RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)
add one (1) Forensic Social Worker (25WC) position, and cancel one (1) Social Worker II (XOWB) (represented) position 17757; add (2) Forensic Social Worker-Project (25V1) (represented) positions, and cancel two (2) Social Worker II - Project (X0W2)(represented) positions; and add one (1) Forensic Social Worker -Project (25V1) (represented) position.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional cost to the County for this action.
The addition of the Forensic Social Worker Project position is entirely funded by the Post-Conviction Relief Pilot Project funded by The California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC). The BSCC awarded The Public Defender’s Office $1,468,664 annually for three years to dramatically expand access to post-conviction relief services provided by recently enacted reforms in the areas of immigration vacatur, felony, murder resentencing, youthful offender parole, and prosecutor-initiated resentencing, to indigent individuals in Contra Costa County. This Forensic Social Worker will provide case management for clients including client assessments, developing reentry plans, provide linkages, and referrals, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team including attorneys, legal assistants, and clerical staff, to support eligible individuals thought the legal process, working to rectify inequitable, unlawful conviction sentences and to promote just outcomes.
BACKGROUND:
Since the Public Defender's Office hired its first social worker in 2013, it has used the county-wide Social Worker I-II-III job classification series and Social Work Supervisor I-II series as the source for prospective hires for its social workers. However, these classification series were created for, and overwhelmingly have been used for, recruitment within the Employment and Human Services Department’s Children and Family Services Bureau and the Aging and Adult Protective Services Bureau, where the job responsibilities and desired characteristics are significantly different from the characteristics needed for a forensic social worker in the Public Defender's Office. This has hampered recruitment efforts as both Children and Family Services and the Public Defender's Office have been obliged to hire off the same employment lists, creating considerable challenges for the Public Defender's Office in hiring social work candidates suited for employment on a criminal legal defense team.
Due to these challenges, it is necessary to create a new classification series targeted towards the work of the Public Defender's Office. These new job classifications have distinguishing characteristics, minimum qualifications, knowledge, skills and abilities, and typical tasks that accurately reflect the work that these employees will perform in the Public Defender's Office. Establishing this new series will help recruiting efforts, as well as ensure the department can meet the needs of the community.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If unapproved, the Public Defender's Office will continue to face recruitment challenges, and be unable to effectively serve it's clients and meet the needs of the community.