Employment Opportunities

CAAP Managing Social Worker Job Description

Overview

The Court Appointed Attorneys Program (CAAP) provides legal representation to indigent adults and youth in Alameda County when the Public Defender has a conflict or is at capacity. The Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA) is a nonprofit organization that serves the legal community and operates CAAP. CAAP works with a network of independent contractor attorneys and social workers and employs two youth social workers who provide direct support on youth cases. The Managing Social Worker role is a leadership position responsible for strengthening and expanding CAAP’s social work program. The position supports both adult and youth defense work by developing relationships with forensic social workers, supporting attorneys in effectively utilizing social work services, supervising CAAP’s youth social work team, and publicly demonstrating the important impact of social work within indigent defense. This position plays a key leadership role in the strategic development and growth of CAAP’s social work program, including strengthening interdisciplinary defense practices, expanding community partnerships, and helping identify and build out opportunities for future program and staffing growth.

The Managing Social Worker reports directly to the Director of CAAP and directly supervises both CAAP youth social workers.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and performance management for both CAAP youth social workers.
• Update policies, procedures, and best practices for the use of social work services within CAAP.
• Establish and maintain relationships with independent contract forensic social workers and oversee the vetting and quality assurance process.
• Support panel attorneys in identifying cases where social work services may improve client outcomes.
• Develop and deliver trainings for attorneys on the role of social work in adult and youth defense.
• Partner with CAAP administrative staff to identify, collect, and analyze program data that demonstrates the impact of social work services and supports future funding, staffing, and program development efforts.
• Lead the assignment of referrals to CAAP social workers and review their reports.
• Review billing from external contract social workers.
• Work collaboratively with CAAP leadership to identify opportunities for expansion of social work services and additional staffing resources.
• Represent CAAP at community meetings, conferences, social work organizations, and stakeholder groups to strengthen partnerships and increase awareness of CAAP’s work.
• Build and maintain relationships with courts, service providers, probation, behavioral health providers, schools, community-based organizations, and other system stakeholders.
• Help recruit and engage both attorneys and social workers interested in holistic and interdisciplinary defense practices.
• Work with administrative team to prepare reports, summaries, and presentations regarding social work program activities and outcomes.
• Attend staff meetings and other required meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master of Social Work (MSW) required; LCSW preferred.
• At least five years of experience working with justice involved individuals in a legal, youth justice, criminal defense, forensic, or related setting.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting program data.
• Strong relationship building skills and ability to work collaboratively with attorneys, courts, service providers, and community partners.
• Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income and historically marginalized communities.
• Knowledge of restorative justice, behavioral health systems, educational systems, and community-based resources.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and adapt to changing needs.

Work Environment

This is a full-time exempt position. The schedule is flexible and may include travel throughout Alameda County to courts, detention facilities, community organizations, attorneys’ offices, and other locations.

Salary Range: $135,000-150,000 per year

To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Kaylie Simon, Director, Court Appointed Attorneys Program, at kaylie@acbanet.org. The position will remain open until filled.