Child Custody Recommending Counselor (Family Law)

Alameda County Superior Court • Hayward, CA

6d

About The Position

The Superior Court of California, County of Alameda is accepting applications for the position of Child Custody Recommending Counselor (Family Law). Under direction, the Child Custody Recommending Counselor (Family Law) acts as a mediator between parents or other guardians regarding disputes of custody and visitation of their children; reports the agreements or recommendations to the Court; and performs other related duties as assigned. The current job vacancies are assigned to Family Court Services within the Family Division, located at the Hayward Hall of Justice.

Requirements

• The equivalent to two years of full-time experience in counseling, psychotherapy or both, preferably in family conciliation court and with the ethnic population to be served.
• Possession of a Master's degree in social work, marriage, family and child counseling or other behavioral sciences substantially related to marriage and family interpersonal relationships from an accredited college and/or university.
• Possession of a Ph.D degree in psychology from an accredited college and/or university.

Nice To Haves

• Possession of a license issued by the State of California as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage, Family and Children Therapist (MFT) or Clinical Psychologist.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Knowledge of Court system of California and the procedures used in family law cases; resources in the community to which clients can be referred for assistance; adult psychopathology and the psychology of families; child development, child abuse and clinical issues relating to children; effects of divorce and domestic violence on children; child custody research sufficient to enable a counselor to assess the mental needs of children; principles and techniques of counseling; clinical interviewing and mediation techniques; practices and techniques of psychological assessments; family systems theory; problem-solving and conflict resolution methods and techniques; crisis intervention methods and techniques; cultural diversity issues; correct English usage, punctuation, spelling and grammar; personal computers and word processing software; domestic violence and substance abuse issues.
• Ability to obtain, interpret and evaluate information regarding family behavior from various sources and make recommendations; communicate emphatically, neutrally and clearly with clients under stressful situations; use communication, listening and problem solving skills to assist culturally diverse parties in accepting or finding solutions; recognize dysfunctional interaction patterns; prepare clear and concise written reports for use in litigation; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, attorneys, judges, the public and other professionals; determine pertinent aspects of cases and recommend useful interventions; maintain flexibility in managing an unpredictable workday; meet established deadlines in a timely manner; use manuals, codes or written guides as applicable; exercise sound judgment in making recommendations to parties or the Court; exercise sensitivity toward cultural issues; effectively manage situations where clients may be angry, upset, fearful or hostile; remain calm and exercise patience in working with parties under stressful situations; operate modern office equipment and personal computers and use specified computer applications, including word processing and spreadsheets as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Mediates disputes between parents regarding custody and visitation of children; consults with attorneys regarding the case; interviews children and other family members; and consults with other involved professionals regarding the case.
• Writes or reports agreements; makes recommendations when there is no agreement between parents; and testifies in court and/or consults with judicial officers and attorneys regarding agreements or recommendations.
• Provides counseling to parents on general issues regarding co-parenting, and conducts orientation and education classes for parents.
• Counsels and assesses couples regarding pre-age marriages; interviews parents of minors; makes recommendation to the court; mediates and evaluates contested guardianships referred by the Probate Court and other brief assessments as requested by the Court.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees