Mediator - CCRC
Mediator - CCRC Full Time;
Hourly Salary: $26.96 TO $32.78 (*A 10% salary differential is paid to Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Social Workers or Psychologists).
Closing Date: Friday, June 14, 2019 at 4:00pm.
Under general direction performs mediations, conducts investigations and makes child custody/visitation recommendations to the Judicial Officers of the Superior Court. This position is utilized in the Family Court Services Division and works at the fully qualified journey level, performing mandated court functions.
Essential Job Functions
The following duties are typical of those performed by the incumbent in this classification. However, other duties may also be required.
- Conducts mediation sessions related to child custody and visitation disputes.
- Interviews parents, children, extended family members, collateral sources and various agencies to develop information regarding domestic, martial, and other aspects of parental responsibilities which directly relate to appropriate recommendations.
- Evaluates and assesses families for referral to appropriate community resources.
- Prepares written stipulations of agreements, recommendations and evaluations to the Court in child custody and visitation cases, guardianships, and stepparent adoptions.
- May conduct pre-marital underage minor evaluations and recommendations to the Court.
- Provides court testimony regarding recommendations.
- Prepares and maintains case files, compiles statistics and keeps records at the request of the Court.
- Conducts child custody investigations and evaluations, as required.
- Conducts mediation or parent orientation classes, as required.
- Provides instruction, seminars and presentations on divorce, dispute resolution, child development or other relevant topics, as directed.
- Attends training sessions, staff meetings, and case consultations and maintains up-to-date information concerning family assessment, family dynamics, mediation and family law.
- Abides by professional and ethical standards as mandated and prescribed in the California Family Code, Rules of Court and Mediation Standards.
- Assists in the coordination of various court-based service programs and multi-agency collaborative efforts.
- Collects and maintain statistical information pertaining to division operations.
Typical Qualifications
Experience: A Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, marriage, family and child counseling or other behavioral science substantially related to marriage and family interpersonal relationships, and two years professional experience in family counseling, psychotherapy or mediation. Previous work experience as a probation officer, social worker or performing duties similar to a Court Investigator may be evaluated for substitution purposes for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
A 10% salary differential is paid for an employee who possesses one of the following licenses:
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Psychologist
Knowledge of:
- California Court system, Civil Code, Family Law policies and procedures and case and statutory law
- Principles of interviewing, counseling, investigation, and casework; custody research and studies; negotiation theory; court mediation theory and paradigms; reality focused settlement techniques
- Adult and child development with emphasis on children of divorce; family dynamics and system theory; appropriate parenting arrangements for children of various ages; effects of divorce on children, parents and extended families and their respective rights; crisis intervention techniques
- Behavioral disorders such as character and mental disorders; substance abuse; domestic violence; child abuse and molestation
- Code of Ethics for California Court Employees
- Available local community resources
- Legal requirements for recommendations to the Court and stipulated agreements
- Legal terminology
- Business English, including vocabulary, correct grammatical usage, spelling and punctuation
Ability to:
- Understand and apply statutes, rules and case law affecting the Family Court Services Division
- Obtain and interpret social data from various sources
- Effectively interview children and adults in a non-confrontational manner; skillfully assess normal and dysfunctional interaction of family members; assess the needs of family members for appropriate outside agency assistance or for further investigative process
- Deal with small group dynamics involving coalition, hidden agendas, transference and counter-transference; provide assertive intervention in delineating common goals of the parties
- Provide feedback on findings and actively explore alternative solutions with clients
- Effectively utilize crisis intervention techniques
- Negotiate via cognitive and communicative problem solving
- Deal tactfully and interact effectively in situations requiring instructing, persuading, consulting, counseling and motivating people
- Establish rapport and effective working relationships with clients of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds, some of whom may be emotional or uncooperative
- Reach logical conclusions and exercise sound judgment based on the evaluation of facts and conflicting information
- Prepare concise reports and records
- Prioritize work and manage time effectively to work within time limits
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing
- Work cooperatively with those contacted in the course of work
- Maintain confidentiality
- Utilize computer technology including desktop computer, word processing, and spreadsheet applications
Supplemental Information
- Candidates will be subject to a background and reference check, including fingerprinting for criminal convictions through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and drug screen.
- All offers of employment are contingent upon submission of documents verifying identity and authorization to work in the United States, in accordance with the Immigration and Naturalization Control Act of 1986. (E-Verify).
- May be required to possess or obtain by appointment date a valid operator's license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles.