About this role
Department Office of the Public DefenderDivision Protective Services (Non-Sworn)Salary $63,501.00 - $73,601.00Job Profile JC-00793500-73 - Social Services CaseworkerScheduled Work Days & Work Hours Program Statistics:
The Social Caseworker will also provide program statistics to the Social Casework Supervisor on a timely basis as they require. The Social Casework Supervisor will supply a standard form for the purpose of this data collection.
Knowledge, Skills, and Capacities: A thorough knowledge of social casework and behavioral health principles, practices, and techniques and the ability to apply these principles effectively. A thorough knowledge of individual physical, emotional, and behavioral patterns as well as the social, cultural, ethnic, and economic factors that contribute to personal maladjustment and maladaptive behaviors. A thorough knowledge of resources in the community offering specialized services to people of low-socioeconomic status and people with a history of criminal legal involvement and/or incarceration. The ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals and groups within and outside the agency. Basic computer skills, word processing, and related capacities and abilities.
Minimum Requirements for the Position:
Education: Such as may have been gained through possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in sociology, psychology, social work, child development, or a related field; And
Experience: Such as may have been gained through two years’ experience in the field of behavioral health and/or criminal justice.
Proficiency in Spanish is a strong plus.
Ability to pass criminal background check required for entry into court and correctional settings.
Job Requisition Number JR103566 SOCIAL SERVICES CASEWORKER (Open Date: 07/26/2026)Pay Grade U05021 AClassification Social Services CaseworkerClass Definition
Clinical Assessment and Treatment Recommendation:
Interview clients in the community, cellblock, or at the Adult Correctional Institutions as needed as part of a clinical screening and assessment process. Recommend and develop treatment plans for bail release or long-term dispositional planning. Update case files regularly and prior to court dates with notes/memo to file concerning status of the case.
Case Management:
The Social Caseworker will arrange and coordinate treatment for clients as requested by the Public Defender attorney(s) with whom they work. Public Defender attorneys may require presentation of a bail release plan for a client who is awaiting trial or formulation of a dispositional plan for a sentenced client in need of services.
This typically includes, but is not limited to, interviewing client and assessing them for appropriate treatment, contacting treatment personnel to arrange admission into treatment, and arranging transportation to treatment. The caseworker may also need to verify clients’ status in treatment for review dates set by the court. The Social Caseworker must also maintain a network of service providers with whom they will work to find appropriate services for Public Defender clients.
Mitigation
Social Caseworker will assist Public Defender attorneys with mitigation. This includes, but is not limited to, interviewing clients, gathering records, speaking with social supports, family, and employers, and report writing. Supplemental Information
General Statement of Duties: The Social Caseworker is responsible for preparing bail release and dispositional plans for the calendar attorneys with whom they work with. This includes clinical assessment, treatment recommendation, case management, mitigation, and maintaining a network of treatment referrals for clients.Benefits For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/. Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.