ADOLESCENT REPRESENTATION TEAM – SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) seeks a Social Work Supervisor for the Adolescent Representation Team in the Criminal Defense Practice.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work with clients is focused on the intersection of the legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown people living below the poverty level in Brooklyn.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues.

The Adolescent Representation Team (ART) represents and protects the legal rights of young people who are arrested. Our staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals. Social workers on the team provide clinical support, case management, and advocacy for BDS clients up to age 18 in juvenile delinquency proceedings as well as the youth part in Criminal Supreme Court.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision to social workers, advocates and social work interns in the ART.
• Promote a supportive team environment and proactively seek to create an equitable and inclusive work environment.
• Support ongoing collaboration between social work staff and attorneys in the ART as well as across BDS to ensure the client is receiving the best representation and the resources that are available to them.
• Assign cases and monitor caseloads of supervisees.
• Provide regular feedback and evaluate social work staff members both informally and formally through the evaluation process.
• Monitor staff case files, notes and documentation on case management and document management systems, assuring information is properly recorded in accordance with professional responsibility rules and BDS’ policies.
• Coordinate social worker coverage of cases in court.
• Appear in court to provide advocacy on individual cases as needed.
• Provide crisis intervention and respond to emergencies that arise.
• Ensure adequate client interaction and support including in-person visits.
• Ensure appropriate involvement and support of family members.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Department of Probation personnel to facilitate coordination of meetings with clients and intervene in issues as they arise.
• Identify resources and foster collaborative relationships with resource providers.
• Attend staff, team, and agency meetings as appropriate.
• Know and apply BDS policies and procedures, including personnel and office policies; serve as ADP time and attendance supervisor.
• Maintain own reduced caseload.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
• Five years of experience working with clients who have active court involvement with demonstrated expertise in all clinical aspects and client needs.
• Family Court experience with delinquency cases a plus.
• Experience supervising social work staff, advocates, and/or interns a plus.
• In-depth knowledge of adolescent development as well as intergenerational and complex traumas.
• Strong crisis intervention, safety planning, and client advocacy skills.
• Excellent writing, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.
• SIFI Certified or willingness to obtain certification.

Position Information

This is an exempt, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, however supervisors may receive phone calls or other urgent matters outside these hours from time to time. The position is based at BDS’s offices and the courts located in Downtown Brooklyn, with jail and home visits as needed.

Supervisors are working a hybrid schedule of in-person and at-home days. However, supervisors are expected to be available in person as needed for their team and their function.

Salary for this position is based on the experience of the applicant and ranges from approximately $100,000- 135,000. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b)-retirement plan. To support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions

Click HERE to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Please submit your application by October 18, 2024.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director, H.R., Christina Wallace, at cwallace @ bds.org.