Family Court Service Director

DEFINITION

Under general supervision of the Director of Operations, and general direction of the Superior Court, the Family Court Services Director (FCSD) administers the program and supervises the staff of the Family Court Services unit. The FCSD oversees program development, quality assurance, compliance, and technology and data driven systems supporting FCS operations; and preforms expert level child custody recommending counseling (CCRC) duties. The FCSD conducts child custody recommending counseling, investigations, prepares recommendations, responds to ex parte requests, dependency and guardian mediations, stepparent adoptions, freedom from custody and control and marriage of a minor matters. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Family Court Services Director is a single position classification and is distinguished from the Child Custody Recommending Counselor (CCRC) in that in addition to performing CCRC services, the incumbent provides coordination, supervision and training to the clerical and counseling staff.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Conduct daily child custody and recommending counseling sessions and complete reports
• Plans, develops, coordinates, implements and evaluates Family Court Services programs within the guidelines provided by the Court and California statutes
• Assigns cases, supervises and reviews work of counseling staff
• Provides child custody recommending counseling services to litigants and handles high-conflict and sensitive cases
• Reviews legislation related to Family Court Services, attends legislative updates, develops and updates procedures and protocols based on legislative, caselaw and policy changes, and makes recommendations to court administration on the implementation of changes. 
• Provides training on new laws, regulations, and policies that impact program procedures and documents. 
• Determine data gathering techniques required to obtain needed information, design data record-keeping systems on an on-going basis to evaluate resources and level of service. 
• Provides operational, statistical, performance, and compliance reports for executive leadership on request.
• Actively coordinates Family Court Services activities with various governmental and community agencies including attending the Family Law Bench Bar meetings (approximately twice a year)
• Attends professional conferences and workshops and participates in regional and national level Family Law organizations including Bay Area FCS Directors Association meetings. 
• Provides public information to interested lay and professional groups
  • Trains, supervises and evaluates work performed by staff members including performance evaluations, and coaching. 
  • Maintain the list of local supervised visitation providers and ensure they meet the criteria for the court referral list
  • Maintain current FCS information on the Court’s website and Sidebar (intranet)
  • Meet with judges to update them on new law, FCS policy and to work collaboratively together
  • Develop and implement effective administrative practices to improve work processes and that align with the court’s overall goals of being a paperless organization
  • Adopts, supports and sustains program improvements through the use of existing and emerging technologies to improve program services and operational efficiency consistent with the Court’s strategic goals. 
  • Ensure FCS operations and staff compliance with courtwide technology policies on system usage, cybersecurity, remote access and physical security of IT assets. 

• EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

  Knowledge of:

  • Court system of California as it relates to family law cases and a variety of civil procedures and community resources
  • Principles and techniques of interviewing, counseling, investigation and mediation
  • Terminology of family law and civil procedures
  • Relevant family law decisions affecting divorce and parenting plan arrangements
  • Laws and procedures relating to child sexual or physical abuse and/or neglect
  • Adult psychopathology, family psychology and system dynamics
  • Child development theory
  • Clinical issues related to children
  • Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to child abuse, the effects of divorce on children, and child custody research
  • Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes, and regulations including those affecting conciliation, mediation work and mental health issues
  • Substance abuse problems and their relationship to Family Court issues
  • Principles and practices of supervision and training

• Ability to:

  • Coordinate activities with a variety of governmental and community agencies
  • Supervise and coordinate the work of assigned hourly and professional staff 
  • Assist in the development of community resources
  • Design procedures and set standards to ensure a quality work product
  • Analyze program data and use metrics to inform improvements
  • Implement technology policies and support staff in adopting new systems
  • Assess the physical and emotional needs of children and adults

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education and Experience: 

The following requirements must be met:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in clinical psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, behavioral science, or a closely related field.

• Two years of professional experience providing counseling or psychotherapy related to family conciliation for the courts, working with a population similar to that served by the County.

• (Highly preferred) Two years of supervisory or administrative management experience within Family Court Services, or in a closely related court-based family services program.

Special Requirements:

Possession of a license issued by the State of California as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage, Family and Child Therapist (LFMT) or Clinical Psychologist, and completion of Domestic Violence training program in accordance with Section 1816 of the Family Code. The person must also meet the criteria in Family Code 1815 and requirements must be met annually pursuant to California Rule of Court 5.210 and 5.215. 

Possession of a valid California Class C drivers’ license

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment is professional, generally clean inside buildings with limited exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and noise. Incumbents will be working under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions, with frequent deadlines and expectation to produce high quality work under limited time constraints. The ability to work independently as well as closely with others is required.

Background Investigation: Fingerprinting is required. 

Physical Demands:

• Strength, dexterity, coordination and vision to use a keyboard and video display terminal daily 
• Hearing to communicate with the public and court staff
• Dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper
• Strength to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 25 lbs. such as files, stacks of papers, reference and other materials 
• Ability to move from place to place within an office and courthouse 
• Some reaching for items above and below desk level

 Position will tentatively start in January of 2027.