RFQ - Social Worker for Forensic Commitment Program

Full Job Description

The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) seeks a contract social worker within the Forensic Civil Commitment Program in advocating for clients under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social and Health Services pursuant to Chapter 10.77 RCW.

OPD is an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state. OPD’s mission is to uphold the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.

Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.

Values: Justice – Service – Equity – Excellence

Position Overview
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Forensic Civil Commitment Program currently provides state funded attorney representation to indigent clients with the right to counsel at State expense after being found not guilty by reason of insanity under Chapter 10.77 RCW. OPD is requesting applications for social workers to support contracted attorneys and clients, statewide.

Requirements

A contract social worker works at the direction of attorneys to provide advocacy, release planning, case management and referral services, as well as limited mitigation and limited crisis intervention, to assigned clients. Social workers are expected to advocate for clients currently committed to a state facility or who are in the community on a least restrictive alternative/conditional release. Social workers must also work to develop community resources in anticipation of client’s needs upon release, to include but not limited to housing, mental health/substance use treatment, and state and federal benefits.

Social workers must understand and adhere to requirements of confidentiality and attorney-client privilege.

For purpose of interpretation of the Washington State Bar Association’s Rules of Professional Conduct, social workers are considered “nonlawyer assistants” and are responsible to each referring attorney under RPC 5.3.

Qualifications

A qualified applicant must:

• Have a master in social work from an accredited institution;
• Have experience in working with individuals with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities;
• Have experience in release planning from a correctional or institutional setting;
• Have the ability to work individually and collaboratively with defense attorneys and social workers, while maintaining an understanding of the nature of defense work that includes the need to pivot and/or be flexible;
• Possess strong communication skills with multiple stakeholders and agencies, including OPD, prosecutors, various state agencies, treatment providers and landlords;
• Possess experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals experiencing state intervention in their lives;
• Have the ability to travel to meet clients both in the community and state hospitals and to explore community resources available;
• Have knowledge of community and funding resources for individuals releasing into the community; and
• Have an awareness of governing bodies of social work best practice as it pertains to ethics and standards of practice, including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Additional Information

Compensation

The contract caseload for a full-time social worker is approximately 1650 hours of client services per year.

The social worker shall use reasonable efforts to perform this level of client services, which could include direct and indirect client advocacy and support, as well as continuing education and training as it relates to the contract position, with an annual compensation of $115,716.00.

Application Procedure

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. To apply, email a letter of interest identifying your qualifications, resume, professional writing sample, and three references.

Email Materials to:

Laurel Brinson at Laurel.Brinson@opd.wa.gov

Please address any questions to:

Julia Newbold at Julia.Newbold@opd.wa.gov

OPD reserves the right to amend this Request for Qualifications and reserves the right to refrain from contracting with any and all applicants.

This Request for Qualifications does not obligate the State of Washington or OPD to contract for the services specified here.

Applications received in response to this Request for Qualifications may be added to an applicant pool and used to fill other positions of a similar nature across OPD.

The Washington State Office of Public Defense vigorously pursues diversity in the work force. Women, LGBTQ+, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 years of age, persons with a disability, and disabled and military veterans are encouraged to apply.