Applications will be reviewed upon receipt for earliest consideration and interview scheduling.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Family Law Facilitator/Family Court Services Manager, The Family Court Services Counselor provides professional counseling and mediation services related to family law matters. The Counselor performs safety risk assessments, writes detailed reports and makes recommendations in custody and visitation matters.

• Conduct child custody recommending counseling sessions and mediation services in order to resolve child custody and visitation disputes; assist individuals in formulating parenting plans that are in the best interest of their child(ren).
• Prepare parenting plans or detailed court reports with summary of issues, information obtained during counseling sessions and investigations, and recommendations that integrate an understanding of the laws relevant to family law; develops custody and visitation agreements; may be required to testify in court regarding same.
• Completes risk assessments to rule out domestic violence, child abuse or any other safety, health or wealth concerns and refers parties to community resources.
• Work closely with court staff.
  (Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the Court to be appropriate under applicable law.) 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Establish rapport with families from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to maintain their confidence and cooperation in working toward a comprehensive parenting plan.
• Use reasonable efforts and consider safety issues to reduce acrimony in the family, help the parties improve their communication skills, focus on the child's needs and areas of stability, and identify the family's strengths.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing within time limits.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the public, Court and County personnel, staff, and others.
• Analyze situations accurately, develop a comprehensive parenting agreement or recommendation that addresses each child's current and future developmental needs.
• Child development, child abuse, clinical issues relating to children, the effects of divorce on children, the effects of domestic violence on children, and child custody research sufficient to enable a counselor to assess the mental health needs of children.
• Training in domestic violence issues, the nature and extent of domestic violence and its effects on the family and the legal rights of, and remedies available to victims.
• Legal mandates and statewide standards related to Court-connected mediation and the scope and activities of public and private mediation services.
• Applicable case law, California Family Code, Code of Civil Procedure, and local Court rules and other statutes relating to dissolution and mediation.
• Legal terminology, legal forms, and document processing procedures specific to this office within the Court.
• Court mediation theory and interviewing, settlement, and crisis intervention techniques appropriate for adults and children.
• Principles, procedures, and techniques of marriage, family, and individual counseling and family systems including reunification.
• Behavior disorders, mental disorders, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and molestation.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use dexterity and coordination utilizing hands to finger, handle or feel objects, use a computer keyboard, view a computer monitor, handle files, single pieces of paper, stacks of papers, and reference and other materials; reach with hands and arms; and stoop and kneel. Hearing and speaking are needed to listen effectively and to talk with individuals in person and by phone. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, and move from place to place within the office. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds and reach for items above and below desk level. Lifting objects weighing in excess of twenty-five (25) pounds will require team lifting. The noise and traffic level in the work environment are similar to a busy business office. 

Normal business hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

The classification is FLSA exempt.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• If applicable: California State License in Marriage, Family Therapist, Clinical Social Worker or Psychologist