The Social Work Assistant will provide basic social services and collaborate as an integral part of a client’s case team to help ensure holistic support throughout the legal process. The position is located in Lima, OH, and serves individuals in Allen, Hardin, and Putnam Counties.
Requirements
- Perform basic assessment of clients’ needs for medical, financial, and housing assistance and community resources
- Assess referred clients who are at moderate-high risk to reoffend and clients who have been judicially released and are on diversion or community control
- Interview clients, review clients’ case files, speak with clients’ attorney
- Request client records (including but not limited to court records, medical records, education records, jail/program records for jail time credit purposes)
- Make necessary referrals and submit paperwork for eligibility determination by provider
- Research available resources at government entities, faith and community-based organizations, and other service providers
- Assist in securing medical benefits, housing, utility bill assistance, veterans assistance, and other assistance
- Identify availability and accessibility of appropriate and effective community interventions that will address the client’s needs and coordinates community linkage services as appropriate for client and client’s family while the client’s case is pending disposition, until client has successfully completed diversion, or until client’s community control ends
- Track client progress and outcomes
- Participate in planning of support systems for clients
- Maintain data on all current clients; maintain data on local social services; track client data; track court-ordered evaluation scheduling and communicate with stakeholders to monitor completion and records
- Input records and case notes into web-based case management system
- Prepare and maintain required reports and/or progress notes
- Maintain working relationships with attorneys, justice stakeholders, clients, families, and facilities
- Under the direction of State Assistant Public Defenders, prepare written and oral statements for in-court presentations as needed
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Answer phone calls and forward calls to appropriate parties for response
- Coordinate attorney calls to clients and attorney visits to county jails and state prisons
- Assist with retrieving documents at county, state, and federal courts and other offices
- Provide administrative and clerical assistance
Benefits
- Medical Coverage
- Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
- Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
- Education and Development Opportunities
- Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
