Public Defender Case Manager

This recruitment will establish an employment list to fill current and any future vacancies within the Public Defender’s Office. The anticipated life of the employment list is six months. If interested in employment for this position for current or future vacancies, please submit an online application for consideration.

Current vacancy is with the Public Defender’s Office located in Visalia. The anticipated life of the list is six months.

Typical Duties

Demonstrate an open and comfortable attitude towards working with incarcerated or newly released incarcerated clients to provide service delivery support to assist them with re-establishing themselves into the community; create professional working relationships with the client to conduct in-person contact, either inside or outside of the jail facilities; be able to facilitate supportive re-entry services discussions with clients by telephone, and/or by professional video visits; collaborate in a professional, diplomatic, and courteous manner with corrections staff to schedule and discuss related factors tied to the process of interviewing the clients; collaborate with the Public Defense Social Worker(s), as well as medical and psychological services vendors to facilitate the client’s set up of psychiatric and/or medical medication prescribed at the time of the discharge of the client from incarceration; set up first appointments with the County Mental Health Department or other agencies post-release and attend to the details required to ensure client is aware of their appointments and support client’s ability to get to the appointment by talking through the transportation plan with client; collaborate with the Public Defender Social Worker(s), to assist client, family members, and/or members of the client’s support system to set up the pharmacy where the medication is picked up, as well as facilitate the passing of information to the client, family members, and/or members of the client’s support system, with appropriate releases in place, for successful medication compliance; provide release plan focused motivational and supportive counseling to the client to help with transition into the community; collaborate with the Public Defender Social Worker(s), to confer with and make referrals to higher-level staff members when problems are beyond the scope of practice, such as when a consultation is needed with the psychiatrist and/or physician to address client needs at the higher level; actively engages incarcerated clients and at times their family members/support system to determine what community program services will be needed to support the client in maintaining a plan to prevent recidivism; demonstrate proficiency in assisting client to develop re-entry plan goals and strategies how to accomplish those goals; schedule and coordinate release plan meetings with the client post-release; successfully coordinate client linkage to community-based services and resources to maximize support systems; specifically demonstrate proficiency in developing supportive inter-agency relationships with the other county departments, other agencies and non-profits, such as recovery and/or addictions treatment, law enforcement, hospitals, probation, and an additional array of public agencies which the client will need to make connection to; utilize motivational interviewing techniques with clients to promote engagement and attendance at therapy and mental health appointments if ordered by the Court and provide supportive discussions with the client about medication management appointments as outlined in their wellness plans (provide reminders, help in explaining the transportation options to client, etc.); collaborate with the Public Defense Social Worker(s), to accompany social worker and/or interviewers with completing interviews with clients in the community and/or jail setting by collecting specific information such as collecting social history information and/or completing a basic substance abuse screening of the client and providing the social worker with the information for additional staffing and referral preparation; demonstrate ability to manage a release plan focused caseload where deadlines are set by the client’s attorneys; collaborate with the Public Defense Social Worker(s), to collaborate with supervisory staff and the attorneys to clarify tasks, referrals, and deadline requirements; develop community resources for post-release services for incarcerated clients by making site visits and acting as a representative of the Tulare County Public Defender’s Office to facilitate inter-agency relationship building; develop understanding of the services each agency provides and be able to present succinctly the service coverage areas that exist; organize and assist Public Defense Social Worker(s) with community outreach projects, such as donation drives, by partnering with county departments and non-profit organizations in the community; demonstrate excellent written skills to co-author release plans in conjunction with the written treatment plan from the Public Defense Social Worker(s) for multi-complex client needs; develop treatment plans involving multi-complex assessment of the client needs shall be completed by the Public Defense Social Worker; advise attorneys and social workers about the basic release plan needs of the client, such as community service needs; maintain and update release packet information; maintain confidentiality of all legal records, as well as case management system information and materials handled which contain client information; obtain records and provide progress reports as necessary, assist with resolving jail holds and other barriers to release from incarceration; attend pre-trials and other types of court hearings, if requested, to provide emotional and case management support for re-entry plans prepared for the clients; available for on-going support as needed with treatment plans; available for on-going support in transportation, medication management, and other needs of clients as appropriate; essential job duties may be assigned that are not listed above but are relative to this job classification. (Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.)

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Completion of 60 college credits in the Mental Health or Human Services field, Social Work, Biological or Social Sciences, or certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Mental Health Technician, Pharmacy Technician, or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Equivalency for Education: Relevant experience in Mental Health, Human Services, Social Services, or medical field may be substituted for the education requirement on a year for year basis.

