Public Defender - Guardian Ad Litem

Position:Public Defender - Guardian Ad Litem 1 (4728-47)

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Job :4728-47

# of Openings:1

Public Defender - Guardian Ad Litem 1 (4728-47)

Final date to receive applications:

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Work Location:

Public Defender

125 East Court Street

Pay Range:

* Following the successful completion of one-year performance evaluation, this position will become a Guardian Ad Litem 2 position with a BOCC Pay Grade of 21.

Job Function Statement:

Under general supervision, serves as court appointed advocate for children to evaluate their living situation to protect the best interest of the child while preserving families whenever possible; maintains extensive caseload; maintains direct contact with the child, the parent(s), child's teacher, day care provider, therapist, youth leader, tutor, mentor, etc.; advocates for implementation of court ordered services; makes recommendations to the court as to the overall goals of the case and recommends solutions to further realize the goals;

recommends alternative plans for permanency; maintains case files including social histories, case records, treatment data, supportive material and any reports; establishes and maintains working relationship with community agencies (e.g., coordinates services, attends conferences and workshops, speaks to civic associations); makes court appearances as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in a field in which the core program is Social Work, Court Advocacy, Law Enforcement, Social Welfare or other related field. (Preference given to candidates with experience in child welfare.) Rule 48 of the Rules Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio, require any Guardian ad Litem appointed by a juvenile court to protect and act in the best interest of a child.

The rule requires attendance at twelve hours of pre-service training offered by the Ohio Supreme Court, civil and criminal background checks to be conducted and subsequent satisfactory results, adherence to the minimum standards set forth in section Rule 48 for the Responsibilities of the Guardian ad Litem for abuse, neglect, and dependency cases as well as six hours of approved continuing GAL training hours per year.

Illustrative Duties:

• Serves as court appointed guardian ad litem for children to advocate for the best interest of the child(ren) while preserving families whenever possible. For each child on caseload: regularly visits the child in accordance with court rules; has direct contact with people significant to the child, including relatives, teachers, day care providers, therapists, mentors and/or any other service provider; meets with parent(s) to evaluate their living situation and the effectiveness of the services provided toward the reunification process;
  
  meets and evaluates appropriateness of interested relative(s) regarding possible placement for the child(ren).
• Advocates for implementation of court ordered services; establishes and maintains working relationships and communication with attorneys assigned to represent the GAL; actively advocates for compliance of mandated time frames; monitors court ordered services; provides written and oral reports to the Court directly and/or through counsel; requests a hearing to enforce court orders; recommends plans for permanency; makes recommendations to the Court as to the overall goals of the case as well as specific solutions to further the realization of the goals based upon documented finding of facts and researched, pragmatic, and available services/programs;
  
  prepares and files written reports for Court hearings; testifies in court. Maintains responsibilities for assigned caseload.
• Reviews and/or obtains copies of child's records (e.g. educational, medical, and therapeutic records, delinquency records, child welfare records); attends child welfare agency staffings and SARs.
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with community agencies to assist with discharge planning, continuity of services, and community involvement in client care; makes inspection trips to home and treatment centers to ensure smooth transition to after-care services; attends conferences and workshops.