Job Description

The Private Counsel Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking applicants for a Social Services Advocate position. This state-wide position will be part of the Private Social Work Services Unit. They will work closely with the Innocence Program, the Parole Unit, Alternative Commitment and Registration Support Unit (ACRSU), and the Post-Conviction Unit under the guidance of the Director of Private Social Work Services, providing direct client support and advocacy, resource development, and consultation and training to defense attorneys.

This position is statewide. While the PCD SSA can be seated in any CPCS office that has available space, the position involves travel across the state to meet with clients, collaterals, and attend in-person meetings.

We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.

Our Values

Courage • Accountability • Respect • Excellence

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.

The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.

The Private Counsel Division (PCD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking to fill a full-time Social Services Advocate (SSA) position to provide direct client support for the Innocence Program, the Parole Unit, Alternative Commitment and Registration Support Unit (ACRSU), and the Post-Conviction Unit. Clients represented by these units have been convicted of a criminal matter and are seeking relief through parole, the appellate process, or other post-conviction legal proceedings. The PCD SSA will work to ensure CPCS clients achieve the most favorable legal and life outcomes. This position also provides consultation and training for attorneys and resource development for the SSA Unit.

The position requires flexibility, the ability to prioritize and problem-solve, excellent organizational and written advocacy skills, good judgement, attention to detail, and a trauma-informed, person-centered approach. The PCD SSA must be able, and willing, to enter county and state correctional facilities. The PCD SSA is expected to adhere to the rules of confidentiality under the attorney-client relationship.

The Social Services Advocate will report to the Director of Private Social Work Services, with direction provided by the Directors of the Post-Conviction, Parole, ACRSU, and Innocence Program units.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in a social service field and one year of related experience, or an equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience;
• Must have insured, reliable and available transportation, and a valid MA driver’s license; and,
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

A Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field and a valid and active professional independent clinical license is strongly preferred.

Please submit a writing sample with your application, preferably a redacted psychosocial report or discharge/release plan

QUALIFICATIONS/ SKILLS

• Experience working with individuals and families of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, educational, disabilities, and economic backgrounds;
• Experience with conducting psychosocial interviews, needs assessments, and writing and executing discharge, release, or re-entry plans;
• Experience with case management, coordinating services, and collaboration as part of multi-disciplinary teams;
• Experience with drafting comprehensive defense-oriented written advocacy and release plans;
• Ability to conduct comprehensive records review and identify salient information (educational, medical, mental health, psychological, etc.);
• Knowledge of social, psychological, environmental, economic, legal, and medical factors that influence behavior;
• Understanding of social structures and institutional barriers that cause disparities, such as systemic racism and poverty;
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with colleagues and supervisors, as well as with external service providers;
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple clients and responsibilities;
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends to meet with clients, willingness to transport clients to programs, attend meetings, and conduct collateral interviews;
• Knowledge of basic computer skills, Microsoft Windows, virtual conference platforms (Zoom, Teams, etc.), and cell phone applications;
• Experience with unhoused or unsheltered populations is a plus; and,
• Bilingual abilities are a plus.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

The PCD Social Services Advocate responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting both brief and in-depth interviews with clients, respecting their individuality and with cultural humility;
• Providing ongoing client contact during the duration of a case;
• Interviewing collateral contacts as directed by the attorney of the case;
• Performing needs assessments as part of developing home, release, and re-entry plans;
• Making referrals to viable services, providers, programs, and applying for benefits, programs, housing, and other areas of need;
• Providing direct client re-entry support, including warm hand-offs and transportation to programs, appointments, and meetings;
• Drafting comprehensive release and reentry plans, including mitigating factors and applicable research that supports findings and recommendations;
• Gaining a comprehensive knowledge of statewide and local programs and services for all ages and abilities;
• Working collaboratively with community-based services that support our clients;
• Assisting the Director of Private Social Work Services with case support, projects, trainings, and coverage, including recruitment and training of private Social Services Expert vendors;
• Providing social services consultations to attorneys, including records and case file reviews; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

EEO Statement

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net