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Job Opportunities at PDS
Forensic Social Worker/Forensic Professional Counselor
Apply NowAbout The Job
PDS Overview:
Employment at the Public Defender Service (PDS) is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.
Division Overview:
Major Duties:
Required Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Professional mental health experienced applicants are highly desired and encouraged to apply.
Other Requirements: Incumbent must have no convictions as defined in DC Code Section 14.305 (b) (1) (Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime). Reliable transportation is necessary as travel is required in and around the DC area.
Application Evaluation:
How you will be evaluated: Your application package includes your letter of interest, résumé and requested supporting documents. Please ensure your application package includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient evidence in your application package and requested supporting documents can result in rejection of your application package.
Rating: Your application package will be rated and ranked among other applicants based on your experience, education, training, performance appraisals, and awards relevant to the duties of this position. Your rating can be lowered if your application package is not supported by the requested documents.
Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application package will be referred to a hiring manager for consideration at which time you may be invited to participate in a selection interview.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Required: In addition to a traditional resume, candidates should submit a separate narrative statement addressing the following quality ranking factors. These factors will be used to distinguish the best-qualified applicants from a group of persons basically qualified for the position. Failure to submit your narrative response for this position will negatively affect your eligibility and/or rating for this position.
- Experience working with arrested adults and understanding of the plight of persons from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Direct defense experience working with adult clients on rehabilitation and dispositional issues.
- Knowledge of social work concepts and concepts related to rehabilitation and alternatives to confinement.
- Demonstrated excellent writing and oral persuasion skills and ability to communicate effectively to broad spectrum of people.
- Demonstrated computer skills.
- Familiarity with treatment and rehabilitation resources available in the D.C. metro area.
- Knowledge of the court system.
Number of vacancies:
Pay Series:
AD-0101-11/12/13 (GS-11/12/13 Equivalent)
Compensation:
Starting Salary: AD-11 $74,950 - $97,430 (equivalent to GS-11)
Promotion Potential: AD-13 (equivalent to GS-13)
The incumbent may be promoted without further competition upon completion of one year of exemplary performance, subject to approval of the PDS Director.
Benefits:
PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and employees are entitled to participate in federal benefits plans, federal retirement systems, and the workers compensation program. Transferring federal employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes (if applicable)
Please click on the link below for a full list of benefits:
https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare
Who May Apply:
How to Apply:
Applicants must submit the following (Materials should be consolidated as a single PDF and submitted through the PDS employment application portal).
• Explanation why leaving current, or left most recent, employment (include in resume or cover letter)
• a traditional résumé with day telephone and email contact information;
• graduate school transcripts;
• a narrative statement addressing above KSAs;
• a writing sample;
• a list of three references; and
• your most recent performance appraisal (if applicable
Please submit your application package to Anisha Trice at [email protected].
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: The PDS COVID-19 vaccination policy requires as a condition of employment that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive from PDS a reasonable accommodation due to a disability or sincere religious belief. If you are offered a position and decide to join PDS, then before starting work at PDS you will be required either (A) to submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative or (B) to request and receive an accommodation due to disability of sincere religious belief
If you have any questions about the position, application, hiring process or require a reasonable accommodation during any part of the application process, please contact Anisha Trice, HR Specialist at (202) 824-2227 or email to: [email protected].
Disclaimer
The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization; governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the local criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in the District of Columbia. PDS’s approximately 275 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in the federal health and life insurance plans, the federal retirement plans (FERS, FERS-RAE, FERS-FRAE, CSRS, CSRS-Offset), and the Thrift Savings Plan. Transferring employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at PDS is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.
PDS is an E-Verify participating agency. Please see the Right to Work Poster and the E-Verify Participation Poster for more information.
PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and E-Verify Participant.