Criminal Defense Social Services Specialist/ Social Worker

Harris County Office of Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) is a client-centered, community oriented, holistic criminal defense program. At MAC, we strive to remove barriers and take the “whole” person approach, by recognizing the collateral consequences of criminal justice involvement, and addressing the underlying social service needs, beyond the legal charge, that brings our clients’ to our doorstep. We work with appointed defense attorneys to assist clients who are facing criminal charges in Harris County and cannot afford to hire private counsel. To ensure clients are getting quality representation, MAC’s holistic efforts consist of an interdisciplinary team of social services specialist, defense attorneys, investigators, and immigration attorney.

The Social Services Specialist/Social Worker is an integral member of the holistic team who will be working closely with clients while collaborating and strategizing with other team members to ensure best outcomes. We are seeking collaborative, driven, and passionate individual who believes in a holistic-practice model and will treat clients with dignity and respect. This role will assist attorneys by participating in developing defense strategies and creating appropriate plans for alternatives to incarceration.

The successful candidate is expected to deploy high-level communication and engagement skills in developing rapport with clients and should be comfortable meeting with clients in different settings (office, jail, shelter, street, court, hospital, etc.). The individual should have exceptional writing skills to prepare psychosocial assessments, sentencing reports, advocacy letters, and mitigation letters for clients referred by assigned attorneys to assist in plea negotiations as well as in mitigation for sentence hearings. The Social Services Specialist/Social Worker should have knowledge of appropriate and available resources in the community to address MAC’s clients underlying needs, thus connecting clients to housing, community resources, and other supportive services is a critical function of this role. The successful candidate should be detail-oriented and comfortable in providing oral advocacy, as they may be asked to testify in court.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Gathers and reviews information to include, but not limited to, psychological, medical, and education records to make appropriate determinations and recommendations
Identifies therapeutic, educational, vocational, social, and other resources to meet client, family, community, and justice system needs
Conducts interviews with clients and other collaterals and witnesses in various settings through different modes of communication to aid in the representation of client
Prepares psychosocial assessment and social histories to assist in plea negotiations and sentencing
Advocates for alternatives to incarceration by identifying underlying needs and determining services needed
Provides attorneys with formal and informal release plans to present to the court
Testifies in court upon request of attorneys to present mitigating circumstances
Conducts and prepares competency reports to determine the competency status of clients and whether further mental health forensic evaluation is needed, including face-to-face interviews to collect bio-psychosocial history, mental status exams, and competency assessments
Assists attorneys with identifying appropriate experts
Assists attorneys in determining client’s competency status
Appears for court settings, when requested by clients and attorneys
Assists with connecting clients to community resources and treatment providers
Assists with submitting applications to substance abuse, housing, and mental health programs/providers
Ensures accurate tracking of cases, case outcomes, and social service delivery
Works closely with supervisor to ensue best practices, and for consulting or triaging cases
Provides clients on furlough with transport to interviews for residential programs
Delivers clients to the program for admission
Picks up medications from pharmacy prior to dropping client off at the residential facility
Maintains accurate and detailed reports, case records, progress notes, and related management information
Collaborates with Supervisor to provide internal and external trainings
Performs other duties as assigned