PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER II - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

About the role

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: We welcome applications from anyone.

Filing Dates

The application filing period will begin on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (PT) – Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

Exam Number: L9035e-ea

REPOSTING INFORMATION: This announcement is being reposted to reopen the filing period.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use.

If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you. We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County’s homelessness emergency response.

Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County’s jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing.

The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct and indirect positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

Position Information

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, serving as a beacon for both evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system. Our Offices are led by innovative and progressive leaders working collaboratively towards our agency’s mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele.

We are seeking qualified Psychiatric Social Worker II (PSW II) professionals to fill emergency vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Psychiatric Social Workers are integral members of a holistic, multidisciplinary defense team, collaborating with deputy public defenders on case-related matters involving the social, behavioral health, and mental health needs of clients involved in the criminal justice system.

They conduct comprehensive assessments, develop mitigation strategies, and recommend alternative sentencing, case disposition, and reentry plans that address clients' underlying needs. Their work promotes client-centered outcomes, supports successful community reintegration, and contributes to reducing recidivism.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Psychiatric Social Worker II.

• Conducting interviews with justice-involved individuals and other necessary individuals, by phone, virtually, or wherever located, to obtain the client’s complete biopsychosocial assessment that includes family, social, educational, employment, medical, substance use, developmental, and mental health history; establishing rapport with clients; and eliciting specific information and accurately documents all information gathered during these meetings to assist attorneys as part of the defense team.
• Developing and recommending a tentative support plan by assessing the client’s functioning in their environmental setting, and their biopsychosocial needs and providing timelines and recommendations which may include referrals and/or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services to support the client’s defense.
• Implementing the attorney-approved support plan to provide advocacy on behalf of the client; attending various meetings; coordinating with representatives from various agencies to provide referrals and/or linkage to the appropriate agencies and services; and ensuring delivery of these services to support the client through the legal process.
• Gathering and reviewing the client’s background information to provide clinical assessments and consultation, and preparing biopsychosocial reports detailing the needs of the client to support the attorney’s casework; attends court to support client; and provide formal or informal testimony in defense of the client.

Requirements to Qualify

Licenses

• A current and active Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) License issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

You MUST meet the above requirements in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

Special Requirement Information

• Candidates must attach a copy of their valid and active Licensed Clinical Social Worker license.
• The license must be issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• They can also email a copy to within ten (10) calendar days after submitting their online application.
• When emailing documents, please include the exam number and exam title.

Physical Class 2 - Light

This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Withhold

No withhold will be allowed. Required licensure must be fully met at the time of filing and clearly indicated on the application.

Exam Content

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

Vacancy Information

The selected applicants under this Emergency Appointment recruitment effort will be appointed to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Public Defender. The appointees to the position MUST BE WILLING to work any shift and in any Los Angeles County location and may be subject to transfer at any time.

Application and Filing Information

• We only accept applications filed online.
• Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted.
• Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting.
• This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

• We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment.
• Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements.
• Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

New email addresses need to be verified. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

Social Security Number

Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

No Sharing of User Id, Email, and Password

All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.

Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (Ardi)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Name: Minoja Herrera