Administrative Assistant - Family Court
Job Title:
Administrative Assistant - Family CourtCounty Name:
Berks CountyPOSITION SUMMARY:
The Assistant Family Court Administrator provides confidential, legal, and administrative support to the Family Court Administrator. They also manage the daily operations of the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Office and the Custody Office and provide professional supervision.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Essential Functions
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Work involves standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds for a short distance. May require long periods of standing, walking, typing and staring at computer screens.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Normal office and courtroom environment. This position is extremely stressful due to a heavy workload, time sensitive case processing and the nature of the clients. Custody proceedings are very personal matters and the emotions run very high at times, and PFA proceedings involve clients who are in crisis. The work environment includes a uniformed Deputy Sheriff to maintain order. The need to make emergency decisions on a regular basis is expected.
This position description serves as a guideline for communicating the essential functions and other information about the position to the applicant/employee. It is not intended to create a binding employment contract nor cover every detail of the position and may be changed where appropriate.
The Assistant Family Court Administrator provides confidential, legal, and administrative support to the Family Court Administrator. They also manage the daily operations of the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Office and the Custody Office and provide professional supervision.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Essential Functions
- Supervise and manage daily operations of PFA and Custody Offices including interviewing, hiring, training, and supervising the PFA Facilitators and Custody Clerical Staff.
- Provide confidential, legal, and administrative assistance to the Family Court Administrator by prioritizing the daily workflow for Family Court, compiling statistics and data, conducting surveys, preparing memoranda, ordering supplies, submitting IT and Facilities requests, and maintaining content on the Family Court website.
- Assists in the development, implementation and interpretation of departmental policies and procedures and case management decision making.
- Process Custody Orders and Recommendations resulting from custody proceedings with the Custody/Support Masters for proper filing in the Office of the Prothonotary.
- Track pending custody actions to ensure timely and proper disposition of the cases.
- Compile, produce, and maintain the grand master schedule for the Custody Office and the Domestic Relations Office with regards to the Custody/Support Masters’ hearing dates for custody and support cases respectively.
- Supervise, mentor and coach Court staff, including the PFA Facilitators, the custody clerical staff, and tipstaves in the performance of their duties for family court.
- Responds to inquiries by attorneys, their staff, and self-represented litigants.
- Provide representation of Family Court through quarterly public speaking.
- Provide back-up for the Family Court Administrator and departmental leadership in their absence.
- Provide back-up support for the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Office and other positions.
- Complete other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Associate degree in criminal justice, public administration, business administration or closely related field.
- Five years of experience in a judicial, public administration, counseling, psychology, or social work setting.
- Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of the local and Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure pertaining to Family Law issues with special emphasis on custody and PFA matters.
- Knowledge of the use of the Prothonotary Case Management System (CMS), the Judicial Portal, Jailhouse Management, the Protection from Abuse Database (PFAD), the Common Pleas Case Management System (CPCMS), Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Working knowledge of community resources including domestic violence treatment, and medical professionals specializing in custody evaluations, co-parenting counseling, parental alienation, reunification, and supervised visitation.
- Ability to plan and supervise the work of others and maintain working relationships.
- Ability to interpret and implement court orders.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to make mathematical calculations.
- Ability to handle stress.
- Demonstration of leadership qualities in a professional setting.
- Ability to thrive in a stressful, fast-paced team environment.
- Physical presence in the office may be required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Work involves standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds for a short distance. May require long periods of standing, walking, typing and staring at computer screens.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Normal office and courtroom environment. This position is extremely stressful due to a heavy workload, time sensitive case processing and the nature of the clients. Custody proceedings are very personal matters and the emotions run very high at times, and PFA proceedings involve clients who are in crisis. The work environment includes a uniformed Deputy Sheriff to maintain order. The need to make emergency decisions on a regular basis is expected.
This position description serves as a guideline for communicating the essential functions and other information about the position to the applicant/employee. It is not intended to create a binding employment contract nor cover every detail of the position and may be changed where appropriate.
Posting Date:
Friday, March 10, 2023Expiration Date:
Friday, April 7, 2023Contact Name:
Suzette MelendezContact Link:
Suzette MelendezAddress:
633 Court Street
Reading PA 19601Phone:
610-478-6118