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SUMMARY: The Nueces County Public Defender’s Office Caseworker will assist attorneys representing indigent individuals with mental health and/or intellectual disability issues. The Caseworker will help identify client needs and eligibility for appropriate community services to address those needs. The Caseworker will also aid in the investigation of defenses and the development of specialized sentencing recommendations and perform related duties as required.

The employee is required to be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies, as directed by the Department Head. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

Manage a reasonable client caseload based on requests for social work and mitigation assistance from attorneys.

Interview clients, assess needs for services, and make appropriate referrals for services.

Acquire pertinent records relative to client’s psychosocial history and mental health diagnoses and treatment.

Identify and conduct interviews with family, friends, employers, and other support system members in the community who can aid in clients’ success.

Coordinate meetings between attorney and client as requested by attorneys.

Draft client correspondence and reports suitable for use in court proceedings.

Attend and effectively track client court settings as requested by attorneys.

Provide trial support with fact investigation and trial punishment mitigation as necessary.

Testify in court as necessary.

Collaborate with public defender team, service providers, and community resources to effectively provide holistic approach to indigent defense.

Prioritize and organize work to meet deadlines and court appearances.

Maintain case evaluation and activity records; provide case statistics to Chief Public Defender as requested.

Attend mental health training and public defender office training as requested by Chief Public Defender.

Perform any other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County’s insurance carrier.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Social Work or a social/behavioral science. At least one year of experience in case management or client advocacy or mitigation is preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: A valid Texas Driver’s license is required. If licensed by any professional board, verification of licensure must be provided.

LBSW, LMSW, LCSW licensure from Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Ability to operate a computer, including word processing programs, Adobe, Excel, and case management software.

Ability to prepare accurate and complete records and reports and meet deadlines.

Knowledge of interviewing techniques.

Ability to exercise considerable tact, courtesy, discretion, firmness, fairness, and cultural sensitivity in contact with clients and the general public.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, county employees, officials, and the general public.

Ability to deal with clients in crisis situations.

Ability to speak Spanish is preferred but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions and is required to conduct site visits in neighborhoods with known crime problems.  The employee will visit clients as necessary at the county jail or prison facilities.  The employee is exposed to a variety of communicable diseases while interviewing clients or performing home visits.  Vicious dogs and/or mentally unstable clients may represent a threat to employee.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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