Family Court Counsellor

Government of Alberta•Calgary, AB

1d•CA$74,964 - CA$96,906•Onsite

About The Position

The Court and Justice Services (CJS) Division provides a wide range of resolution and court services for people involved in legal disputes. In collaboration with the courts of Alberta, Court and Justice Services provide various programs and services including educating and helping Albertans finding solutions for legal issues, navigating the court system, offering programs at no cost or a nominal charge, and administrative support to all courts in Alberta. Within CJS, Family Court Counsellors provide Albertans with a wide range of service delivery expertise including safety screening, assessment, education, limited conflict resolution assistance, limited support inside and outside the courtroom, guidance, information, referrals, and resources in relation to parenting from two homes. As a Family Court Counsellor, you will work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues in your location and across the province to ensure seamless service delivery to Albertans. Building strong working relationships with Court Operations, the Judiciary, and the legal community will be essential in delivering exceptional service to clients and supporting the operations of the Alberta Court of Justice and/or King’s Bench Family Court. Under the direction of Management and the Assessment Services Supervisor, you will conduct data collection and participate in program development initiatives to ensure services are delivered in a user-friendly and cost-effective manner. Working within a team environment, your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following: Screening, Assessment, and Referral, Case Management, In-Court Support, Consultation and Public Relations, and Administration.

Requirements

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong assessment skills.
Attention to detail, particularly with file management and legal documentation.
Exceptional interpersonal, interviewing, assessment, negotiation, dispute resolution, and decision-making skills.
The ability to work independently under pressure and support clients in highly emotional situations.
The ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
Knowledge of evolving processes, legislation, social trends, best practices, and emerging research in family law, and the ability to apply this knowledge to inform, educate, and assess effectively.
A Bachelor of Social Work Degree with some related experience in areas such as conducting client interviews and assessments.
Master of Social Work (no experience required), OR
Related University Degree (e.g., Dispute Resolution, Sociology, Psychology, Law, etc.) and 2 years related experience, OR
Related Diploma and 3 years related experience, OR
Related Certificate and 4 years related experience.
All applicants are required to submit a cover letter (approximately 300 – 400 words). In your letter, please describe how your qualifications, experience, and skills would be suitable for this position. It will be as a screening tool to assess writing and proofreading abilities. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
As per the Health Professions Act, successful applicants must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) if: They have a degree in social work from any university in North America that is accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), OR They have graduated from an approved social work diploma program in Alberta, OR They have, within the last five years, been a registered, certified, or licensed social worker in another province or with a member of the Association of Social Boards.

Nice To Haves

Work experience in family violence dynamics.
Work experience in demonstrating interview and assessment techniques and skills, including safety screening.
Working knowledge of Family Law Act.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) training including mediation.

Responsibilities

Provide triage and intake services including safety screening, needs assessment, referrals as necessary, and limited assistance completing and filing Family Law Act court documents.
Demonstrate dispute resolution skills to assist clients in resolving their disputes.
Identify and outline options available for the client to decide on a course of action.
Deliver ongoing assessments, information, support, guidance, and assistance to clients prior to, during and following court.
Negotiate and facilitate terms of consent with parties in attendance at court, for the courts review and endorsements.
Facilitate court appearances on legislated and specified Family Law Act applications, assisting parties towards resolution, educational resources, interventions and /or transferring parties to alternate court services.
Assist families with their various concerns in the fast-paced environment of the Resolution Services office and the Provincial Family docket court, Court of King’s Bench Family Docket Court, and Court of King’s Bench Regular Chambers.
Respond to actions, directions and requests from the judiciary that fall within the scope of the role.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders (i.e., Lawyers, Legal Aid, Community Legal centers, women’s shelters, native counselling services and police services) to ensure information sharing and optimal client services.
Complete timely and accurate entries on the Resolutions Services provincial database relating to client services and court activity in accordance with policy/procedure.