Mediator/Child Custody Recommending Counselor

Job Title:
Mediator/Child Custody Recommending Counselor
Closing Date/Time:
Continuous
Salary:
$39.99 - $48.73 Hourly
$3,199.20 - $3,898.40 Biweekly
$83,179.20 - $101,358.40 Annually
Job Type:
Full-time
Location:
Civil & Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa CA 95403, California
Under general direction, the Child Custody Recommending Counselors (CCRC) provides mediation services to litigants seeking to resolve child custody and visitation disputes or issues.  If mediation does not result in agreed-upon solutions, the CCRC recommends orders for the Court and the parties to consider.

The CCRC requires knowledge of family dynamics, the developmental needs of children, mental health challenges, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, and the dynamics of divorce. Successful candidates will be skilled in mitigating conflict and interviewing clients from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and must be able to maintain impartiality in the emotionally charged environment of custody litigation.     

Necessary skills include the ability to manage conflict within the highly-charged environment of family litigation and the maintenance of impartiality among people of varying cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
 Typical Duties:
CCRCs meet daily with parents who reside apart from one another and are seeking the Court’s intervention in one or more parenting disputes.  California law requires them to meet with a CCRC before their hearing and attempt to resolve the matter(s) to their mutual satisfaction.  If successful, their agreement is submitted to the Court for adoption in the form of an order.  The Court will determine any unresolved issues upon full consideration of orders proposed by the CCRC. 

CCRCs may also be required to provide mediation services to parents or other individuals involved in guardianship matters and those related to juvenile dependency/delinquency cases.

The Court will provide training to assist the CCRC in meeting or exceeding the requirements outlined in the applicable statutes and Rules of Court.  
 Qualifications:
Possession of a Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, counseling, or other behavioral sciences related to family dynamics.  Two years of full-time work experience post master’s work is also required; OR
Possession of an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to family law, such as a Juris Doctor (JD) or another related field.  A minimum of two years experience in family law is required.

Additional Qualifications:

The following additional qualifications are required:
The ability to assess adult psychopathology and family dynamics
Skills in crisis intervention, mediation, and negotiation theory and practice
Familiarity with the current trends and issues in the field of adult and child psychology including, but not limited to, child development, the effects of divorce on children, and the effects of intimate partner violence on children
Awareness of the general functions and organization of the judicial system, including the various divisions of the Court and the roles and functions of other legal and law enforcement agencies
The oral and written communication skills sufficient to discuss complex legal and familial issues and to present written recommendations to the Court, litigants, and other stakeholders
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs and applications
The ability to complete work assignments without assistance from support staff
A valid state-issued driver’s license and the availability of a private vehicle for occasional use in the field.
The following is preferred but not required:
A state-issued certification as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, or attorney.
Knowledge of California family law procedures as they pertain to the custody of and visitation with children.
Bi-lingual skills, particularly Spanish

 Process to Apply:
PROCESS TO APPLY:
Please apply online at:  http://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/info/jobs
 
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
The selection procedure will consist of an application with supplemental questionnaire screening and a panel interview process.

Please list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of the application and be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.  You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position.

Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, and knowledge and abilities which relate to the position.  Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be invited to an interview.

The Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma is committed to creating a diverse environment and an open, inclusive culture free from bias. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Accommodation: 
Applicants with a disability who may require special assistance in any step of the selection process should advise Human Resources by emailing [email protected] upon submittal of application.

Background Investigation: 
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a thorough background check, including verification of prior employment, and the provision of appropriate identifying documents to certify eligibility to work in the United States. Please be advised that finalist(s) must be fingerprinted for criminal record check purposes and that continued employment is contingent upon information received in the report.  Convictions, depending upon the type, number and date, may be disqualifying. False statements or omission of facts regarding background or employment history may result in disqualification or dismissal.