Psychiatric Social Worker Ii - Emergency Appointment​/Homeless Initiative

Position: PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER II - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

We welcome applications from anyone.

FILING DATES:

The application filing period will begin on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

EXAM NUMBER:

L9035E-EA

REPOSTING INFORMATION:

This announcement is being reposted to reopen the filing period.

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.

We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County's homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County's jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing.

The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct and indirect positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

POSITION INFORMATION:

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, serving as a beacon for both evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system. Our Offices are led by innovative and progressive leaders working collaboratively towards our agency's mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele. We are seeking qualified Psychiatric Social Worker II (PSW II) professionals to fill emergency vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Psychiatric Social Workers are integral members of a holistic, multidisciplinary defense team, collaborating with deputy public defenders on case-related matters involving the social, behavioral health, and mental health needs of clients involved in the criminal justice system. They conduct comprehensive assessments, develop mitigation strategies, and recommend alternative sentencing, case disposition, and reentry plans that address clients' underlying needs. Their work promotes client-centered outcomes, supports successful community reintegration, and contributes to reducing recidivism.

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.

During 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 Psychiatric Social Worker II.

* Conducting interviews with justice-involved individuals and other necessary individuals, by phone, virtually, or wherever located, 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 and providing timelines and recommendations which may include referrals and/or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services to support the client's defense.

* Implementing the attorney-approved support plan to provide advocacy on behalf of the client; attending various meetings; coordinating with representatives from various agencies to provide referrals and/or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services; and ensuring delivery of these services…