Description
Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.
Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?
Part-time/24 Hours in a Week/Master's Degree Required
POSITION SUMMARY: The forensic interviewer is responsible for conducting forensic interviews of children and developmentally disabled adults suspected of having been sexually and or physically abused, neglected, and/or witness to violence. The forensic interviewer is part of a collaborative team that works together to ensure that the child victim is interviewed in a child-friendly environment that puts the child’s comfort and needs first, with the goal being to reduce the number of interviews and lessen the trauma for the child. Promotes & advocates for programs offered through the Lancaster County Children’s Alliance. Collects and maintains agency data and case tracking system.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:
- Conducts sensitive and thorough video-recorded forensic interviews according to the standards of the National Children’s Advocacy Centers (NCAC), National Children’s Alliance (NCA) and other national training organizations with children who are possible victims of abuse, neglect, and/or witness to violence. Attends basic and advanced forensic interview training; and attendance/participation at trainings deemed relevant by direct supervisor and/or Board members.
- Prepares for, attends, and presents testimony in court hearings including both civil and criminal court, providing written documentation and expert testimony on aspects of the interview process as well as testimony as a fact witness on specific interviews in individual cases. Keeps current with research related to issue of abuse to support the legal defensibility of forensic interviews and abuse disclosures.
- Conducts High Risk Behavior Assessments for children and adolescents when there are risks of child sex trafficking. This includes completing an additional 40 hours of training related to human trafficking and remaining current in research and issues related to human and child sex trafficking.
- Participates in the Pennsylvania State Chapter of Forensic Interviewers for trainings, peer review, and support.
- Acts as a community liaison with all involved agencies and promotes the Lancaster County Children’s Alliance model of child abuse intervention.
- Maintains skills in age-specific competencies, related to children, in areas of child abuse, family violence, child development, memory and suggestibility of children.
- Maintains records of interviews and keeps statistics for case tracking purposes.
- Facilitates team decision-making to ensure child safety, family case planning and legal integrity of the case. Demonstrates effective communication and collaboration with partner agencies, and clients to ensure quality of service delivery.
- Facilitates a psycho-educational group for Non-Offending Caregivers, providing written documentation, assessments and recommendations.
SECONDARY FUNCTIONS: The following duties are considered secondary to the primary duties listed above:
- Provides coverage for non-traditional hours as necessary.
- Participates in the on-call responsibilities for this position as required.
- Other duties as assigned.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in Social Work or a related field.
- Three (3) years experience working with children and families.
- Expertise in child abuse and family violence.
- Experience working with teams.
- Knowledge or experience in family systems.
- Well prepared and comfortable working with victims of trauma.
- Ability and proficiency in conducting forensic interviews.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills.
- Skill in networking between agencies and professionals as well as the ability to work and think independently when conducting forensic interviews.
- Good organizational and writing skills – working knowledge of computers, data bases and ability to enter and track statistics.
- Ability to provide training on concept of Child Advocacy Centers
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- One (1) to two (2) years experience as a forensic interviewer.
We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.
Live Your Life's Work
We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.
