"Alerted.org

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) seeks a Social Worker Supervisor to join the Juvenile Representation Project in our Jamaica, Queens Office.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years, BDS has worked, in and out of court, to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including for housing, public benefits, education, and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities.

The Juvenile Representation Project is located in our Jamaica office and represents and protects the legal rights of young people who are arrested. Our staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals. Social workers on the team provide clinical support, case management, and advocacy for BDS clients up to age 17 who have juvenile delinquency proceedings.

Responsibilities

+ Provide direct supervision to social workers, advocates and social work interns in the Juvenile Representation Project.

+ Promote a supportive team environment and proactively seek to create an equitable and inclusive work environment.

+ Support ongoing collaboration between social work staff, attorney and other staff in Jamaica as well as across BDS to ensure the client is receiving the best representation and the resources that are available to them.

+ Assign cases and monitor caseloads of supervisees.

+ Provide regular feedback and evaluate social work staff members both informally and formally through the evaluation process.

+ Monitor staff case files, notes and documentation on case management and document management systems, assuring information is properly recorded in accordance with professional responsibility rules and BDS’ policies.

+ Coordinate social worker coverage of cases in court.

+ Appear in court to provide advocacy on individual cases as needed.

+ Provide crisis intervention and respond to emergencies that arise.

+ Ensure adequate client interaction and support including in-person visits, including when clients are detained.

+ Ensure appropriate involvement and support of family members.

+ Develop and maintain relationships with Department of Probation personnel to facilitate coordination of meetings with clients and intervene in issues as they arise.

+ Identify resources and foster collaborative relationships with resource providers.

+ Attend staff, team, and agency meetings as appropriate.

+ Know and apply BDS policies and procedures, including personnel and office policies; serve as time and attendance supervisor.

+ Maintain own reduced caseload.

+ Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

+ New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).

+ Five years of experience working with clients who have active court involvement with demonstrated expertise in all clinical aspects and client needs.

+ Family Court experience with delinquency cases a major plus.

+ Experience supervising social work staff, advocates, and/or interns a plus.

+ In-depth knowledge of adolescent development as well as intergenerational and complex traumas.

+ Strong crisis intervention, safety planning, and client advocacy skills.

+ Excellent writing, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.

+ SIFI Certified or willingness to obtain certification.

Position Information

This is an exempt, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, however supervisors may receive phone calls or other urgent matters outside these hours from time to time. The position is based at BDS’s offices and the courts located in Jamaica, Queens, with jail and home visits as needed.

The salary range for this position is $111,000-$116,000 and is based on the experience of the applicant. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b)-retirement plan. To support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions

Please click on “Apply Now” to submit a letter of interest and resume. Please submit your application by Dec 5, 2025.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director, H.R., Christina Wallace, at cwallace @ bds.org.