Social Services Advocate - PDD Boston

Mass.gov; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A state agency in Massachusetts is seeking a full-time Social Services Advocate in Boston. This role involves working as part of a multidisciplinary defense team to support adult criminal defendants and promote their legal and life outcomes. Ideal candidates will have strong advocacy skills, cultural competence, and experience with bio-psychosocial assessments. This position offers the opportunity to advocate for justice and support a diverse client population.

Qualifications

• Experience working with diverse populations and understanding of race, ethnicity, and gender identities.
• Ability to conduct interviews and assessments regarding social and clinical issues.
• Knowledge of court processes and advocacy within various systems.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with legal defense team members for comprehensive client support.
• Conduct bio-psychosocial interviews and facilitate social services intervention.
• Advocate within court and social service systems to benefit clients.

Skills

Cultural competence

Advocacy skills

Bio-psychosocial assessment

Job description

Overview

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, seeks applicants for a full-time Social Services Advocate position in our Boston Office. As an integral part of the defense team, Social Service Advocates work closely with attorneys, investigators, and other key defense players to obtain the best possible legal and life outcomes for our clients.

We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.

Office and Agency Context

CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing representation when the appointment of an attorney is required. The agency handles criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as appeals and post-conviction proceedings. The clients we represent are diverse and bring many cultural dimensions to our work, requiring cultural competence and respect for differences across race, ethnicity, gender identities, abilities, and language access.

Position Overview

The Social Services Advocate works as part of a multidisciplinary legal defense team to provide zealous advocacy to adult criminal defendants to achieve strong legal and life outcomes. SSAs collaborate with attorneys, investigators, support staff, retained experts, law students and interns. The SSA identifies social and clinical issues that preceded arrest and those that may result from court involvement, while adhering to the attorney-client confidentiality rules. SSAs work under the supervision of the Social Services Advocate Director and with guidance from the Attorney in Charge. The SSA conducts bio-psychosocial interviewing and assessment, social history investigation, forensic case management, advocacy within court, carceral, mental health, and social service systems, promotes family engagement, and contributes to treatment, sentencing planning, reporting, testimony, and connections to programs. Social services intervention occurs at all stages of the court process, from arraignment through resolution and post-conviction.