Social Worker (Forensic Social Worker/Forensic Professional Counselor)

Summary

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDSDC) is interested in attracting the best talent for our organization. To be considered for this vacancy announcement, applicants should review the announcement in its entirety and follow the instructions within. To learn more about PDSDC, please visit https://www.pdsdc.org/.

This job is open to

• The public
  
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to U.S. Citizens and those authorized to work in the U.S.

Duties

If hired at PDS Grade 12, a candidate may be promoted without further competition upon completion of one year of exemplary performance and upon maintenance of active professional social work (LICSW) or professional counselor license (LPC), subject to approval of the PDS Director.

PDS Overview: The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation for indigent individuals who are charged with criminal offenses in the District of Columbia and face a loss of liberty. PDS has approximately 200 employees, most of whom work at our main office located at 633 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. The PDS staff consists of approximately 100 attorneys, and approximately 100 social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical employees. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in certain federal benefits plans: health and life insurance, federal retirement system, and the Thrift Savings Plan.

Employment at the Public Defender Service (PDS) is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are "At-Will."

Division Description and Position Background: The Mental Health Division (MHD) provides legal representation to the District of Columbia residents, who have been involuntarily institutionalized for treatment of mental illness; who have been found incompetent to stand trial; or who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI). In addition, the MHD staff regularly advises local and national advocacy groups, testify before the D.C. Council on legislative reforms and frequently provide critical assistance to trial division attorneys.

Major Duties: The incumbent of the position serves as a forensic social worker or forensic professional counselor responsible for direct support to NGI acquittees pursing both conditional and unconditional release from their commitment. NGI acquittees must demonstrate to the Court that they have sufficiently recovered their sanity such that they are not likely to endanger themselves or others, if released. The process of release is intricate and slow. The average length of commitment is twenty-six years. The incumbent will have to be well-versed with all aspects of the acquittee's recovery and work collaboratively with counsel of record to achieve the desired outcome for the client.

Additionally, the incumbent will:

• Evaluate clients, devise, recommend, and implement case strategies for the client's successful return to the community and ultimate release from commitment.
• Develop conditional release plans according to the individual needs of the client.
• Prepare extensive persuasive, legally and clinically-based analytical psychosocial assessment which are submitted to the court.
• Provide follow-up visits, care and coordination of services for clients who are released to the community to ensure continued stay in the community and to avoid re-hospitalization.
• Research, analyze, and interpret clinical literature for persuasive advocacy.
• Independently manage clinical and legal case records/files.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with government agencies, private organizations, and services throughout the District of Columbia Metropolitan area.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Key Requirements: (1) Applicant must be a US Citizen or have current authorization to work in the United States; (2) Incumbent must have no convictions as defined in D.C. Code Sec. 14.305(b)(1) (Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime); (3) Incumbent must have a valid U.S. driver's license; (4) incumbent must own or have ready-use of an insured, reliable, and privately-owned motor vehicle and must be insured as the driver for that vehicle (rental cars and car services are not acceptable substitutes).

*All candidates are subject to a criminal background check.

Qualifications

• All applicants must have an active District of Columbia licensure as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
• All applicants must have one year of experience as social worker/case manager or other comparable experience in criminal defense mitigation, court-based client advocacy (for the mentally ill and/or dually diagnosed), or direct clinical services (mental health and/or dually diagnosed) for indigent clients in a criminal justice setting (i.e., Drug Court, Mental Health Community Court, etc.).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Required: In addition to a traditional resume, candidates should submit a separate narrative statement addressing the following quality ranking factors. These factors will be used to distinguish the best-qualified applicants from a group of persons basically qualified for the position. Failure to submit your narrative response for this job will negatively affect your eligibility and/or rating for this position.

1. Experience working with arrested adults and understanding of the plight of persons from disadvantaged backgrounds.
2. Direct defense experience working with adult clients on rehabilitation and dispositional issues.
3. Knowledge of social work concepts and concepts related to rehabilitation and alternatives to involuntary hospitalization and/or confinement.
4. Intense knowledge of mental illness.
5. Demonstrated excellent writing and oral persuasion skills and ability to communicate effectively to broad spectrum of people.
6. Demonstrated computer skills.
7. Familiarity with treatment and rehabilitation resources available in the D.C. metro area.
8. Knowledge of the court system.
9. Detailed knowledge of the mental health system in general, and specific aspects of the experience related to those committed to mental institutions, including the effects of institutionalization.
10. Experience in crisis intervention counseling and de-escalation.

Qualifications Required for the Grade 12

To qualify for the Grade 12, a candidate must possess the aforementioned educational requirement and at least one year of general experience (described below):

• General experience is progressively responsible experience in social work concepts, counseling, or other work that indicates the possession of, or the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the forensic social work duties

Qualifications Required for the Grade 13

To qualify for the Grade 13 a candidate must possess the aforementioned educational requirement and at least 2 years the following specialized experience:

• Candidates must have demonstrated and progressively responsible experience that is in, or closely related to, the work of the position that has provided the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to apply a body of concepts, regulations, decisions, or statutes; extracting data from various sources; and dealing with people for purposes such as assessing mental health and identifying rehabilitation resources for social work or similar purposes.

