Part Time Supervised Visitation Monitor

Position Description

This Part-time, 20-hour/week, with hours between 1:30pm and 8pm on weekdays.

The Visit Monitor is responsible for high-quality supervision of visits and exchanges for families served by the Family Visitation Program. In addition to working to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of the child, Visit Monitors conduct pre- and post-visit coaching/goal-setting sessions and keep extensive, objective notes and records about all visits.

The Family Visitation Program (FVP) provides children with a safe place to visit and form healthy relationships with their non-custodial parent, or to exchange between parents with joint custody. The Mediation Center serves families with a history of domestic violence, substance abuse, child maltreatment, mental health concerns, child abduction risk, and high-conflict separation/divorce.

Through Supervised Visitation and safe child exchange, The Mediation Center’s FVP enhances community safety and stops the cycle of abuse and trauma. FVP serves more than 60 families each year with over 800 supervised visits and child exchanges.

Agency Description

The Mediation Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1984. We provide mediation, conflict resolution skills training, and supervised child visitation in Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk Counties of Western North Carolina. We believe that conflict is a normal part of life, and that people know what’s best in their own lives. By offering non-judgmental and confidential conflict resolution and Supervised Visitation services we create a safer and more peaceful community for everyone.

The Mediation Center is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

Monitor supervised visits and exchanges to ensure safety and support families

• Be in the room during visits between non-custodial parents and their children
• Follow and enforce all rules, policies, and procedures to ensure that family visits and exchanges occur safely
• Take detailed, objective notes about each family visitation session
• Intervene when necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of children during visits
• Suggest developmentally appropriate games and activities as needed
• Maintain all appropriate documentation to keep clients’ files up-to-date
• Fill any FVP role as needed including monitoring visits and exchanges, being present during service hours in any of the three locations watching video monitors, and providing client reception

Conduct parent coaching sessions before and after supervised visits

• Conduct goal-setting/coaching sessions with visiting parents before and after supervised visits
• Assist parents in meeting and tracking goals
• Re-direct parent behavior as appropriate
• Maintain records of what occurs during coaching sessions as well as progress towards goals

Consult with FVP Client Services Coordinator to assess each family’s progress

• Inform FVP Client Services Coordinator of problems and/or concerns that may arise
• Accept feedback from FVP Client Services Coordinator regarding note-taking practices and client interactions
• Work with FVP Client Services Coordinator to ensure all family-specific needs are met and accommodations are made

Other duties as assigned

How we expect you to approach the work

Non-judgmental – Prioritizes safety while building warm, friendly, and impartial relationships with clients; avoids casting judgement or sharing opinions about custody arrangements or what is best for a family; acknowledges the importance of a parent’s role in a child’s life regardless of past family violence, maltreatment, or other events; and aims to facilitate positive interactions between children and their parents/guardians within the confines of the FVP format.

Attentive – Follows and applies all rules, policies, and procedures to ensure the safety of everyone; remains diligent and alert throughout all visits and exchanges; intervenes in parent/child interactions to redirect or stop inappropriate parent behavior; and maintains willingness to jump in anywhere help is needed to ensure high-quality, safe services.

Flexible – Remains willing to step into new and different roles to enable individuals and families to benefit from The Mediation Center’s services and programs.

Supervisory Relationships

The Visit Monitor reports to The Mediation Center’s Program Director. The Visit Monitor works in consultation with the FVP Coordinator and FVP Client Services Coordinator.

Hours/Schedule

This is a part-time, non-exempt position, 20 hours/week. Shift hours fall between 2:00pm and 8:00pm Monday through Friday. It is required for applicants to be available to work during work hours and morning hours for training and meetings are occasionally required. The exact schedule is subject to change on a weekly basis.

Location and Travel

We serve Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties, with offices I Hendersonville and Asheville. Staff typically have a primary location, and occasionally travel to provide services in other locations.

Work-related mileage (but not commute distance to your primary location) is reimbursed.

Requirements

• Ability to see and hear
• Ability to follow written and spoken directions
• Ability to speak, understand, write, and read English at a professional level
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds on occasion with or without accommodation
• A valid N.C. driver's license and a car for use on all work days
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and protect highly sensitive information
• Basic understanding of parenting skills and child development
• At least 3 years of experience working in human services or with underserved communities OR a 4-year degree in a human services field from an appropriately accredited college or university
• Competency in Office Suite; ability to quickly become competent in Office 365, databases, and several cloud-based software systems; ability to do basic trouble-shooting to resolve technology issues and questions
• An acceptable outcome on a criminal background check. The Mediation Center supports employment opportunities for people will prior justice systems involvement and will consider each case individually.

Desired Characteristics

• Experience in or knowledge of any of the following: parenting-skills coaching; working with clients in high conflict situations; case management and documentation of case records; family systems, child abuse, mental health, and/or domestic violence
• Spanish/English or Russian/English bilingual, with premium pay available

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $19.00 - $20.10 per hour

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Multiple locations