Immigration Social Work Supervisor

The Bronx Defenders (BXD)- an innovative, progressive, holistic defense office in the South Bronx- seeks an experienced Master's level Social Worker with a commitment to social justice to fill a position as a Supervisor in our Immigration Practice (IMM).

The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally-recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national level. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

The Immigration Practice

Twenty years ago, The Bronx Defenders developed the model of integrated criminal defense and immigration representation. Our Immigration attorneys and advocates work closely with people throughout the pendency of their cases in both Criminal and Family Court to avoid and mitigate negative immigration consequences that may arise from those cases. Our Immigration staff represent people in deportation proceedings in both detained and non-detained settings, provide affirmative immigration services, and pursue community-based litigation and advocacy aimed at transforming anti-immigrant federal laws and policy. The Immigration Practice consists of over 60 staff members including attorneys, social workers, legal advocates, and administrative professionals.

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Managing Director of Social Work, the Immigration Social Work Supervisor will represent a reduced caseload of clients while providing direct supervision, training, and professional development to social workers and interns in the social work practice; managing daily operations of the immigration social work team; and acting as a liaison between the practice, courthouse, community-based organizations, and the community.

Client Representation

• Represent a reduced caseload at risk of deportation due to involvement in the criminal and/or family legal system

Direct Supervision of Immigration Social Workers

• Facilitate individual and group supervision meetings with social workers in the IMM social work practice
• Foster collaboration among social workers, attorneys, and other interdisciplinary team members, and ensure social workers are assigned on cases that require social work support and advocacy
• Monitor workload among staff social workers
• Evaluate performance and provide constructive feedback to supervisees, aiding them in their professional development and growth in the role
• Review, provide constructive feedback, and workshop supervisees’ written advocacy
• Coordinate assignment of cases and emergency case coverage in collaboration with IMM SW Director
• Review case notes to ensure social work advocacy is accurately documented
• Prepare yearly evaluations of social workers
• Provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision and support marginalized supervisees in navigating experiences of oppression in their work

Direct Training and Development of New IMM Social Workers

• Collaborate with the Managing Director of Social Work to assist in interviewing, hiring, and training of new IMM social workers
• Collaborate with the SW and IMM Training Directors as well as the Managing Director of Social Work to plan and implement trainings to address the ongoing professional development needs of IMM social workers
• Collaborate with IMM Training Directors to ensure attorney and non-attorney advocates in IMM are trained on working with social workers
• Encourage supervisors, social workers and advocates to contribute to SW intern supervision and trainings

Communicate and Collaborate with Leaders in Other Practice Areas

• Ensure regular cross-practice collaboration by ensuring immigration social workers are brought on to cases that can use their support and flagging referrals that should also be made to advocates in other practices
• Participate in supervisor meetings with supervisors in the immigration and social work practices
• Participate in the development of special projects as they arise such as policy and Equity and Institutional Transformation (EIT) initiatives

Represent BxD in the Courthouse and Community

• Represent the BxD Social Work Practice with the judiciary, community-based programs, and the Center for Holistic Defense in collaboration with the Managing Director of Social Work
• Educate courthouse staff about the IMM Social Work Practice and its specific role in holistic defense
• Intervene to resolve conflicts between social workers and adversaries
• Participate in committees, external trainings and conferences outside of the office to educate on and advance holistic defense social work

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• Master of Social Work from an accredited Graduate School of Social Work
• Minimum of two years of defense social work experience, working with systems-involved people with histories of trauma, substance use disorder, and/or mental health diagnoses

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Commitment to supporting the defense of people ensnared in carceral systems and the immigration system in the Bronx community
• Understanding of how systemic oppression affects marginalized communities and their experience in the legal system
• Commitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we represent
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to think critically and creatively under pressure, finding innovate solutions to unique obstacles
• Supervisory and mentoring skills, including
  • Interest in and commitment to developing and mentoring supervisees
  • Ability to provide intentional, equitable and constructive feedback
  • Flexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own caseload
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordingly
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality around sensitive issues
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

Preferred, but not required:

• Experience participating in the representation of people navigating the immigration legal system
• Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) Certification
• Spanish fluency

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 2-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $94,304-$101,800 Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is not within the bargaining unit.

This position is exempt. By law, nonexempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.