Forensic Interviewer

Job Summary

The position serves as a civilian forensic interviewer at the Children's Justice Center (CJC) in coordination with CJC's multidisciplinary child abuse response team. This team is responsible for a comprehensive response to incidents of suspected child abuse throughout Clark County. The forensic interviewer's main role is to provide interviews of children in a timely, neutral, and legal manner, utilizing their expertise in child abuse to help the team identify children's special needs or approach each child in a consistent and sensitive manner to lessen the possibility of secondary trauma through the course of the interview.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide interviews of children in a timely, neutral, and legal manner
• Utilize expertise in child abuse to help the team identify children's special needs
• Approach each child in a consistent and sensitive manner to lessen the possibility of secondary trauma
• Participate in Peer Review and Case Review meetings
• Report and projects related to this position
• Court appearances to inform the court about the interview process or to clarify specifics about the interview

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Master's degree in psychology, social work, or other related field is desirable; a minimum five years of direct experience working with children and families is required. Formal training in forensic interviewing is strongly preferred. All combinations of education, experience, and training that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered. A basic understanding and experience working with other professional disciplines whose work involves the criminal justice and child welfare systems is required. Understanding basic child development, children with special needs, and the ramifications of child abuse is essential.

The Ideal Candidate

Will have the following strengths:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Knowledge and experience with forensic interviewing of children and fact finding within a legal framework
• Understanding and experience with maintaining a neutral position and fact finding role within a legal framework
• Ability to effectively approach children and families who have experienced significant trauma
• Ability to assess for special needs and utilize a skilled communication approach accordingly
• Demonstrated success working within a collaborative setting
• Understanding of the unique roles of law enforcement, advocates, medical providers, and child protective services
• Significant expertise and understanding of child development and the psychosocial ramifications of child abuse
• Facilitation and coordination within a professional team framework
• Strong organizational and time management skills

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of forensic interviewing of children, child abuse, child responses to trauma, effective communication with children, and the neutral and legal role of a forensic interviewer.

Ability to:

Work well and coordinate with the CJC collaborative team, which includes law enforcement, prosecution, victim advocacy, medical, and mental health providers, and child protective service social workers; to assess children for trauma and special needs; effectively build rapport and interact with children to gain facts in a neutral and legal manner; respond in an immediate manner in emergent circumstances and effectively schedule and manage time well to ensure that timely completion of interviews are conducted in accordance with the established protocol; work independently with reliability; maintain neutrality in communications; stay within the boundaries of the unique role of a forensic interviewer and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and agency partners; possess basic computer skills; thoroughly document, log, and track data; use video recording equipment; drive and utilize own vehicle; interpret County, State, and Federal laws and regulations that are relevant to the work of a forensic interviewer.

Other Special Requirements:

The successful candidate must pass a criminal background check, as required by RCW 43.43.830 and applicable grantors. Evidence of a valid driver's license and certified copy of current driving record (CCDR) are required at time of hire.