Child Custody Recommending Counselor/Mediator

Superior Court of California, County of Riverside • Riverside, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside is seeking a skilled Child Custody Recommending Counselor/Mediator to join their Family Court Services team. This role involves applying clinical and mediation expertise to assist children and families by working with parents navigating child custody and visitation disputes. The position focuses on exploring solutions that support the best interests of children, conducting confidential mediation, assessing family dynamics, facilitating discussions, and developing parenting plans. When agreements cannot be reached, the role requires evaluating information and preparing written recommendations for the Court.

Requirements

• A master's degree in psychology, social work, marriage, family and child counseling, or another behavioral science substantially related to marriage and family interpersonal relationships.
• At least two years of experience in counseling or psychotherapy, preferably in a setting related to the responsibilities of a family conciliation court and serving diverse populations.
• Candidates must also meet the applicable requirements of California Family Code Sections 1815 and 1816 for Family Law conciliation assignments.
• Comfortable navigating high-conflict and emotionally sensitive situations while maintaining professionalism, neutrality, and discretion.
• Strong skills in mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Strong skills in counseling and interviewing.
• Strong skills in assessing complex and conflicting information.
• Strong skills in understanding family dynamics and child development.
• Strong skills in identifying concerns involving domestic violence, abuse, and substance abuse.
• Strong skills in written analysis and professional report writing.
• Strong skills in managing a demanding caseload and competing priorities.
• Strong skills in communicating effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong skills in exercising independent judgment in sensitive situations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct confidential mediation involving child custody and visitation matters.
• Interview parents and review court case information to identify issues and explore opportunities for resolution.
• Facilitate negotiations and help parties develop child custody and visitation agreements.
• Prepare clear, objective, and well-supported written recommendations for the Court when parties are unable to reach an agreement.
• Assess risk factors that may affect the safety and well-being of children, including domestic violence, substance abuse, and child abuse concerns.
• Collaborate with professionals and agencies such as Child Protective Services, therapists, minors' counsel, school personnel, supervised visitation monitors, and law enforcement.
• Provide professional guidance and information to the Court, parties, attorneys, community agencies, and members of the public.
• Stay current on developments in family law, child development, mental health, family dynamics, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution.
• Provide testimony when ordered by the Court or subpoenaed.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Pension plan provided by the California Public Employer's Retirement System (CalPERS)
• Optional deferred compensation programs
• Generous leave accruals
• Fourteen (14) paid holidays
• Bereavement leave
• Tuition discounts
• Qualified employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level