Job Description

What the role is:Join the Syariah Court (SYC) team, a pivotal institution established in 1958 under the Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966, dedicated to resolving Muslim marriage and divorce disputes and issuing inheritance certificates for Muslim estates. At SYC, our mission is threefol to endeavor to save and salvage marriages, to settle divorces amicably, and to ensure the delivery of just outcomes. We are more than a court; we are a cornerstone for strengthening Muslim families in Singapore. Our commitment extends beyond adjudication, focusing on preserving family relationships and protecting the welfare of children, even post-divorce. SYC embraces a multi-disciplinary approach, collaborating with legal, social science, and religious communities to drive initiatives in legal education, public education, community outreach, and stakeholder engagement concerning Muslim family law. Embrace a challenging and rewarding career as a Court Counsellor with SYC, bolstered by our transformative efforts, including digitalisation and court reforms. One such innovation is our Court Counselling Framework (CCF), designed to foster sustainable outcomes for children impacted by divorce. Through the CCF, we offer: \xe2\x80\xa2 Clinical services providing counselling for families and children, alongside assessment reports for the Court. \xe2\x80\xa2 Collaborative partnerships with agencies for comprehensive case management and service delivery. \xe2\x80\xa2 Monitoring and research initiatives aimed at developing policies and programmes to support families affected by divorce within the Syariah Court and the broader family justice system. If you have the passion and drive to make a difference in the lives of Muslim families, we invite you to explore a fulfilling career with us at the Syariah Court.What you will be working on:We are looking for suitable counsellors to contribute meaningfully to our mission. The successful candidate will be assigned a range of activities relating to the above services, including the following: 1. Provision of clinical services, depending on the needs of the particular family or children at the various stages in the divorce court proceedings. 2. Preparation of reports to the Court. 3. Liaison and consultation on case management with presiding officers and partner agencies. 4. Maintenance of accurate case documentation and statistics. 5. Participation in planning and evaluation of new services/projects; support practice research and evaluation efforts. 6. Administrative and related duties; and 7. Participation in on-going professional supervision and professional development programmes.What we are looking for:Experiences \xe2\x80\xa2 Relevant experience in counselling, social work or related field and with minimum 5 years of graduate work experience with couples, families, children. \xe2\x80\xa2 Experience in areas of custody evaluations, forensic assessments, and counselling in the area of divorce will be advantageous. \xe2\x80\xa2 Experience in project management and research will be an asset. Competencies 1. Case Management \xe2\x80\xa2 Perform case assessment, planning, management and review in a manner which is timely and reflects integration of a range of relevant information \xe2\x80\xa2 Develop a written case plan that is clear and logically reasoned, and reflects working in a consultative and respectful manner with presiding officers, court users, clients, families and partners to identify key interventions 2. Psychological Assessment and Profiling \xe2\x80\xa2 Utilise a range of appropriate models and techniques of clinical/forensic interviewing or assessment methods \xe2\x80\xa2 Write professional assessment reports under supervision 3. Psychological Intervention \xe2\x80\xa2 Manage and implement timely interventions \xe2\x80\xa2 Track progress and outcome of interventions and is attentive to potential derailers and mitigate them to evaluate effectiveness of intervention 4. Professional Psychology Practice \xe2\x80\xa2 Integrate ethics knowledge into professional work \xe2\x80\xa2 Communicate effectively with individuals from different professions on social science-related issues 5. Social and Community Development \xe2\x80\xa2 Gather insights and ground intelligence that contribute significantly to programme development or implementation in Court \xe2\x80\xa2 Develop and maintain network of contacts with Syariah Court\'s partners with a view to cultivating positive working relationships and areas of collaboration \xe2\x80\xa2 Develop effective community engagement activities together with stakeholders, in ways that enhance public confidence and access to justice 6. Research and Analysis \xe2\x80\xa2 Evaluate research knowledge and identify research projects that will address gaps in service/need areas \xe2\x80\xa2 Review research and analytical reports and propose corrective actions where necessary \xe2\x80\xa2 Adapt and modify best practices/ benchmarks based on the strategic objectives of the Syariah Court. Skill set \xe2\x80\xa2 Understanding the psychological and developmental needs of children. \xe2\x80\xa2 Understanding family dynamics, including, but not limited to, parent-child relationships, blended families, and extended family relationships. \xe2\x80\xa2 Ability to conduct risk assessments: Suicide risk assessment, family violence and homicide assessment and mental health concerns. \xe2\x80\xa2 Understanding the legal context within which issues on children are determined by the Syariah Court. \xe2\x80\xa2 Ability to conduct research and statistical analysis and possess knowledge on data collection methods and techniques. \xe2\x80\xa2 Effective interpersonal skills and an ability to demonstrate strong analytic thinking through oral presentation and written reports. \xe2\x80\xa2 Highly adaptable with the ability to prioritise competing roles, tasks and timelines. \xe2\x80\xa2 Proficiency in spoken and written English. Proficiency in spoken Malay will be an asset. Personal Traits \xe2\x80\xa2 Keen interest in strengthening Muslim families and highly sensitive to and respectful of diverse family backgrounds and traditions. \xe2\x80\xa2 Demonstrating genuine concern and understanding to families affected by divorce. \xe2\x80\xa2 Ability to maintain professional neutrality and objectivity. \xe2\x80\xa2 Able to maintain confidentiality and protecting sensitive information. \xe2\x80\xa2 Ability to establish credibility and reliability with clients, presiding officers, colleagues and partners.About Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth:We aim to build a cohesive and resilient society, deepening the sense of national identity and affinity for Singapore through strengthening community bonds, promoting of the arts and heritage, youth engagement, sports development, volunteerism and philanthropy.

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth