PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER I-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT / HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Salary : $76,804.32 - $98,034.72 Annually

Location : Los Angeles County, CA

Job Type : Full time

Job Number : L9034G-EA

Department : PUBLIC DEFENDER

Opening Date : 07 / 02 / 2025

Position / Program Information

LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT :

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - Emergency

Applications will be accepted from Mon day, July 07, 2025 , at 8 : 00 a.m. (PT) and will continue accepting applications until the vacancy is filled. The application filing window may close without prior notice.

EXAM NUMBER : L9034G-EA

WHO WE ARE

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system. Our Offices are headed by innovative and progressive leaders collaboratively working towards our agency's mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele. The office is seeking dedicated individuals in support of our mission and values.

We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County's homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County's jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing. The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct and indirect positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. The candidate who successfully passes the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Psychiatric Social Worker (PSW) I.

WHO CAN APPLY

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency PSW I vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

ABOUT THE POSITION

PSW Is independently perform professional social work services in connection with the assessments, formulating differential diagnoses, and treatment recommendations for clients in need of mental health services. This position reports to the Mental Health Clinical Supervisor.

Essential Job Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO :

• Conducts interviews with justice-involved individuals (i.e., juveniles and adults) and other necessary individuals (e.g., family, spouse, partners, or friends), by phone, virtually, or wherever located (e.g., home, public areas, and detention facilities), to obtain the client's complete biopsychosocial assessment that includes family, social, educational, employment, medical, substance use, developmental, and mental health history; establishes rapport with clients; and elicits specific information and accurately document all information gathered during these meetings to assist attorneys as part of the defense team.
• Develops and recommends tentative support plan by assessing the client's functioning in their environmental setting, and their biopsychosocial needs (e.g., psychiatric, educational, and developmental); and provides timelines and recommendations which may include referrals and / or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services (e.g., housing, community-based mental health, substance use disorder programs, and regional center) to support the client's defense.
• Implements the attorney-approved support plan to provide advocacy on behalf of the client; attends various meetings (e.g., inter-agency, Individualized Education Program (IEP), Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), and regional center); coordinates with representatives from various agencies to provide referrals and / or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services (e.g., housing, community-based mental health, substance use disorder programs, and regional center); and ensures delivery of these services to support the client through the legal process.
• Gathers and reviews the client's background information (e.g., school and medical records, interviews, and psychological evaluations) to provide clinical assessments and consultation, and prepares biopsychosocial reports detailing the needs of the client to support the attorney's casework; attends court to support client; and provides formal or informal testimony in defense of the client.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY

A Master's degree from an accredited school

You MUST meet the above requirements to be appointed to the PSW I position.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION :

WITHHOLD INFORMATION : No withholds will be allowed for this examination. The required education must be fully met and indicated on the application at the time of filing.

LICENSE A valid and active Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW)

Candidates must attach a copy of their valid and active license as an Associate Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences at the time of filing or email a copy to within seven (7) calendar days from the date the online application is filed.

A valid California Class "C" Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS II - LIGHT

This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Additional Information

EXAM CONTENT

Before the end of your initial work assignment, the department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment. If permanently appointed to the position, you will be subject to a probationary period based on the classification.

VACANCY INFORMATION

The selected applicants under this Emergency Appointment recruitment effort will be appointed to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Public Defender. The appointees to the position MUST BE WILLING to work any shift and in any Los Angeles County location and may be subject to transfer at any time.

APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Federal law requires that all applicants and employed persons have a Social Security number, include yours in your application.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, EMAIL, OR PASSWORD

All applicants must file their application online using their user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase existing profile information.

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Name : Minoja Herrera

Department Contact Phone : (213) 460-8075

Department Contact Email : Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov

California Relay Service Phone (Voice Carry Over (VCO)) : (800) 735-2922

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity / Non-Discrimination Statement :

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit :

Testing Accommodations for Applicants :

The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit :

Fair Chance :

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Employment Eligibility :

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

Career PathFinder :

Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at

Veteran's Credit :

Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.

For more information on veteran's credit, please visit :

Revised September 2025

For detailed information, please click

01

The information you provide on this supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility for the position. SELECT AND REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS CAREFULLY.

Any mistakes you make and / or any incomplete responses you provide in completing these questions will be used to disqualify your application even if you possess the qualifying experience or education. Be as specific as possible and include all information requested. Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered as a response. All information including work history, experience, and education is subject to verification at any time in the examination, selection, and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or dismissal.

02

Notices such as application notices and initial appointment letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. Add the following email addresses Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov, MHerrera@pubdef.lacounty.gov, Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov, info@governmentjobs.com, and Noreply@governmentjobs.com, to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam / junk mail.

03

This PSW I job opportunity works directly and indirectly with individuals experiencing homelessness.

04

Do you possess a Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work?

05

As stated on the job bulletin, to receive credit for your Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work, you must include a legible copy of your diploma, official transcripts, or letter from an accredited institution with your application or email it to within seven (7) calendar days of submitting your application.

Failure to provide the required documentation may affect the approval of your application and participation in this recruitment process.

06

Are you currently or have you ever been registered as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences?

07

If you answered YES to Question #6 above, please list all ACSW license numbers you have held and their original issuance date.

If you have never registered, been issued, or possess a current ACSW license, please enter "N / A".

08

Psychiatric Social Workers work in ANY area of Los Angeles County. Do you acknowledge this job requirement?

09

Psychiatric Social Workers work ANY shift (evenings, nights, weekends, etc.), Do you acknowledge this job requirement?

Required Question