How to hire a forensic social worker

How to hire a forensic social worker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step forensic social worker hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a forensic social worker job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new forensic social worker
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a forensic social worker, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a forensic social worker to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a forensic social worker that fits the bill.

   This list presents forensic social worker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Forensic Social Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Forensic Social Worker	Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.	$19-30
   Family Therapist	A Family Therapist works with couples and families to help ameliorate marital and family issues. They can work in hospitals, treatment programs, government agencies, health organizations, and private practices.	$17-32
   Youth Development Professional	Youth Development Professionals are specialists in implementing and overseeing programs to help adolescents discover their abilities and interests. They are responsible for coordinating career days and field trips, organizing mentorship sessions, create youth outreach projects, and assisting community organizations in youth provision development... Show more	$9-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Psycho-Social Assessments
   • Mental Health
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Criminal Justice
   • Community Resources
   • Substance Abuse Treatment
   • Mental Illness
   • Group Treatment
   • Discharge Planning
   • Child Abuse
   • Non-Custodial Parents
   • Court Reports
   • Group Therapy Sessions

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage caseload and complete all paperwork according to OMH guidelines.
   • Counsele veterans and Medi-Cal clients individually to provide behavioral interventions in order to address their anxiety, depression and anger.
   • Facilitate the building of community partnerships and provide community outreach and marketing efforts to generate new client business.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your forensic social worker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A forensic social worker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, forensic social workers' average salary in mississippi is 53% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level forensic social workers earn 36% less than senior-level forensic social workers.
   • Certifications. A forensic social worker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a forensic social worker's salary.

   Average forensic social worker salary

   $51,696yearly

   $24.85 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level forensic social worker salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a forensic social worker job description

   A job description for a forensic social worker role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a forensic social worker job description:

   Forensic social worker job description example

   10% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement account to help you save for the future!

   GENEROUS TIME OFF BENEFITS!!!

   No really, we mean generous:

   13 vacation days, 15 sick days, 10 paid holidays, 4 personal holidays, 3 winter holidays, and up to 5 paid days for continuing education

   
   

   What makes GGRC so special?

   GGRC values diversity, we believe in creating an environment where people of all backgrounds can collaborate to find solutions to complex problems. We are community minded and passionate.

   GGRC values each person as a full, robust, and unique individual and interacts with each person in a manner that is respectful and responsive. We endeavor to place each person at the center of his, her or their own life. We approach each person as an expert on his, her or their own life and identity with a clear and attentive inquiry into what is important to, as well as important for, that one person (whether coworker or person-served, family member or other stakeholder).

   What You’ll Do:

   This position works with individuals supported who are incarnated in local jails in all three counties to provide assistance in legal matters which may involve court appearances, assessments, court reports, recommendations for conservatorships, 6500 petitions, and other related reports which may be requested from the legal system. This position also acts as an internal resource to other social workers and staff within the agency. Candidates must have access to reliable transportation permitting travel to and between many different locations throughout the day in order to perform the outlined responsibilities of the position.

   Manage limited caseload of individuals currently in county jail, as well as a caseload of court ordered eligibility assessments. Work with social workers to problem solve cases with the intent of reaching outcomes for clients and partner with social workers in court related cases; serve as lead in court appearances as needed. Educate and inform clients and families regarding what to expect in court. Manage court assessments and cases and keep clients informed throughout process. Manage deadlines for court dates and ensure that all paperwork is processed and handled in a timely manner. Coordinate and organize all paperwork associated with court cases and reports. Write reports with detailed and accurate information. Advocate for client/family to reach a reduced court time, lesser sentence, placement in specific programs etc.

   Act as the Agency’s hearing office for eligibility and denial of service appeal hearings in front of Administrative Law Judges. Prepare exhibits and documentation to support facts in dispute. Meet with social workers, supervisors, managers and other staff to ascertain facts in case and support decisions made. Consult with the Director, Regional Center Services and outside attorney on strategies for representing the agency.

   Serve as a resource for the Agency of specialized knowledge and skill in the area of forensics and keep up-to-date with new policies and laws that impact forensics. Develop and conduct training internally for new and existing social workers on due process, conservatorships and mandated reporting. Educate on the Legal System and the basics of court proceedings and as necessary bring in outside experts to share information and educate on the legal system and the basics of criminal court. Conduct and further develop existing training material for court officials to build positive relationships between the legal and regional center systems.

   Develop relationships with judges and court officials and a network of expertise within the legal community to have access to information not easily accessible and collaborate with attorneys regarding cases; gather information and seek legal advice. . Educate community and individuals within the legal system regarding the Regional Center’s mandates and responsibilities.

   Participate in staff and other internal meetings and task forces as assigned and in community meetings and activities as required. Participate in special projects, and assist with additional duties or tasks, as assigned. Maintain all client information as confidential in compliance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the California Lanterman Act.

   
   

   Developmental Center Liaison - Complete 6,500 petitions and submit to District Attorney; participate in court hearings as needed. Attend all meetings with the DC staff. Participate in transition activities resulting in moves to the community. Secure appropriate housing in the community for DC residents. Secure all benefits and support services prior to move. Provide case management services for the individual for one year post move.

   Who You Are:

   You have/can;

   • Knowledge of judicial issues such as those pertaining to conservatorships, 6500 petitions, and Penal Code Sections 1369 and 1001.22
   • Ability to be able to convey complex information and ideas in a clear, concise words
   • Ability to write with legal terms, do accurate report writing, and develop standard business communications, using proper grammar, spelling and punctuation
   • Ability to operate basic office equipment
   • Basic familiarity with MS Word®, MS Excel®, MS PowerPoint®, MS Outlook® or similar software applications
   • Work experience with developmentally disabled with case management experience desired
   • Experience in multi-cultural settings and/or multi-lingual capacity

   
   

   Requirements:

   • Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice or related human services field (Graduate degree preferred)
   • Prior professional experience in the criminal legal system

   
   

   How to Apply:

   GGRC values diversity; people of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Please complete the application and submit your most recent resume. If you feel that the questions do not accurately capture what you have to offer Golden Gate Regional Center, you are also welcomed to attach a cover letter. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis so we encourage you to submit yours soon. We look forward to reading your application.

   Employees are required to have the Covid-19 vaccine unless they have a religious or medical exemption.

   Golden Gate Regional Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   San Francisco Applicants: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right forensic social worker for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with forensic social workers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit forensic social workers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your forensic social worker job on Zippia to find and recruit forensic social worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting forensic social workers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new forensic social worker

   Once you've selected the best forensic social worker candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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