Experience: Two (2) years of experience in social services, mental health, or human services field.

Equivalency for Experience: Related education in the Mental Health, Human Services, Social Work, Biological or Social Sciences may substitute for the experience requirement on a year for year basis.

Knowledge of: Trauma-Informed Care, TIC, the approach in the human service field that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma, such as individuals with an incarceration history; cultural sensitivity and socio-economic factors and influences affecting the individual served; mental health, and other community resources available to the consumer, such as resources like food banks, local shelters, emergency services and programs; as well as basic social service resources the consumer can access; substance abuse and mental illness and how they negatively impact an individual’s daily functioning and related impairments when these factors of challenge are present; basic knowledge of the different categories of mental illness and the general components of mental health treatment; basic knowledge of the physical, emotional, and social needs of mentally or emotionally disordered individuals and working with clients who are in legal process with misdemeanor, felony, and capital case charges.

Skill/Ability to: Work and communicate effectively with people of various educational and socioeconomic backgrounds by respecting beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes, and behaviors of both clients and co-workers; operate contemporary office equipment inclusive of computer, keyboard, and all applicable electronic equipment; learn and apply basic client care practices. Learn and apply basic short-term crisis intervention techniques; gather information through rapport building, observation, and case reviews to identify barriers to treatment; prepare and maintain accurate case records, reports, and correspondence using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agency staff, community groups, and resource agencies; present oral and written reports concisely and clearly to a multidisciplinary treatment team during case staffing meetings; establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels and with the public; maintain confidentiality of all information and materials; conduct interviews to gather information and tactfully handle sensitive and difficult situations; work in fast paced environment and be able to handle assignments with short deadlines.

License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license.

DESIRABLE EMPOLYMENT STANDARDS

Education: Supplemental coursework in the behavioral, biological, or social sciences, or community college

Skill/Ability to: Bilingual in the Spanish language.

License or Certificate: Certification in the areas of Human Services, Social Work, or Home Health Aide

Additional Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Candidates selected will be required to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Additionally, a background investigation may also be conducted, which may include a re-investigation every 10 years for some positions. An Employment Eligibility Verification using E-Verify may be required on the first day of employment for some positions. Some job classes may also require a physical exam.

COLLEGE COST REDUCTION ACCESS ACT

This may be a qualifying position for student loan forgiveness through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA). Only student loan payments made after October 1, 2007 and in a qualified repayment plan are eligible. For more information you are encouraged to speak with your student loan servicer or visit: http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation .





EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Bargaining Unit 4

The information listed is a general summary of benefits. These provisions do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and are subject to change.

Benefit Amount: An annualbenefit amountis provided and may be applied towards health insurance premiums (medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability).This benefit is pro-rated and paid on a pay period basis (24 pay periods).

Health Insurance: A choice of PPO and HMOmedical plans which include PPOand HMO dental plans andinclude dentalandvision coverage. Dependent coverage is available. Providers include Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Delta Dental, andVision Services Plan (VSP).

Retirement: The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the 1937 Act County Employees Retirement Act and integrated with Social Security. In addition to ordinary retirement benefits, the plan provides disability and death benefits. Retirement contributions are made by both the County and the employee. The County has reciprocity with the State of California, contracting PERS agencies, and all County 1937 Act Retirement Systems.

Paid Holiday Leave: 12 set days and 1 personal holiday.

Vacation Accrual:
2 weeks per year (0-3 years of service)
3 weeks per year (3-7 years of service)
4 weeks per year (7-11 years of service)
5 weeks per year (11+ years of service)
Limit of 300 hours.

Sick Leave Accrual: 12 days per year with unlimited accumulation, 50 hours of which may be used toward family sick leave.

Group Term Life Insurance and AD&D: $10,000; Provided by Standard Insurance Company.

Disability Insurance: Employees are covered by State Disability Insurance. The premium is paid by the employee.

Deferred Compensation: A voluntary deferred compensation plan is available.

To view more detailed descriptions of Tulare County's benefits, please view the Benefits section of our Web site at https://tularecounty.ca.gov/hrd/benefits-wellness/health-plans-active-employees/

The Provisions Of This Bulletin Do Not Constitute An Expressed Or Implied Contract And Are Subject To Change.

Closing Date/Time: 12/6/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Tulare - HR&D

• 559-636-4900

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