Social Worker

Reporting to the Supervising Attorney and Director of Social Work, the new Social Worker will:

Collaborate with attorneys and other members of IRP to help clients maneuver the immigration system using trauma informed principles and client centered approaches;
Provide socio-emotional support to clients to fully engage in their legal case, including providing crisis intervention and support to clients, as needed;
Conduct psycho-social assessments of clients, including assessing client strengths, needs and goals;
Develop and implement individualized support plans to address clients' social, emotional, and practical needs as they relate to their legal representation;
Link clients to appropriate services, such as public benefits, educational, medical, housing and mental health services;
Advocate for clients with various stakeholders, including government agencies, social service providers, and community resources;
Accompany clients to court appearances, including criminal and delinquency hearings, meetings, and appointments as needed;
Support clients upon release from immigration detention or prison, and/or who are being deported with re-entry and post-deportation services and case planning;
Coordinate our pro bono support from therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and assist with developing client declarations and participating in psychological evaluations;
Provide letters to the court in support of individual cases explaining the scope of our services;
Maintain collaboration and communication with the rest of the legal team to ensure an interdisciplinary legal advocacy approach;
Participate in internal case reviews/team meetings and provide regular updates on social work intervention practices;
Timely and accurately document all activities in our internal database system;
Maintain client confidentiality and adhere to attorney-client privilege obligations;
Increase the Anti-Detention Team’s capacity to provide trauma informed and holistic legal advocacy by providing consultations and peer support to legal team members;
Engage in administrative work and organizational initiatives that may advance the team’s mission to be an abolitionist, client centered, and community lawyering practice;
Provide in-house training and resources across IRP and Public Counsel around best practices for trauma informed advocacy;
Serve as a Field Instructor/Preceptor to MSW students as needed; and
Other duties as assigned.