Starting salary based on qualifications and experience.

Job Description

General Statement of Duties

Position investigates and prepares cases (for the attorney) and determines the course of action, tracks witnesses and determines their credibility, assists the attorney in the courtroom in presenting the case and reviewing evidence, negotiates agreement with the absent parent, and testifies in court as required. In monitoring court-ordered payments, agents determine what action to take when the absent parent is in arrearages negotiate out of court, take to court, wage garnishments.    

Distinguishing Features of the Class

Position is responsible for the establishment and enforcement of child support orders and has control and responsibility for the financial management and accounting of these support orders.  Position performs duties and responsibilities with considerable independent judgment under the regular supervision of the Child Support Supervisor II.

Illustrative Examples of Work

• Performs intake duties- interviews clients for necessary information, explains child support program and laws regarding support - and ensures ACTS opens the case at the appropriate service level
• Interviews and advises the non-custodial parent regarding his/her responsibility for support of the dependant child(ren). 
• Verifies the location of the non-custodial parent using all available resources
• Verifies information received from ACTS, reviews for accuracy, analyzes the information to determine which step to proceed with.
• Reviews each case to determine if paternity is an issue , if so, determines the most appropriate means to establish paternity
• Generates forms and obtains necessary signatures; ensures the documents are filed properly with the clerk of court
• Explains laws and procedures regarding paternity and child support responsibility for dependent children and the various remedies available through voluntary agreements and court actions to clients and non-custodial parents
• Assesses each case and makes referrals to appropriate agencies or determines appropriate action to take. 
• Meets with non-custodial parent for them to sign a Voluntary Support Agreement (VSA).
• If a VSA is not completed by the non-custodial parent, a Civil Complaint is filed and a Summons is issued for the non-custodial parent
• Prepares case documentation for court hearings; works with the Child Support Attorney
• Provides assistance in the courtroom as well as testimony when necessary
• Negotiates prospective payment plans and obligations with the non-custodial parent and their attorney
• Reviews cases to ensure all information necessary has been provided and/or obtained.
• Sets up financial terms of support and manages all assigned Child Support case accounts; monitors and reconciles accounts and subaccounts in the ACTS to insure the proper distribution of child support funds
• Maintains cases with up-to-date information and ensures ACTS opens or reopens cases at the appropriate service level
• Reviews cases and determines if circumstances should be investigated for a possible change in court orders, support or other provisions
• Adheres to state, federal, county and department’s policy, rules, and regulations.
• Mandatory emergency shelter duty should the need arise
• Other duties as assigned

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the Child Support Enforcement Program and applicable legal procedures and ability to apply this knowledge
• Must have good knowledge of the court proceedings and investigative techniques.
• Considerable ability to interview clients, absent parents, and related sources, and to investigate cases in a manner that is courteous and effective
•  Must have excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to interact with people of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to explain the distribution of collections to clients
• Must have thorough knowledge of the ACTS system and its technical, financial, and other operations.
• Must have excellent computer skills
• Must have math skills
• Considerable ability to organize, analyze, and summarize case information
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships with clients and absent parents, location resources, court officials, Sheriff, and attorneys
• Ability to remain positive and professional even when a situation or individual makes it difficult
• Ability to adheres to state, federal, county and department’s policy, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to present for mandatory emergency shelter duty should the need arise

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform light work:  Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, perform accounting and transcription, work with a computer terminal and perform extensive reading.
• Worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work) but may encounter hostile or volatile clients int eh course of work.
• The worker is in contact with potentially infectious bodily fluids during the performance of his/her duties. 

Education and Experience

A four year degree and six months experience in eligibility, investigative, judiciary, or legal work that provides knowledges, skills and abilities needed to perform the work; or an associates degree in business administration, human resources, law enforcement or closely related degree and two years of experience in eligibility, investigative, judiciary, or legal work that provides knowledges, skills and abilities needed to perform the work; or graduation from high school and three years of experience in eligibility, investigative, judiciary, or legal work that provides knowledges, skills and abilities needed to perform the work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid North Carolina Driver License.

Preference

• NC Child Support and ACTS experience