Mental Health Clinician

Los Angeles Superior Court; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A county court in California is seeking experienced Mental Health Clinicians to mediate child custody disputes. This role involves conducting assessments, interviews, and evaluations, ensuring compliance with legal standards. Applicants should have a master's degree, 5 years of counseling experience, and a current license from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Bilingual skills in Spanish are preferred. Telework options are available post-training.

Qualifications

• 5 years of paid experience in family counseling or clinical assessment.
• Current license from California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct child custody mediations to prioritize child interests.
• Perform child custody evaluations and assessments.
• Conduct sensitive interviews with children for custody decisions.
• Identify and assess risks such as domestic violence.
• Provide parent education on healthy family dynamics.
• Maintain detailed case records and prepare reports.

Skills

Counseling

Interviewing

Evaluation

Referral skills

Knowledge of family law

Education

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field

Job description

The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is the largest unified trial court in the United States, employing 4,600 full‑time staff across 36 facilities to provide equal access to justice for all residents of Los Angeles County. The Court’s mission is to serve the community with commitment, collaboration and professional skill.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking experienced Mental Health Clinicians to perform highly responsible duties in resolving high‑conflict child custody disputes arising from divorce, legal separation, paternity actions or domestic violence cases. Clinicians use mediation to reach agreements that become court orders and evaluation to generate formal custody recommendations. The role demands strong counseling, interviewing, evaluation and referral skills and a deep understanding of family law, court procedures and mental health practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Child Custody Mediation – Conduct confidential mediations in cases of separation, parentage, divorce or domestic violence to develop child custody/visitation agreements prioritizing the child’s best interests.
• Child Custody Evaluations (Brief Parenting Plan Assessments) – Perform in‑depth assessments, interviews and home visits to evaluate family dynamics, recommend custody arrangements and deliver findings through formal reports or court testimony.
• Child Interviews – Conduct sensitive, age‑appropriate interviews with children to gather input relevant to custody decisions and share observations via written reports or testimony.
• Risk Assessment & Mandatory Reporting – Identify and assess risks such as domestic violence and child abuse, make mandated reports and referrals to appropriate agencies, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.
• Parent Education – Provide parents with information on child development, communication techniques and co‑parenting strategies to support healthier family dynamics.
• Documentation – Maintain detailed case records, input data into court databases and prepare formal evaluations and reports for judicial review.

Selection Requirements

• A master’s degree from an accredited college, university or program in social work, psychology, marriage, family and child counseling or a related behavioral science.
• Five years of paid, verifiable, full‑time post‑master’s experience within the last seven years in family counseling or clinical assessment.
• A current license from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences in marriage and family therapy, clinical social work or clinical psychology.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of effective interview methods and techniques to assess adults and children.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health terminology, including understanding of medical diagnoses.
• Ability to work independently and consult with a supervisor regarding cases as appropriate.
• Ability to interview and communicate with a variety of people from different backgrounds.
• Experience working with high‑conflict parents and children, including blended family issues.
• Experience working with persons who have problems with drugs, alcohol, child abuse, domestic violence and mental health issues.
• Experience working in a court environment, demonstrating familiarity with legal procedures.
• Experience providing timely assessments to the court.
• Ability to communicate fluently in Spanish.

This position is eligible for full or partial telework following an initial training period and contingent upon the needs of the Court.

Los Angeles Superior Court is an equal opportunity employer.