Forensic Interviewer

Title: Forensic Interviewer

Position: Full-time, 36 Hours, M – Th, 8am to 4:30pm, Fridays 8am-12pm some evenings and weekends required.

Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: The C.A.R.E. Center

Reports to: Director, The C.A.R.E. Center

Salary Grade/level/Range:

Location: 505 Building

Mission:

The mission of The Women’s Center is to provide safety, shelter, and support to empower all impacted by domestic abuse, sexual violence, child abuse, and trafficking.

Summary/ Objective: The primary responsibility of this position is to conduct forensic interviews and provide education regarding child abuse dynamics to child abuse investigators.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Understands and satisfies the social service needs of the neonatal, infant, toddler, pre-school, school-age, adolescent, and/or adult patient in regard to their growth and development process.
• Performs video-recorded Forensic Interviews per program standards. Can utilize video-recording equipment.
• Performs Social Work evaluation of appropriate children/families focused on the identification of factors related to abuse/neglect, including gathering and evaluating information and drawing meaningful conclusions.
• Communicates the outcome of Forensic Interviews and Social Work evaluations to patients, parents, referral sources, and outside agencies as appropriate. Communications may be in the form of written or verbal reports as appropriate.
• Provides education to patients and families on the dynamics of child abuse and neglect. Within program guidelines, acts as a resource to patients and families on available community resources.
• Documents professional clinical activities per program standards.
• Provides courtroom testimony on cases as required.
• Actively involved in enhancing skills through participation in Peer Review and through other means such as reviewing journal articles and attendance at in-services as well as local, statewide and national conferences within financial constraints as they are available.
• Provides crisis management services to children and families seen in the course of an abuse evaluation with appropriate safety planning and system advocacy.
• Works effectively within a team environment. Collaborates with internal and external partners.
• Maintains positive relationships with referral sources.
• Assists in planning and decision-making appropriate to the client and family with other Center professionals as well as outside agencies. Advocates for sound, safe case planning.
• Participates in client review conferences and department meetings. Actively participates in ongoing program planning and evaluation.
• Develops activities, within available time constraints, which enhance the standing of the program and which further the career goals of the individual, such as presenting educational programs, mentoring professional students, sitting on internal or external committees, providing expert court testimony, or participating in research projects.
• Actively participates in program Quality Improvement efforts. Provides leadership in addressing program issues and solving problems. Makes suggestions and is a positive force in resolving issues. Gathers and reports data as required.
• Maintains a working knowledge of public policy and the practice of social service systems especially as they apply to the local community.
• Advocates for policies and procedures that are consistent with the best interest of the child using professional standards and agency code of conduct.
• Participate in agency meetings and trainings.
• Completes other duties as needed and/or requested by supervisor to align with mission and vision of the organization.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills:

• Advanced knowledge in the dynamics of child abuse/neglect and its effects on Survivors and other family members.
• Excellent ability and skill in developing professionally appropriate relationships with children referred for evaluations.
• Ability to comfortably work in situations that may be potentially confrontational.
• Knowledge of investigative and prosecutorial processes required.
• Advanced interpersonal skills required to communicate and work effectively with others in both a multidisciplinary team environment and with agency staff, and with the representatives of outside agencies who possess a wide variety of professional backgrounds and experiences.
• Expertise in training related to child abuse, advocacy, and team-building
• Significant crisis management experience.
• Knowledge of investigative and prosecutorial processes required.
• Experience working with trauma survivors.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, Written and oral – talking and writing effectively in order to convey information appropriately to the needs of the audience.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Sensitivity to issues faced by survivors of interpersonal violence.
• Active listening – giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension – understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Time Management – managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Service Orientation – actively looking for ways to help people.
• Coordination – adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Critical Thinking – using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making – considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Education/Experience:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice or related field is required. Completion of a National Children’s Alliance approved forensic interviewing protocol is preferred.

Language Skills: Ability to read, write and comprehend English.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to utilize critical thinking – such as using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Requires a valid Wisconsin driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Physical demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This is a largely sedentary role; however, some filing is required.
• This would require the ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Will require some movement up and down stairs and between buildings.

Work Environment: The Work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee may perform some work-related travel.
• Works predominantly indoors but may need to go between different buildings.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADA: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

AAP/EEO: The Women’s Center is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This Job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

Digital Fingerprints/Criminal Background Check for TWC Applicants

What information will be requested at the time of the fingerprinting reservation?

1. Full legal name
2. Full current address
3. Date of birth
4. Gender
5. Social Security number
6. Height
7. Weight
8. Hair color
9. Eye color
10. Ethnicity
11. Place of birth
12. Citizenship

Primary ID (photograph and signature, non-expired)

• Government-issued driver’s license
• Learner’s permit (plastic card only with photo and signature)
• National/State/County identification card
• Passport
• Military ID
• Military ID for spouses and dependents
• Alien registration card (Green card, permanent resident visa)

Secondary ID (signature, non-expired)

• Social Security card