Career Opportunity

8446-Court Alternative Specialist I

Recruitment: RTF0120996-01150764

Published: April 11, 2022

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Specific Information Regarding this Recruitment Process

Classification: 8446- Court Alternative Specialist I

Status: Full-Time

Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt (PEX)

Application Opening: March 28, 2022

Application Deadline: April 11,2022 by 11:59pm

Hourly Compensation : $72,566-$88,192/Annually

Recruitment ID: PEX-8446-120997

The Public Defender’s office provides legal representation to persons charged with a crime in San Francisco who do not have the financial means to retain their own counsel. Each year, the office serves approximately 20,000 people. The San Francisco Public Defender’s office is a nationally recognized model of public defense. The Public Defender provides legal staffing for each of the misdemeanor and felony preliminary hearing and trial courts, the Mental Health and Youth Defender Unit divisions, the Community Justice Center, Domestic Violence Court, Behavioral Health Court, Veterans’ Justice Court, Drug Court, Intensive Supervision court, Parole Court, Young Adult Court, and Extradition.

Role description

This Court Alternative Specialist I position requires demonstrated commitment to ending mass incarceration and a talent for direct services. In this position, the successful candidate will be required to conduct interviews to evaluate the needs of individuals and their loved ones; make referrals to appropriate community programs; prepare and present reports; coordinate placement of referrals; prepare and maintain case records and reports; act as liaison; develop selection criteria and assist in the investigation, orientation and selection of community agencies for use as placement sites for individuals. Importantly, the successful candidate will be required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with community organizations, representatives of the courts, our clients, and others, and communicate orally and in writing, with a wide variety of individuals, including those incarcerated for decades and their loved ones, and show a deep empathy for their experiences while conducting release planning and providing services. Working independently as well as with a small team is required. Lived experience in the criminal punishment system a plus. 

Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt (PEX) Category 18. This permanent exempt position is not to exceed 3 years; excluded by the charter from the competitive civil service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the appointing officer. In order to be considered for a permanent appointment, the incumbent will be required to successfully compete in a Civil Service Examination.

Under supervision, this position in the Public Defender’s Office is responsible for but not limited to:

1. Interviews, assesses and evaluates the needs of individuals referred by the courts to an alternative sentencing program.

2. Coordinates placement of court assignees in appropriate community service and rehabilitation programs.

3. Acts as liaison to the courts relative to court alternative program activities; prepares and presents reports to the courts on court assignees.

4. Develops and maintains working relationships with a variety of public and private service agencies; disseminates program information to these agencies and the public.

5. Develops selection criteria and assists in the investigation, orientation and selection of community agencies for use as placement sites for program assignees.

6. Prepares and maintains case records and other related project reports and correspondence.

7. Assists in the supervision and in-service training of program employees.

8. Performs related duties as required.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

How to qualify

Applicants must fully meet the minimum qualifications by the final filing deadline unless otherwise stated:

Education:

Requires completion of a four- year college or university with a baccalaureate degree with major coursework in the behavioral or social sciences

And

Experience:

Requires at least one year of experience in a court referral program or closely related public service work;

Or

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

And

License and Certification:

Requires possession of a valid California Driver's license.

Notes:

• Examples of social or behavioral science fields or courses include: anthropology, criminal justice, juvenile justice, economics, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, law, nursing, nutrition, political science, psychology, public health, social welfare, sociology, and women’s studies.   
• One year full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40 hour work week).
• License: Information on the application of a valid CA driver's license is required at the time of filing.

Desirable Qualifications:

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

1. Bilingual speaking- Spanish or Cantonese preferred

2. Strong ties to one or more of our marginalized, neglected, and targeted communities (e.g., Bayview-Hunters Point, Mission, Visitation Valley, Tenderloin).

3. Demonstrated strong commitment to and interest in zealously advocating for underserved clients who are more than 70% Black, Latinx, and Asian.

4. Demonstrated strong commitment to and interest in supporting and working with clients who have experienced trauma or display behavior likely attributable to experiencing homelessness, economic disenfranchisement, substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, food insecurity, and racism.

5. Experience working in a social justice and/or community-based organizations.

6. Ability to positively face difficult situations, challenges and handle stress.

7. Degree in Social Work, Public Health or Public Policy.

8. Knowledge of community resources and the juvenile and criminal justice system.

9.Strong oral and written communication skills.

Verification of Experience and/or Education

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Selection Plan:

Individuals who have expressed an interest in the manner described above will be screened for satisfaction of the minimum requirements, including relevant qualifying experience.  Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine individuals’ qualifications.  Only those individuals who most closely meet the needs of the department will be invited to participate further in the selection process.  INDIVIDUALS MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ARE NOT GUARANTEED ADVANCEMENT TO THE SELECTION PROCESS.

Working Conditions: Must be able to work full time within the regular office hours of 8:00am – 5:00pm, and to travel throughout San Francisco and the surrounding cities on a daily basis to conduct visits at varied times of the day.  

What else should I know?

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams [required for Combined, Promotive, Entrance
• (CPE) Exams only]
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please email PUBDEF.HR@sfgov.org

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

·      Select the Announcement: 8446- Court Alternative Specialist I

·       Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Official Public Health Order-Shelter in Place: In line with the Official Public Health Order to slow the spread of COVID-19, “shelter-in-place” has been issued for all San Francisco residents that is expected to be in effect until further notice. As a result, Department of Human Resources (DHR)’s office (located at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103) is currently closed to the general public. If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Exam Analyst listed at the end of this job ad.

Applicants may be contacted by email bout this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-t0-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Exam Analyst information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Stephanie Aquino,  Stephanie.aquino@sfgov.org or PUBDEF.HR@sfgov.org

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.