Note: If hired at PDS Grade 12, a candidate may be promoted without further competition upon completion of one year of exemplary performance and upon maintenance of active professional social work (LICSW) or professional counselor license (LPC), subject to approval of the PDS Director.

Highly Desired Qualifications:

• Candidates with bilingual Spanish/English skills are strongly encouraged to apply.

Education

Educational Qualifications:

All applicants must possess at least a master's degree, or higher in either Social Work, Counseling, or another related field.

Additional information

Benefits:

PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and employees are entitled to participate in federal benefits plans, federal retirement systems, and the workers compensation program. Transferring federal employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement (if applicable) purposes. Benefits include:

• Federal Employees Retirement Systems (retirement annuity)
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K program)
• Federal Employees Health Benefits (health insurance)
• Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (life insurance)
• Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (for health care and dependent care)
• Parking Space (for Investigative Specialists)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Federal Occupational Health (access to health clinic and services)

Telework: This position requires on-site presence, both in the office and in the field, as necessary to meet the demands of the role. This position is eligible for telework in accordance with the organization's policy.

Location:

Public Defender Service

Mental Health Division

633 3rd Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

• Benefits
  
  Review our benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application package includes your cover letter, resume and requested supporting documentation. Please ensure your application package includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient evidence in your application package and requested supporting documents can result in a rejection of your application package.

Rating: Your application package will be rated and ranked among other applicants, based on your experience, education, training, and awards relevant to the duties of this position. Your rating can be lowered if your application package is not supported by the requested documents.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application package will be referred to a hiring manager for consideration at which time you may be invited to participate in a selection interview.

Interview Structure: Those who are selected for interviews will be required to interview via Web- X, Skype, or some other communications platform. Note: PDS reserves the right to interview prior to the closing date.

• Benefits
  
  Review our benefits
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  Please read the "How to Apply" section.
  
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  
  For consideration applicants must submit the required documents listed below. Failure to submit will result in an incomplete application. Please upload the required documents as one PDF attachment. Multiple transcripts should also be uploaded to one document as well.
  
  Please ensure your application package includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient evidence in your application package and requested supporting documents can result in a rejection of your application package. Your application package should include the following:
  
  • Cover letter and traditional résumé (with day telephone and email contact);
  • A brief narrative statement addressing the above KSA's. *Please refer to the "Other Required Qualifications" section of this announcement;
  • Copy of college transcripts but must submit original copy prior to offer/employment;
  • Copy of your active District of Columbia license as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC);
  • Your most recent performance appraisal;
  • A list of three professional references with brief description on how each reference is able to attest to your skills/experience; and
    
    • Please include the name, email and telephone number and the relationship (i.e. Direct Supervisor, Indirect Supervisor, Mentor etc.)
  
  Please send your application package in MS WORD or PDF documents; please combine application materials in 1 PDF document, if able. Applications MUST be mailed to PDSHRMailbox@pdsdc.org.
  
  To ensure your application receives proper consideration, the subject line of your application email MUST include the job announcement number and the position title (i.e. PDS 2024-10: Forensic Social Worker-2024).
  
  All applicants' materials become property of PDS and will not be returned.
  
  PDS will not accept application packages by postal mail, fax, or personal delivery.
  
  For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please contact Teresa Oliver, Senior HR Specialist at (202) 824-2352 or at TOliver@pdsdc.org.
  
  PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an E-Verify Participating Agency
  
  Agency contact information
  
  Public Defender Service
  
  Email
  
  PDSHRMailbox@pdsdc.org
  
  Address
  
  Public Defender Service for District of Columbia
  
  633 Indiana Ave., NW
  
  Washington, DC 20004
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  Please read the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Please read the "How to Apply" section.


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

For consideration applicants must submit the required documents listed below. Failure to submit will result in an incomplete application. Please upload the required documents as one PDF attachment. Multiple transcripts should also be uploaded to one document as well.

Please ensure your application package includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient evidence in your application package and requested supporting documents can result in a rejection of your application package. Your application package should include the following:

• Cover letter and traditional résumé (with day telephone and email contact);
• A brief narrative statement addressing the above KSA's. *Please refer to the "Other Required Qualifications" section of this announcement;
• Copy of college transcripts but must submit original copy prior to offer/employment;
• Copy of your active District of Columbia license as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC);
• Your most recent performance appraisal;
• A list of three professional references with brief description on how each reference is able to attest to your skills/experience; and
  
  • Please include the name, email and telephone number and the relationship (i.e. Direct Supervisor, Indirect Supervisor, Mentor etc.)

Please send your application package in MS WORD or PDF documents; please combine application materials in 1 PDF document, if able. Applications MUST be mailed to PDSHRMailbox@pdsdc.org.

To ensure your application receives proper consideration, the subject line of your application email MUST include the job announcement number and the position title (i.e. PDS 2024-10: Forensic Social Worker-2024).

All applicants' materials become property of PDS and will not be returned.

PDS will not accept application packages by postal mail, fax, or personal delivery.

For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please contact Teresa Oliver, Senior HR Specialist at (202) 824-2352 or at TOliver@pdsdc.org.

PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an E-Verify Participating Agency

Agency contact information

Public Defender Service

Email

PDSHRMailbox@pdsdc.org

Address

Public Defender Service for District of Columbia

633 Indiana Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20004

US

Next steps

Please read the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request