SALARY
 $38.16 - $45.77 Hourly
$79,376.96 - $95,193.28 Annually
Bilingual allowance when applicable.
Special Duty Assignment allowance when regularly assigned to a Psychiatric Health Facility.

The Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office provides legal representation from a holistic and client-centered perspective to adults and youth living in poverty who are accused of crimes and who have been traditionally marginalized. We use the tools of litigation, negotiation, and services-based solutions to address our clients' legal needs. 

Our Youth Defender Unit, located in Santa Maria, provides vigorous advocacy to system-involved youth from all parts of our diverse County from their first court appearance until their case is concluded and/or supervision ends.

Within the Department is the Community Defender Division (CDD), which provides advocacy and services for our clients while simultaneously seeking long-term systemic changes to improve the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. Our Department combines the knowledge and expertise of our attorneys and CDD social workers, housing advocates, and resource specialists to address the underlying causes for involvement with the criminal legal system. 

To learn more about us, visit https://www.countyofsb.org/187/Public-Defender

THE POSITION: Under general supervision of a licensed professional, this position plays an important role on the defense team, providing public defense attorneys with social history assessments, mitigation for disposition, and means to advocate and achieve client centered outcomes for minor clients. The position supports system-involved youth in many ways including 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.   

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Behavioral Wellness Practitioner Intern I/II is a flexibly staffed series. Behavioral Wellness Practitioner Intern is the intern-level class for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).  Incumbents provide professional mental health services under supervision of a licensed professional. Incumbents in this class are expected to progress to obtain licensure as an LCSW, LPCC, LMFT. This class is distinguished from Behavioral Wellness Practitioner I in that the latter class is a licensed practitioner whose incumbents can provide mental health services with less supervision.
 
Incumbents in these classes 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 and other drug-related problems, mental illness, and/or co-occurring conditions.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• Understanding of the juvenile justice system; 
• Experience working with children, teenagers, transition-aged youth;
• Experience working with youth with developmental disabilities/mental health concerns;
• Desire to work with system-involved and historically underserved youth; 
• Ability to work independently, organize and prioritize work, and meet critical deadlines;
• Ability to handle stressful situations, thrive under pressure, and adapt to change;
• Excellent communication skills which include the ability to exchange information clearly, concisely, and in an organized manner with diverse groups of people;
• Strong written advocacy skills;
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills; 
• Ability to handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy;
• Experience interviewing and assessing clients;
• Ability to work well in a team environment, make positive contributions, and help others;
• 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; 
• Have the ability to read, write, converse fluently in English and Spanish (preferred for some positions). 

• Supports youth during all phases of justice system involvement, including detention, residential placement, probation supervision, and community reintegration.
• Assesses and evaluates the behavioral health needs of youth for referrals to appropriate services, substance use or mental health treatment, medical care, vocational training programs, emergency housing, or appropriate placement options.
• Conducts ongoing psychosocial assessments and collateral interviews with clients and their families.
• Prepares social histories to assist in determining the most appropriate response to addressing a youth's needs, including diversion suitability and transfer.
• In consultation with the social work team and defense attorney, prepares written reports to provide culturally competent assessments, recommendations or release plans to the court.

• Collaborates with youth, families, schools, community partners, and other public agencies to coordinate services and resources. 

• Provides crisis intervention and support services to clients as needed. 

• Identifies available social services in the community and connects clients with them.
• Identifies issues that may have led the youth to involvement in the legal system.
• Develops plans to help youth rejoin their communities and families following detention.
• Advocates for community-based solutions as alternatives to detention.
• Ensures that clients' treatment needs are adequately addressed.
• Provides support to youth during custodial detention.
• Provides expertise to help judges and attorneys in understanding our clients' background.
• Contributes to early release from detention by identifying less restrictive placements for youth subject to long-term confinement.
• Conducts regular home and detention facility visits.
• Communicates regularly with attorneys regarding status of assignments.
• Confers with and advises clients' relatives to secure their understanding of and cooperation in treatment and rehabilitation programs.
• Manages the care of clients by assessing and referring them to public and private providers and monitoring their progress.

Applicants must meet the employment standards (minimum qualifications) list below to be considered for this position. Detailed information should be included in the application.

• Valid registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW), or Professional Clinical Counselor Interns (PCC); OR, 
• Waivered Psychologist status within California. Registration with Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). 

Appointees must obtain their California license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor within four years of appointment, as a condition of continued employment.  

If appointee is under the Waivered Psychologist status, they must obtain their California License as a Licensed Psychologist (Ph.D. or PsyD) prior to the expiration of the waiver.

Additional requirements for PCC Intern:  a minimum of (6) hours of continuing education (CE) specific to marriage and family therapy during each license renewal cycle. 

Driver's License: A valid Driver's License may be required at the time of application. A valid California Class C Driver's License may be required at the time of appointment. 

Other Requirements: Will be required to occasionally work outside normal business hours. This position will be based in Santa Maria, but countywide travel will be required.

Knowledge of: assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, counseling, and psychotherapeutic treatment of marriage, family, and child relationship dysfunctions; methods of developing and implementing a treatment plan; human service delivery systems; basic math.
 
Ability to: perform effective counseling with individuals, families, and groups; develop and maintain cooperative relationships with clients' families, members of other professional disciplines, social service agencies, and co-workers; relate professionally to persons with serious mental disorders; identify and utilize community resources; prepare and present clear and concise oral and written reports.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards. 
• Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking:  Candidates' response to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and autoscored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.  

Applicants must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire 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.
  
Veteran's Preference Points:  Veteran's preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans' hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act.  No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.  

To receive veteran's preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran's Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 to the Human Resources Department by attaching it to your application, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process.  The preference points will be added to your final test score.
  
Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the 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 probationary period of twelve (12) months.  

Recruiters will communicate with applicant 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.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a 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.