Mental Health Caseworker - Galveston, United States - Galveston County

Galveston County

Verified Company

Galveston, United States

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

Description:

Under the supervision of the Chief Public Defender, works directly with clients assigned to the Galveston County Misdemeanor Mental Health Public Defenders Office.
Works collaboratively with the other members of the office to assist clients in connecting with housing, substance abuse, mental health, medical, employment, and any other relevant services/benefits during comprehensive clientcentered representation.
Provides support for Assistant Public Defenders to advocate for pretrial release, dismissals, diversions, and/or alternatives to conviction and/or incarceration.
Provides trial support/investigation as necessary.

Responsibilities:

Provides psychosocial data to support the legal position being presented in court.
Conducts comprehensive interviews in the community and local jail to determine clients' basic demographic information, living situation, relationship and family dynamics, legal status, education history, employment history, physical health, mental health, substance use history, and selfidentified goals and needs.
Attends collaborative meetings with the client and attorney.
Reviews and helps develop case service plans. Initiates/facilitates referrals to mental health treatment and other services for clients, as soon as possible, to ensure rapid engagement in services.
Gathers factual mitigation data through interviews, and obtaining and analyzing records.
Identifies and conducts interviews with family, friends, employers, and other support system members in the community who can aid in clients' success.
Based on a clinical review of assessment outcomes and interviews with family and other support systems, helps develop individualized alternative sentencing plans that, in consultation with the case attorney and client, recommend and advocate for communitybased sentences and alternative community treatment as indicated.
Provides trial support with fact investigation and trial punishment mitigation as necessary.
Researches and recommends alternatives to incarceration through memoranda prepared for submission to judges and prosecutors through Assistant Public Defenders.
Accompanies clients to court and participates in hearings, if requested by the defense attorney.
Provides additional information and support, as required.
Maintains ongoing pretrial or presentence updates on clients' progress through communication and collected documentation from community service providers and by conducting routine checkins with clients.
Fosters communication and connections with a wide array of community service providers while sustaining a comprehensive community referral network.
Completes special projects and other duties as assigned by the Assistant Public Defenders and/or the Chief Public Defender. Performs other duties as assigned.
This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any time.
Performs related work as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related field from an accredited institution.
Bilingualism is desirable.
Extensive related experience preferred.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The County of Galveston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.