Psychiatric Social Worker -Emergency Appointment​/Homeless Initiative

LOS ANGELES COUNTYPUBLIC DEFENDER

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - Emergency

Applications will be accepted from Monday, February 24, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) and will continue accepting applications until the vacancy is filled. The application filing window may close without prior notice.

EXAM NUMBER:

L9034G-EA

WHO WE ARE

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system. Our Offices are headed by innovative and progressive leaders collaboratively working towards our agency’s mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele. The office is seeking dedicated individuals in support of our mission and values.

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.

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.

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%. The candidate who successfully passes the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Psychiatric Social Worker (PSW) I.

WHO CAN APPLY

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency PSW I vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

ABOUT THE POSITION

PSW Is independently perform professional social work services in connection with the assessments, formulating differential diagnoses, and treatment recommendations for clients in need of mental health services. This position reports to the Mental Health Clinical Supervisor.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• Conducts 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; establishes rapport with clients; and elicits specific information and accurately document all information gathered during these meetings to assist attorneys as part of the defense team.
• Develops and recommends tentative support plan by assessing the client’s functioning in their environmental setting, and their biopsychosocial needs (e.g., psychiatric, educational, and developmental); and provides timelines and recommendations which may include referrals and/or linkage to the appropriate…