This is professional and clinical casework in the assessment and treatment of offenders and victims of family violence.

Employees in this class are responsible for providing psychosocial assessment and psychotherapy to offenders and victims of family violence. Responsibilities include providing telephone crisis intervention, conducting mental examination of all clients and evaluating abusive behavior to determine relative safety of victims, preparing treatment plans, preparing pertinent clinical records, offering training and education to other professionals, providing expert witness testimony in the field of family violence, and acting as liaison with the courts, mental health professionals and community organizations. Duties require exercise of considerable knowledge of professional theories regarding the dynamics of family violence, psychotherapeutic treatment modalities and a high degree of counseling skills. Considerable professional judgment is also exercised in evaluation of client progress and planning of treatment. Supervision is received from a professional superior who is a state certified batterers intervention program evaluates work for quality of results through personal conferences and analysis of case records and activity reports.

ILLUSTRATIVE TASKS

Conducts psychosocial assessments of victims and offenders, evaluates abusive behavioral patterns to assess safety of victims.

Completes a mental status examination of all clients and prepares written treatment plans.

Plans and conducts individual and group psychotherapy and keeps clinical records.

Prepares comprehensive case progress notes in behavioral terms as a result of individual and group counseling; continually evaluates participant progress and the effectiveness of treatment methods being used.

Provides telephone crisis intervention, information and referral for family related matters to the general public.

Provides psychotherapeutic training for community mental health professionals, staff and graduate interns.

Participates in case conferences with superior and other staff members to discuss client cases; coordinates treatment plans with the Department of Children and Families, community mental health centers and other professionals.

Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGES, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

Thorough knowledge of departmental policies, goals and objectives in the treatment of family violence related clients.

Thorough knowledge of the responsibilities and duties of a state certified batterers' intervention program facilitator and assessor.

Considerable knowledge of various therapeutic techniques used in behavior modification counseling.

Considerable knowledge of theories and practices of offenders and victims of family violence.

Considerable knowledge of community resources and referral programs.

Ability to achieve necessary rapport with clients in a therapeutic relationship.

Ability to identify various client problems, including problems of a complex nature.

Ability to counsel clients with necessary skill to achieve behavioral improvement.

Ability to utilize a variety of therapeutic techniques effectively in client treatment.

Ability to develop treatment plans designed to assist clients requiring in-depth assessment and evaluation.

Ability to assess client progress and modify treatment planning accordingly.

Ability to maintain effective relationships with other professional staff members providing psychological or medical assistance.

Ability to maintain confidentiality of client information.

Ability to prepare comprehensive case records in behavioral terms.

Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively, orally and in writing.