Description
STATE OF WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENSE
711 South Capitol Way, Suite 106
Olympia, Washington 98504-0957
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
RFQ25025
SOCIAL WORKER FOR
FORENSIC COMMITMENT PROGRAM
[BENEFITS INFORMATION PROVIDE ON THIS WEBSITE
DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) seeks a contract social worker within the Forensic Civil Commitment Program in advocating for clients under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social and Health Services pursuant to Chapter 10.77 RCW.
OPD is an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state. OPD’s mission is to uphold the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.
Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.
Values: Justice – Service – Equity – Excellence
Position Overview
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Forensic Civil Commitment Program currently provides state funded attorney representation to indigent clients with the right to counsel at State expense against whom sexually violent predator petitions have been filed under Chapter 71.09 RCW. OPD is requesting applications for social workers to support contracted attorneys and clients, statewide. This position will require frequent travel to the Special Commitment Center (SCC) in Pierce County, as well as state-wide travel, dependent of client county of residence.
Duties
A contract social works at the direction of attorneys to provide advocacy, mitigation, referral services, limited crisis intervention, and release planning to assigned clients. Social workers are expected to advocate for clients currently committed to the Special Commitment Center (SCC), or who are in the community on a less restrictive alternative (LRA). Social workers must also work to develop community resources in anticipation of client’s needs upon release, to include but not limited to housing, sex offender treatment, mental health/substance use treatment, and state and federal benefits. Social workers must understand and adhere to requirements of confidentiality and attorney-client privilege. For purpose of interpretation of the Washington State Bar Association’s Rules of Professional Conduct, social workers are considered “nonlawyer assistants” and are responsible to each referring attorney under RPC 5.3.
Qualifications
A qualified applicant must:
- Have a Master of Social Work from an accredited institution;
- Experience in working with individuals with sex offense histories or with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities;
- Experience in release planning from correctional or institutional setting;
- Ability to work individually and collaboratively with defense attorneys and social workers, while maintaining an understanding of the nature of defense work that includes the need to pivot and/or be flexible;
- Good communication with multiple stakeholders, including prosecutors, various state agencies, treatment providers and landlords;
- Possess experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals experiencing state intervention in their lives;
- Ability to travel to meet clients both in the community and the SCC and to explore community resources available;
- Knowledge of community and funding resources for individuals releasing into the community; and
- Awareness of governing bodies of social worker best practice as it pertains to ethics and standards of practice, including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Supplemental Information
Compensation
The contract caseload for a full-time social worker is 160 hours a month with an annual compensation of $99,324.00.
Application Procedure
Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. To apply, email a letter of interest identifying your qualifications, resume, and three references.
Email Materials to: Laurel Brinson at Laurel.Brinson@opd.wa.gov
Please address any questions to: Julia Newbold at Julia.Newbold@opd.wa.gov
OPD reserves the right to amend this Request for Qualifications and reserves the right to refrain from contracting with any and all applicants. This Request for Qualifications does not obligate the State of Washington or OPD to contract for the services specified here.
The Washington State Office of Public Defense vigorously pursues diversity in the work force. Women, LGBTQ+, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 years of age, persons with a disability, and disabled and military veterans are encouraged to apply.