and in writing;

proven ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently; and, foreign language skills a plus.