DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The Family Court Caseworker’s primary role is to work with parents and caretakers who are accused of neglect or abuse in Albany Family Court. Additionally, the incumbent with Raise the Age (RTA) Youth Court adolescent clients who are charged with felonies and prosecuted as adults. The incumbent will be an integral part of the family defense team to advocate, both in and out of court, for clients facing abuse and neglect allegations. The incumbent links clients to appropriate services who are in custody disputes. The incumbent would help maintain and support the reintegration and lasting reunification of the family unit. Albany County Public Defender’s Office also represents Juvenile and Adolescent offenders, who are charged for crimes and prosecuted as adults, in Albany County’s Family Court Youth Part. While working closely with the Youth attorneys, the incumbent helps obtain documents, interview clients and any collect collateral contacts with the goal of gathering a life history to highlight mitigating circumstances such as mental illness, drug addiction, trauma and/or chronic poverty leading to a client's involvement in the criminal justice system. The incumbent assists attorneys in advocating and/or draft pre-plea and sentencing memoranda for requesting advocating for alternatives to incarceration, or a lesser sentence, based on mitigating factors. The incumbent evaluates Youth clients and recommends alternatives to jail, such as treatment programs. The incumbent completes necessary paperwork to obtain and provide supporting documents to facilitate a client's interview with a treatment program and/or to assure a client's acceptance into such a program.TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:· Partner with the family court attorneys to provide comprehensive legal representation and determining case strategy for clients facing abuse and neglect allegations;· Advocate for clients at Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and foster care case conferences.· Conduct assessments of client needs and develop appropriate social work strategies;· Refer clients for services and communicate with providers about clients' needs and goals;· Draw on a broad range of theories, knowledge, research, and skills to facilitate collaboration across health, welfare and other systems that impact clients’ well-being;· Prepare and obtain necessary releases and authorizations to request and obtain client's life history records;· Order, review, and analyze life history records (i.e. school, medical, psychiatric) in order to document specific arguments within written reports;· Assess a client's readiness for treatment and make referrals to substance abuse treatment, domestic violence, mental health counseling, shelters; education and-vocational programs;· Provide supportive counseling and support clients as they navigate intersecting systems;· Visit clients at the Capital District Juvenile Secure, home and in the community;· Maintain case notes and documentation;· Provide crisis intervention when needed;· Additional responsibilities as assigned.FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:· Good knowledge of the child protective/child welfare system;· Good knowledge of family court, and /or the family legal system;· Strong clinical assessment skills;· Excellent writing, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills;· Ability to work collaboratively with family court attorneys;· Ability to take responsibility for a caseload of clients with varying needs and case-related deadlines, ensuring timely action and intervention;· Ability to interface negotiate with community based treatment, educational, vocational, and other alternative programs;· Excellent organizational skills;· Strong computer skills;· Ability to collaborate with community;· Ability to interface with County Attorney, Judges, District Attorneys, DCYF staff, Probation and Parole Officers, and Correctional Personnel.MINIMUM QUALIFICATONS:A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university as a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or a master’s degree in Social Work: ORB. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with at least a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice, human services, psychology, sociology or closely related field and two (2) years of advocacy experience.SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:Must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of hire.Juris. Class: CompetitiveAlbany County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.Competitive class vacancies are filled by certified list provided by Albany County Civil Service. Should no certified list be available, candidates appointed to this position will be serving in a provisional appointment in accordance with New York State Civil Service Law. The candidate must successfully complete a competitive examination and be eligible for appointment in accordance with Civil Service Law and the Civil Service Rules for Albany County to obtain a permanent appointment.

Minimum Salary: 92,797 Maximum Salary: 100,343 Salary Unit: Yearly