What are the responsibilities and job description for the SENIOR CHILD CUSTODY RECOMMENDING COUNSELOR position at San Bernardino Superior Court?
NOW HIRING: Senior Child Custody Recommending Counselor
COMPENSATION UPDATE: Effective October 1, 2026, the salary range for this position will increase by 2%. Candidates hired on or after October 3, 2026, will be hired at the updated rate.
About the PositionThe Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Senior Child Custody Recommending Counselor. In this leadership role, you will provide professional counseling, mediation, and child custody recommending services to families involved in family law proceedings while serving as a mentor and resource to counseling staff. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced clinician who is committed to supporting the well-being of children and families through compassionate, objective, and professional service.
To be considered, applicants must:
- Complete the online application in its entirety.
- Answer all required supplemental questions.
- Submit documentation verifying education, licensure, and relevant experience.
COMPENSATION UPDATE: Effective October 1, 2026, the salary range for this position will increase by 2%. Candidates hired on or after October 3, 2026, will be hired at the updated rate.
RECRUITMENT DEADLINE:
This recruitment will remain open to fill current and future vacancies across the San Bernardino Court Districts. Early application is strongly encouraged, as the posting may close at any time once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received or a candidate selection has been made.
The first review of applications is scheduled for August 14, 2026, for priority consideration in the first round of interviews.
Resumes will not be accepted in place of the required application or the responses to the supplemental questions.
Under minimal supervision, leads and provides professional counseling and mediation services related to family law matters, including child custody/visitation and premarital assessments to individuals and families referred by the Superior Court; performs safety risk assessments; handles sensitive and high- profile cases; writes detailed reports and makes recommendations on custody, parenting plans and interventions needed based on clinical assessments; and performs related duties as assigned.
Distinguishing Characteristics
A Senior Child Custody Recommending Counselor performs fully qualified licensed counseling within Family Court Services. In addition to performing the full range of journey-level skilled duties, incumbents handle the more complex and sensitive cases and serve as the working lead person providing work direction and training of Child Custody Recommending Counselors in a given district. Incumbents work with limited supervision and exercise independent judgment to ensure employees complete assigned tasks and responsibilities within a broad framework of established policies, procedures and objectives.
Employees in this class typically report to the Family Court Services Supervisor.
Senior Child Custody Recommending Counselor differs from the class of Family Court Services Supervisor in that the latter is a full supervisor with administrative duties.
Distinguishing Characteristics
A Senior Child Custody Recommending Counselor performs fully qualified licensed counseling within Family Court Services. In addition to performing the full range of journey-level skilled duties, incumbents handle the more complex and sensitive cases and serve as the working lead person providing work direction and training of Child Custody Recommending Counselors in a given district. Incumbents work with limited supervision and exercise independent judgment to ensure employees complete assigned tasks and responsibilities within a broad framework of established policies, procedures and objectives.
Employees in this class typically report to the Family Court Services Supervisor.
Senior Child Custody Recommending Counselor differs from the class of Family Court Services Supervisor in that the latter is a full supervisor with administrative duties.
For additional information: SENIOR CHILD CUSTODY RECOMMENDING COUNSELOR
- Leads, provides work guidance and direction, and participates in the work of unit members; participates in scheduling, assigning and monitoring work of other employees for completeness, accuracy and conformance with Court/departmental standards; provides information, instruction and training on work processes; provides input to supervisor on employee work performance and behaviors; assists in ensuring a fair and open work environment in accordance with the Court's commitment to teamwork, mutual trust and respect.
- Conducts child custody recommending counseling sessions and mediation services to resolve child custody and/or visitation disputes and to assist parties in formulating parenting plans; interviews in person and over the phone parents, guardians, grandparents, minors, and other case related persons (i.e., school officials, law enforcement personnel, social service personnel); handles confidential and high-profile cases including those involving court employees or issues outside of the Family Court norm or which may garner media attention.
- Provides crisis intervention and short-term counseling services to families and individuals experiencing family relationship difficulties by using individual and group counseling techniques.
- Completes risk assessments to rule out domestic violence, child abuse or any other safety, health or welfare concerns that may affect family members' safety; addresses problems identified and refers parties to community agencies for long-term counseling when necessary.
- Examines court case files, documentation obtained from collateral sources such as child welfare history, information from social workers and therapists, educational records and court computer information systems to obtain pertinent data for assessment.
- Obtains, reviews and evaluates medical and mental health records and other pertinent medical information; may recommend for psychiatric or psychological evaluations.
- Prepares 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.
- May supervise one or more interns working at Family Court Services.
- May speak before community groups to further community acceptance of the program.
- Presents oral and written reports and recommendations to the court; maintains case documentation, prepares reports, and writes routine correspondence; attends and participates in case management meetings and presentations.
- Develops materials for community education and orientation including program brochures, literature and videos; conducts orientation meetings to explain the program to the public.
- Collects and compiles statistical workload reports; attends meetings, trainings and conferences; represents the section/department with other divisions, departments and public agencies.
- May act as a liaison with Judicial Officers in the absence of the supervisor.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree or PhD in psychology, counseling, family therapy, social work or other directly related field and four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience providing licensed professional child custody investigations, family or mediation counseling or psychotherapy experience, two (2) years of which must include Family Court mediation in a Superior Court; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
- Current State of California license as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage, Family and Child Therapist (LFMT), or Clinical Psychologist is required and must be maintained as a condition of continued employment.
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists; and stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, crouch or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift up to twenty-five (25) pounds unaided.
Salary : $99,218 - $126,726