Guardian Ad Litem II- Domestic Relations Office

Job Summary

Are you looking for career opportunities that provide top-notch benefits, including paid vacation and sick leave, parental leave, outstanding health, vision, and dental insurance, a free health clinic for you and your dependents, a generous retirement plan, and much more? Then bring your talents to Travis County!

About the Role

This position is located within the Domestic Relations Office division and investigates and protects the best interest of the children for whom the District Court appoints a Guardian Ad Litem. Appointments may occur by individual Court order or by the Local Rules of Civil Procedure in the following types of cases: terminations, adoptions, divorces, modifications, protective orders, suits affecting the parent-child relationship, habeas corpus, paternity and other similar cases involving the care and custody of children.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Conducts forensic interviews and assessments of parents.
• Reviews legal documents and other forms of written or tangible items of evidence to be submitted by litigants at time of trial.
• Affirms and advocates the best interest of the child for who appointed in all aspects of the case, including all legal proceedings.
• Attends and participates in court hearing, depositions, mediations and any other activities associated with a Family Law matter to which a Guardian Ad Litem has been assigned.
• Interviews the children and each individual that the Guardian considers likely to have significant knowledge of the children's history and condition.
• Observes the children interacting at each home and at school and with any other individuals involved in the case in order to form an opinion for the Court in answering questions of conservatorship.
• Requests and reviews school, medical and psychological records on parents and children.
• Recommends appropriate therapeutic intervention where indicated.
• Maintains contact with Attorneys to facilitate investigation and settlement of cases.
• Provides immediate service on an on-call basis as Duty Guardian to the Court.
• Assists parents and/or attorneys who walk in with request for Guardian appointment or other divorce-related issues.
• Refers litigants to appropriate community resources, including facilitation of drug testing.
• Maintains case files and computer records on each case.
• May assist in providing training of staff and may present department and general public training activities.

Minimum Requirements

• Education and Experience: Master's degree in one of the Social or Behavioral Sciences, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Counseling AND three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in casework with children, family counseling or mediation.
• Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Preferred: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); OR, Licensed Social Worker (LSW); OR, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of: Family law and the District Court system. Conciliation and mediation concepts. Policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology related to court system. Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines. Psychological concepts of good behavior, social adjustment and emotional stability. Local social services, organizations and programs and the resources available. Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages. Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• Skill in: Assessing the medical, psychosocial and environmental status of clients. Negotiating, interviewing and investigating practices and techniques. Application of casework principles. Problem-solving and decision-making. Both verbal and written communication.
• Ability to: Accurately assess the present and future needs of a child, to present that child's case and advocate their best interests in court as well as out of court for as long as the case is in the court system. Evaluate psychological and other professional reports. Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of reports and maintain legal concepts. Perform in a stressful environment while maintaining a professional manner. Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, attorneys, children, judges and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

• Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 10-50 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and basic office equipment.
• Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, and squatting to perform the essential functions.
• Subject to client and customer contact.

Location

Civil and Family Court Facility, 1700 Guadalupe St. Austin, TX. 78701

Department

Juvenile Probation