Holistic Defense Advocate
: Job Details :

We are currently accepting applications to fill two vacanciesfor the position of Holistic Defense Advocate(Social Service Worker, Senior job classification)in Santa Barbarafor thePublic Defender's Office.We are also establishing one employment list for future vacancies in the Public Defender's Office. Please select the locations you would like to be considered for current and future vacancies. If you qualify for this position and pass the required selection steps, your name will be sent to the hiring department of the vacancy locations where you have expressed that you are willing to work.The Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office provides legal representation to people accused or convicted of a crime and who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, as well as those subject to civil mental health commitments and other proceedings where their liberty is at stake. Our lawyers employ a holistic approach to criminal defense that draws from traditional and non-traditional legal representation models. Our clients have access to an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, investigators and advocates, who strive to reduce their exposure to the criminal justice system, mitigate collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and transform lives by addressing the social ills that contribute to criminal legal system involvement. Our advocacy often extends beyond conducting courtroom hearings and trials, as we aim to seek individualized solutions to the complex problems faced by our clients.

Within the Department is the Community Defender Division (CDD). Our specialized CDD team combines the expertise of public defense social workers, housing advocates, resource specialists, and attorneys to address the entire person and the underlying factors that lead to justice system involvement. By uncovering and documenting clients' histories, challenges, and circumstances, the CDD develops comprehensive narratives that help courts understand the full context of each case. Through comprehensive support and coordination of services, the team assists clients by identifying critical mitigating factors to advocate for fair and appropriate sentencing, securing stable housing solutions, facilitating access to substance use treatment, connecting clients to medical insurance and healthcare, arranging appropriate mental health services, and coordinating with community resources for sustainable support. This integrated approach helps break the cycle of system involvement while building pathways to stability and wellbeing for our clients.

THE POSITION: Under direction, one position plays an important role on the defense team, as a defense-based social worker dedicated to the County's Department of State Hospitals (DSH) mental health diversion program, an interdisciplinary team between the Public Defender, Behavioral Wellness, and community partnerships. The role provides defense attorneys with biopsychosocial assessments, mitigation for disposition, and means to advocate for diversion outcomes. Working directly with people incarcerated at the jail and state hospitals, this position conducts diversion assessments and service planning specifically for individuals who are Incompetent to Stand Trial. The position collaborates closely with attorneys and paralegals to support diversion efforts and goals, with Wellpath to support clients with stabilization while incarcerated, and with the DSH diversion team to advocate for community inpatient facility placements. The role requires oral and written advocacy with the courts and performs other duties as required.

The other position supports individuals in many ways including criminal-legal advocacy, housing, educational and family support, mental health linkage, substance use treatment, homelessness resourcing, safety planning, employment, treatment placement coordination, benefits navigation, and general support; and performs related duties as required. This position is part of the County's Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) where they work with team members from various County Departments. This position conducts comprehensive assessments and provides psycho-legal education, outreach and extensive support to some of the County's most vulnerable individuals in the community who are unhoused and living with complex medical and mental health conditions. The team's mission focuses on finding permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals with complex needs and requires specialized knowledge in cross-system collaboration.

Employees within this class work within a system of interdisciplinary departmental teams and/or contract service agencies providing assessment, prevention, intervention, treatment, and related ancillary support services via an integrated service delivery system to justice impacted people with alcohol or drug related problems, mental illness, and/or co-occurring conditions.

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. For information click here. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

Ideal Candidate will have:

• Understanding of the criminal legal system
• Understanding of mental health diversion criteria, Assembly Bill 1810, and Penal Code 1001.35-36
• Experience assessing adults and transitional age youth living with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders
• Experience working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

• Strong written advocacy skills
• Ability to work independently, organize and prioritize work, and meet critical deadlines
• Ability to multi-task, handle high-stress situations, thrive under pressure, and adapt to change
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy
• Experience interviewing and assessing clients
• Excellent communication skills which include the ability to exchange information in a clear, concise, and organized manner to diverse groups of people to help them understand process objectives and priorities
• Experience working with individuals who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment, make positive contributions, and assist others as necessary
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain sound working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and personalities
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Adaptability, a positive attitude, and an impeccable character
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Have proficient computer skills in Microsoft Office
• Bilingual ability is strongly desired, but not a requirement

Utilizes a client-centered approach to support individuals through all phases of system involvement, from arrest through community reintegration.

Conducts biopsychosocial assessmentsand collateral interviews with clients and families to determine clinically and medically appropriate community treatment and resources.

Provides crisis intervention and support services to clients as needed.

Conducts regular community and jail facility visits.

Identifies mitigating factors and prepares social history reports to advocate for fair sentencing.

Supports attorneys with mental health diversion assessments and treatment planning.

Develops culturally competent assessments, recommendations, and release plans for courts.

Provides expertise to assist judges and attorneys understand client circumstances.

Collaborates with families, community partners, and other public agencies to coordinate services.

Connects clients to mental health services, substance use treatment, and medical care.

Develops emergency and transitional housing placements.

Advocates for community-based solutions as alternatives to custody.

Identifies and connects individuals to available social services.

Identifies underlying issues that may have led to legal system involvement.

Develops comprehensive reintegration plans following incarceration.

Collaborates with County partners to achieve program goals and outcomes.

• Possession of a bachelor's degree including 30 semester or 45 quarter units of course work in social work, psychology, sociology, child development, or other behavioral sciences; AND two years of professional social work experience; OR,
• Two years of experience performing duties comparable to a Social Service Worker with Santa Barbara County; OR,
• A combination of training and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Additional Requirements:

• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required.
• Independent travel, including transportation of clients, within the County, throughout California, out of state, or country is required.
• Will be required to work outside normal business hours.
• Positions allocated to this class may require bilingual skills.

Knowledge of: interviewing and life skills counseling techniques; medical, psychological, educational, and social service resources, needs, problems, attitudes, and behavior of assigned client population; function of public assistance and social services systems; the practical application of human behavior and child development/parenting or aging principles; socio-economic/psychosocial factors affecting individual behavior, independent living social functioning, and social abnormalities.Ability to: interview a variety of people with diverse socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments and obtain specific information; assess social service needs; encourage clients in progress toward independent living and/or social functioning; learn, apply, and explain complex regulations and policies governing processes in assigned program; work independently; understand and follow direction; listen; cope with unusual life circumstances; manage a caseload and recall case details; maintain confidentiality of information; write reports and prepare routine statistical reports; organize and prioritize work assignments; make decisions and independent judgments; determine the appropriate course of action in an emergency or stressful situations; understand program objectives in relation to departmental goals and procedures; deal firmly and fairly with clients; maintain accurate records and document actions taken; identify and make referrals to local and regional providers of social, medical, and/or other specialized services; act on behalf of client to obtain needed services; access and use personal computer applications in a Windows (or equivalent contemporary operating system) environment; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

Review applications and Supplemental Questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 12 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.BACKGROUND CHECK AND MEDICAL EVALUATION: Public Defender's Officewill conduct a background investigation. Current or excessive use of drugs, sale of drugs, serious criminal history, or deception relating to employment history may bar employment. Other departments may require an extended background check including credit history; this is at the discretion of each department.REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Disaster Service Worker:Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 4:59 pm;postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.comLeza Patatanian, Employment Analyst II - ...@countyofsb.org#J-18808-Ljbffr