Family Defense Practice Social Work Supervisor

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks a passionate social worker with a commitment to social justice to fill a position as a Supervisor in our Family Defense Practice.

The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally-recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national level. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Family Defense Practice

The Bronx Defenders’ Family Defense Practice (FDP) provides legal representation and social work support to parents charged with child abuse and neglect who are at risk of losing custody of their children. Our Family Defense Practice is at the forefront of a movement to provide holistic representation to parents in the Bronx while creating long-term solutions for the reunification and stability of families. We primarily litigate abuse and neglect cases, but occasionally appear in concurrent matters including custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights.

Social Work

Strategizing with lawyers and other advocates, social workers at The Bronx Defenders assist the people we represent with issues that both precipitated and are exacerbated by contact with the criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal systems. Using an ecological framework, social workers are responsible for conducting assessments, making referrals to treatment programs and social service providers, collaborating on case strategy, and working with attorneys and other advocates as part of a holistic defense team throughout the duration of the legal case.

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the FDP Director of Social Work, the FDP Social Work Supervisor will represent a reduced caseload while providing direct supervision, training, and development to staff social workers, parent advocates, and social work interns, as well as acting as a liaison in the courthouse and community, and assisting with Social Work Practice programming, training, development and evaluation. Responsibilities include:

Direct Representation

• Collaborate with clients, lawyers and advocates on holistic defense teams to identify and achieve the stated legal goals of our clients
• Advocate for the people we represent in Bronx Family Court, Criminal Court, Child Protection Services (CPS), and with community-based programs
• Inform clients about the Family Court process and assist them in overcoming barriers while navigating the system
• Interview and assess the people we represent to identify strengths, resources, and needs
• Conduct supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and case management throughout the pendency of legal cases
• Provide support to the people we represent during court appearances and at community-based programs
• Maintain consistent contact with the people we represent, including regular visits to NYC jail facilities, homes, and court appearances
• Support and advocate for connection to medical care, mental health services, and jail-based programming
• Advocate for parents at Child Safety Conferences and Family Team Conferences
• Engage in oral advocacy with the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), prosecutors, and other court and program staff
• Assist with review of behavioral, medical, education, and other records
• Prepare the people we represent for court-related assessments
• Collaborate with external behavioral health experts to interpret external assessments
• Maintain case records in Bronx Defenders’ informational case management system
• Cultivate relationships with community programs and social services and benefits providers, and provide case management support and advocacy

Direct Supervision of FDP Social Workers and Parent Advocates

• Schedule individual and group supervision on a regular basis with each social worker/parent advocate to evaluate caseload, monitor referrals, and conference cases
• Serve as a resource for both social workers and attorneys as they troubleshoot issues in their cases
• Observe, evaluate, and provide constructive feedback on advocates’ oral advocacy skills in the courtroom and conferences
• Review case notes to ensure social work advocacy is accurately documented
• Coordinate assignment of cases to advocates
• Collaborate with the FDP Social Work supervisory team to coordinate emergency conference and case coverage
• Ensure social work advocacy and support is provided to clients in crisis when assigned advocates are not available
• Collect and analyze data to measure the impact of social workers and parent advocates in holistic defense
• Provide equitable, culturally-conscious supervision and support marginalized supervisees in navigating experiences of oppression in their work
• Monitor supervisees’ workload to ensure it is equitable and manageable for the supervisee
• Support supervisees in meeting the expectations of their job responsibilities and notify the Managing Director when additional support is necessary

Training and Development of FDP Social Work Advocates

• Collaborate with the Social Work Training Director to implement a cross-practice training curriculum for new social workers, parent advocates, and interns
• Manage shadowing opportunities for new staff during their training period
• Ensure that new social workers and parent advocates attend introductory interdisciplinary trainings
• Collaborate with the Social Work Training Director to plan and implement trainings to address ongoing professional development needs of FDP social work advocates
• Provide direct supervision to at least one social work intern per year, and encourage staff social workers and advocates to contribute to social work intern supervision and training

Acting as a Liaison in the Courthouse and Community

• Represent the Social Work Practice with the judiciary, attorneys representing children, ACS, child protective and foster agency staff, and community-based treatment providers
• Educate courthouse staff about the FDP Social Work Practice and its specific role in holistic defense
• Intervene to resolve conflict and advocate on behalf of the people we represent, social workers, and parent advocates
• Participate in committees outside of the office to advance our mission

Communicating and collaborating with leaders in other practice areas

• Assist with training new attorneys and advocates in identifying client needs and making appropriate social work and community referrals
• Ensure FDP Supervisors meet regularly with team social workers and advocates to review team referrals and assess collaboration
• Participate in monthly leadership meetings with directors, supervisors and managers in the family defense and social work practices
• Co-facilitate monthly FDP Social Work Advocate Meetings
• Co-facilitate monthly FDP Practice Meetings with FDP Leadership
• Prepare yearly evaluations of staff social work advocates in consultation with the FDP Director of Social Work, Supervisors, and Practice Leaders
• Participate in the development of special projects
• Be available to work flexible hours, including nights and/or weekends and have willingness to work as back up during staff shortages

Qualifications

To be eligible, applicants must have:

• M.S.W. from an accredited School of Social Work

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Commitment to supporting the defense of people ensnared in the family regulation system in the Bronx community
• Commitment to holistic defense and client-centered representation
• Experience working in and with racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communities
• Understanding of how systemic oppression affects marginalized communities and their experience in the criminal legal system
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers
• Commitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we represent
• Effective research, writing and verbal advocacy skills
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with external partners and service providers
• Strong analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources in cases
• Supervisory and mentoring skills, including
• Interest in and commitment to developing and mentoring supervisees
• Ability to provide intentional, equitable and constructive feedback
• Flexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own caseload
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

Preferred, but not required:

• Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) Certification
• Prior supervisory experience of staff and/or interns
• Spanish fluency

This is a hybrid position that will require 21 hours/week of in-person work.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 2-10 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $88,000-$113,000. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is not within the bargaining unit.

This position is exempt. By law, non-exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.