Court Visitor – Anoka County

Job Description:

Anoka County District Court invites qualified applicants for a Court Visitor position for the Probate Division (non-employee position).

The Court Visitor is assigned Guardianship/Conservatorship cases that involve an understanding of the issues of vulnerable individuals, requiring a high level of expertise, independent judgment, and compassion. The Court Visitor connects vulnerable individuals to court processes by meeting with them in person or virtually to conduct an interview.

The Court Visitor exercises exceptional independent decision making in managing appointments, traveling to respondents’ residents, or setting up virtual visits, and determining the best course of action as circumstances change without notice. The Court Visitor must maintain a professional and engaged demeanor at all times, including instances where individuals are confused, agitated, or unresponsive. The Court Visitor must have knowledge of the guardianship and conservatorship powers and processes, be able to explain these powers and related court proceedings to individuals and provide a written report to the court regarding recommendations for guardianship and/or conservatorship.

Example of Duties:

Provide access to justice for vulnerable respondents

• Travel within Anoka County and the greater Twin Cities Metro Area to and from potential wards’ places of residence.
• Work in a variety of settings with extensive public contact.
• Personally serve Court related documents for probate matters; provide accurate information regarding court proceedings.
• Read documents to party informing them of their legal rights, the meaning of the documents, and the legal consequences.
• Conduct in person or remote interview of the parties; observe and document their appearance, lucidity, and surroundings; document parties’ comments regarding the petition; contact attorney; discuss medical and mental health conditions, issues of abuse or alleged abuse, support needs, and living conditions; notify adult protection if warranted.
• Assess the individual’s level of understanding and abilities; prepare, file, and serve a Visitor’s report with recommendations to the court.
• May be subpoenaed to testify in court regarding visits and report findings.
• Submit invoices for billable costs incurred for conducting visits.

Act as liaison between multiple stakeholders

• Maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with community resources, mental health, and social service agencies to coordinate service delivery.
• Serve as a resource to court staff, community members, attorneys, social workers, and other stakeholders.
• Investigate specific case information at the request of the Anoka bench.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Access to reliable transportation to locations within Anoka County and the greater Twin Cities Metro Area.
• Access to reliable internet connection
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or behavioral sciences or related field (e.g., psychology, criminal justice, sociology) or at least 5 years of experience in guardianships, conservatorships, or working with incapacitated persons.

Minimum Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Experience working with individuals in their natural environment (i.e., in-home and community work).
• Knowledge of guardianship, conservatorship, and available system and community resources.
• Knowledge of developmental disabilities, mental illness, and medical conditions.
• Ability to quickly build rapport and establish and/or maintain effective working relationships with people of different backgrounds and demographics.
• Ability to address and analyze problems presented and develop and carry out effective courses of action.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Flexibility to manage multiple competing responsibilities and meet deadlines.
• Effective interviewing and listening skills.

Physical Requirements:

Because the Court Visitor must meet individuals in the community to provide mandated court services, the Court Visitor must be able to:

• Ascend and descend at least one full flight of stairs.
• Lift and carry objects up to 25 pounds (typically paper files and a laptop).
• Navigate spaces that are cluttered or unclean.
• Drive for up to an hour at a time.
• Work at a computer for extended periods of time to complete reports.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW).
• Probate and/or Mental Health experience in Anoka County or other legal field experience.
• Considerable knowledge of guardianships and conservatorships.
• Ability to understand the problems faced by families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to make crisis intervention assessment when needed.
• Ability to utilize de-escalation techniques to diffuse challenging situations and individuals.
• Ability to engage clients who may respond negatively to outreach efforts.
• Ability to utilize trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and person-centered focus in meeting individuals where they are at.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply laws, policies, rules, and procedures.
• Skill in assessing the best interests of the vulnerable or incapacitated person.
• Commitment to increasing access, inclusion, diversity, justice, and equity to and at the Courts.

Supplemental Information:

• This posting is for a non-employee position for Anoka County. Court Visitors are appointed to cases on a rotating basis. Court Visitors are compensated $125.00 per visit, can collect mileage for the most direct route to the proposed ward’s residence or the Visitors residence to the proposed ward’s residence, whichever is shorter at the federally approved rate.
• For travel located outside of Anoka County additional compensation of $25 will apply to visits within Hennepin, Ramsey, Sherburne, and Washington. Counties and additional compensation of $50 for all other metro counties. No other travel shall be compensated without prior approval of the Court Administrator or court order.
• Complete and submit your online application with resume and cover letter attached.
• All offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of a criminal background check. An offer may be rescinded if the background check identifies position related convictions.

Interviews for this position will be extended by the hiring manager upon review of a qualified applicants resume and cover letter.

Please contact Luke Gosselin, luke.gosselin@courts.state.mn.us , with questions regarding this posting.