Salary : $103,233.60 - $130,623.72 Annually
Location : Watsonville Courthouse, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 00051
Department: Self Help / Law Library / Family Services
Division: Family Court Services
Opening Date: 11/09/2026
Closing Date: 12/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DEFINITIONUnder direct supervision of the Family Court Services Director, mediates disputes involving child custody and visitation; assesses complex cases involving child custody disagreements; prepares a variety of court reports and recommendations; and performs other duties as required. This position functions within a recommending jurisdiction and provides formal recommendations to the Court pursuant to Family Code sections [redacted] and California Rules of Court 5.210-5.230.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICSThis single-position class is responsible for mediating and assessing sensitive situations and family relationships, collecting information, writing reports, and making recommendations for determination in child custody or timeshare disputes in Superior Court. Work is performed in person at the Watsonville Courthouse, Monday-Friday, to ensure consistent support to judicial officers and timely access for families.
TYPICAL TASKSProvides guidance to cases referred by the Court; conducts Child Custody Recommending Counseling; meets with parties involved in custody and visitation disputes; works through differences with involved parties and develops recommendations for the Court; considers allegations concerning child custody; prepares written stipulations and recommendations for the Court at the completion of Child Custody Recommending Counseling; provides social case histories, correspondence, and other documents as necessary; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays current on legislation regarding custody evaluation, domestic violence, and related issues; represents Family Court Services at conferences and meetings; conducts stepparent adoption investigations; conducts juvenile dependency and guardianship mediations; conducts ex parte reviews; testifies in court on recommendations; in underage marriage permission cases, interviews the couple and prepares assessment reports on the readiness of the couple to marry; performs freedom-from-parental-custody-and-control evaluations; and makes appropriate referrals for assistance to other community resources. Mediations with parents occur both via Zoom and in person, but all sessions are conducted at the courthouse to ensure safety, confidentiality, and judicial access.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCEAny combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain these would be:
Equivalent to a Master's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in clinical psychology, social work, marriage-family-child counseling, behavioral science, or a related field
AND two years of experience in counseling or psychotherapy related to family conciliation for the courts and with a population similar to that served by the County.
Valid licensure strongly preferred with the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences (LCSW, LMFT, PsyD, LPCC, PhD).
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/CONDITIONSLICENSE/CERTIFICATE- Possession of a valid California Class C driver license or the ability to provide suitable transportation approved by the appointing authority.
- Possession of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage Family Child Counseling, or Clinical Psychology license issued by the State of California.
- Completion of Domestic Violence training program in accordance with Section 1816 of the Family Code.
- This position operates under statutory authority defined in Family Code §§ [redacted] and California Rules of Court 5.210-5.230.
- Santa Cruz County is a recommending jurisdiction pursuant to Local Rule of Court 3.3.
- For more information about Family Court Services statewide, see the Judicial Council's Family Court Services program page:
KNOWLEDGE OF:Thorough knowledge of:
- Court system of California and the procedures used in family law cases.
- Community resources to which clients can be referred for assistance.
Working knowledge of:
- 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.
- Principles of social casework.
- Interviewing principles and techniques.
- 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.
- Statutory and regulatory framework governing Family Court Services, including Family Code §§ [redacted] and California Rules of Court 5.210-5.230.
ABILITY TO:- Perform specialized mediation and investigative work involving family law and child custody.
- Conduct specialized research to assess the mental health needs of children and adults.
- Analyze problems, identify solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and develop recommendations in support of goals.
- Develop and prepare a variety of records and reports.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Recognize substance abuse and domestic violence.
- Navigate a recommending-mediation model and clearly articulate recommendations consistent with statutory and local rule requirements.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEESVacation Leave: 1 year of service = 15.25 days per year; after 15 years of service = 30.25 days per year. Maximum balance is 2 ½ times annual accrual. Balance paid out upon separation. Available for use after 12 months.
Administration Leave: Employees will receive 40 hours of administrative leave upon appointment. Employees shall earn administrative leave according to the currently established accrual rate of .0385 hour earned per hour of service. Admin Leave can be taken in cash or time off. Maximum balance is 120 hours. Balance paid out upon separation.
Sick Leave: Six days per year; available for use after 6 months.
Holidays: 14.5 paid holidays per year.
Retirement: CalPERS retirement plan (2% at age 62) integrated with Social Security; employee contributes 7.75% of salary pre-tax.
Medical: The Court contracts with CalPERS for a variety of health plans. For most plans Court contributions pay a large majority of the premiums for employees and dependents. Opt-Out for cash is available.
Dental: Court pays for employee and dependent coverage.
Vision: Court pays for employee and dependent coverage.
Life Insurance: Court paid $50,000 term policy for employee only; supplemental employee-paid plan available for employee and dependents.
Short Term Disability: Court paid; provides 66 2/3 of weekly salary up to maximum of $2,000 per week.
Long Term Disability: Court paid; provides 66 2/3 of monthly salary up to maximum of $9,000 per month.
Fitness/Health Incentive: Employees may receive an annual payment of no more than $200.00 for such expenses as gym memberships, physical fitness classes, smoking cessation or weight control programs.
Deferred Compensation: 457b plan available; employee voluntary deductions only.
Retiree Health Program: Retirees with at least 5 years of service with our court will have a portion of their monthly CalPERS health insurance cost paid. For retirees with at least 25 years of service, the Court will pay a 100% of the premium for the lowest cost applicable CalPERS HMO or Medicare HMO insurance premium not to exceed $1,000.00 Employees must work with the Court for at least 5 years to qualify and each employee
contributes 1% of their base pay on a pre-tax basis to partially fund the Court's retiree health program.
01
Please indicate license(s) held & upload a copy of your license or include your license # on your resume:
- Marriage and Family Therapist License Number
- Clinical Social Worker License Number
- Clinical Psychologist License Number
- Other
02
Discuss what you know about mediation/child custody recommending counseling for separating and divorcing families and how it affects children. Include a description of any mediation experience.
03
Describe your working experience with highly stressed, angry and/or traumatized clients, and how you ensure safety while trying to serve them.
04
How would you assess for intimate partner violence involving Family Court clients?
05
What is your experience gathering pertinent information, i.e. education, CPS, legal system, mental health regarding families and individuals?
06
Describe your training, education and experience in the following areas: Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, Child Development, Mental Health diagnoses, Substance Abuse, and the impact that sharing time with two separate parents has on children.
07
Why are you interested in this position, and what are your goals for this position if you are hired?
Required Question
