Senior Support Investigator

Wayne County NY; Town of Lyons (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayne County NY seeks a Senior Support Investigator to supervise and assist in locating individuals responsible for child support. You will perform investigations to establish and enforce support and paternity orders, and work under supervision to manage cases with considerable independence.

The role requires interviewing clients, banks, employers, and agencies, preparing petitions, and appearing in court. A related Bachelor's or Associate degree with experience is required, and bondability is

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services, accounting, business administration or related field plus 1 year of investigative experience.
• Associate degree in human services, accounting, or related field plus 2 years of experience.
• Equivalent combination of training and experience as stated.

Responsibilities

• Assist Unit Supervisor as required.
• Train new staff in unit functions.
• Review work of investigators and other unit staff.
• Interview clients and recipients to locate individuals.
• Determine feasibility of pursuing court action to establish paternity.
• Prepare petitions for filing with Courts and maintain case files.

Skills

Interviewing

Investigative interviewing

Record keeping

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Court preparation

Supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services, accounting, business administration or related field

Associate degree in human services, accounting, business administration or related field

Tools

State Child Support System

Financial records review

Job description

THE TITLE OF SENIOR SUPPORT INVESTIGATOR IS PART OF THE NYS CIVIL SERVICE HELP PROGRAM. AT THIS TIME THE POSITION DOES NOT REQUIRE A WRITTEN CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION. This position involves responsibility for making assignments and supervising the work of Support Investigators. The incumbent functions as an assistant supervisor. Responsibilities also involve conducting investigations to locate individuals who are legally responsible for the support of dependents so that support and paternity orders may be established and payments may be obtained through voluntary agreements or court orders. The work is performed under the general supervision of a higher level Support Investigator allowing the incumbent a considerable amount of independent judgment and initiative in the performance of assigned duties.

• Assists the Unit Supervisor as required;
• Trains new staff in the unit functions;
• Reviews work of Support Investigators and other unit staff,
• Interviews child support services clients and social service recipients and applicants and their relative,, neighbors and others in an effort to obtain information concerning the whereabouts of certain individuals;
• Interviews unwed mothers in an effort to determine the feasibility of pursuing court action to establish paternity;
• Compiles information necessary to obtain Family Court order directing individuals to
  make support payments when voluntary agreement for payment cannot be reached;
• Contacts banks, insurance companies, employers to determine financial resources of individuals legally responsible for the support of others;
• Contacts other governmental institutions in an effort to locate individuals;
• Furnishes State and Federal Parent Locator Service with required information when local investigations fail to locate an absent parent;
• Refers cases of suspected fraud to appropriate investigative unit;
• Prepares reports as necessary;
• Maintains a continuous case file of progress and results of investigations;
• Monitors support payments as ordered by the Court or pursuant to voluntary payment
  agreements and follows up on all delinquent accounts through mail, phone calls, etc.;
• Prepares petitions for filing with Courts;
• Makes Court appearances on behalf of the Agency as necessary;
• Updates State generated child support management computer systems.

Good knowledge of the investigative techniques used in determining the location and financial status of individuals; ability to understand and interpret laws concerning Family Court as applicable; skill in interviewing techniques; ability to gather and analyze facts and to arrive at sound conclusions; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with a variety of individuals and agencies; ability to obtain information from individuals who may be uncooperative or hostile; ability to understand and interpret statistical data; ability to maintain records and prepare reports; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; good knowledge of training techniques; ability to plan and supervise the work of others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. a. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in human services, accounting, business administration or related field plus one (1) year of experience in financial investigation involving interviewing; or
2. b. Graduation from, a regionally accredited or. New York State registered college with an associate degree in human services, accounting, business administration or related field plus two years of experience as defined in (a).
3. c. An equivalent combination of training and experience as stated in "a" and "b" above.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

An employee in this position must be bondable.