Child Support Specialist I

sjgov•Stockton, CA

21h

About The Position

This examination is being given to fill 2 vacancies in the Department of Child Support Services and to establish an eligible list that may be used to fill future vacancies. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline. First Certification may be Department Promotional. NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail. Pre-Employment Background and DOJ Live Scan : Potential new hires into this classification are required to successfully pass a DOJ Live Scan and a pre-employment background investigation as a condition of employment. Final appointment cannot be made unless the eligible has successfully completed the DOJ Live Scan, background process and passed the drug screen. The County pays for the initial drug screen. TYPICAL DUTIES Manages a general child support caseload in accordance with state and federal regulations; maintains accurate record of case contacts and events; utilizes resources and travels, as needed, to obtain information from case participants, family members, witnesses, law enforcement, agencies or institutions, and attorneys for the benefit of establishing paternity, locating absent parents, and determining financial status. Prepares and maintains forms, applications, case files, and other records pertinent to each child support case; accesses computer-based information systems to monitor/maintain case management and payment records; inputs and/or updates data to maintain current records and ensures appropriate record keeping for audits. Establishes terms for support in arrears payment plans and monitors payment records to ensure compliance with court order. Receives and resolves minor complaints concerning cases and responds to inquiries from the public. Elevates more complex complaint issues as needed. Conducts, responds to, or initiates personal interviews, telephone contacts, electronic notices and work lists, mail inquiries, or any other means to compile necessary information in preparation for legal action to establish paternity and/or support; utilizes various tools and resources to locate individuals and assets. Establishes an enforceable judgment or order using California State Guidelines; determines appropriate enforcement action by evaluating the facts of the case. Recommends cases for court, prepares legal documents for court filing, assists attorneys in preparing cases, attends court hearings, and testifies in court as necessary. Provides case status information and explains child support statutes, regulations, and procedures to participants and other agencies; coordinates with other agencies; and attends outreach events to provide information related to child support services. Arranges for and/or administers paternity testing. May work to establish/update financial accounts; performs adjustments and audits to ensure compliance; and provides direction to ensure the accuracy of accounting data in the case file.

Requirements

EITHER PATTERN I Experience: One year of full-time clerical experience supporting case management work in a California child support services agency.
OR PATTERN II Experience: One year of full time clerical experience involving substantial public contact to include responsibility for performing one or more of the following primary job functions: interviewing, and independently determining appropriate action for public or private service fields such as human service agency or law enforcement, eligibility determination, collections or credit investigations, writing detailed case reports, and preparing or presenting evidence or information in court or administrative hearings.
OR PATTERN III Education: Successful completion of 60 semester or equivalent quarter units from an accredited college or university, including 18 units of coursework in any combination of the following: public administration, business administration, social science, or a closely related field.
General principles of casework; principles of interviewing, and fundamental aspects of human behavior; information systems and computers; general collections procedures; basic arithmetic to perform calculations and understand financial records; customer service techniques; standard office procedures and practices.
Follow oral and written directions; read, learn, and understand laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations related to child support; learn to research, gather, record and evaluate legal, financial, and other records sufficiently to obtain data needed to secure and enforce child support cases; recognize relevant/significant facts to formulate appropriate decisions; communicate effectively in writing (including spelling, vocabulary, sentence and paragraph structure); communicate and work effectively with persons from a wide variety of ethnic and social backgrounds; present information at meetings; develop strategic techniques to question, interview, counsel, and advise participants; deal tactfully, courteously, and firmly in stressful situations with hostile and/or uncooperative individuals; organize work and establish priorities according to departmental operating requirements; effectively manage time and resources to perform/prioritize multiple tasks; foster a spirit of team work and support when interacting with other staff, outside agencies and public to maximize support in accordance with established policies and procedures; establish and maintain working relationships with agency staff, general public, and community employers; facilitate job development and opportunities; maintain confidentiality; contribute and maintain the department’s mission and culture.

Responsibilities

Manages a general child support caseload in accordance with state and federal regulations; maintains accurate record of case contacts and events; utilizes resources and travels, as needed, to obtain information from case participants, family members, witnesses, law enforcement, agencies or institutions, and attorneys for the benefit of establishing paternity, locating absent parents, and determining financial status.
Prepares and maintains forms, applications, case files, and other records pertinent to each child support case; accesses computer-based information systems to monitor/maintain case management and payment records; inputs and/or updates data to maintain current records and ensures appropriate record keeping for audits.
Establishes terms for support in arrears payment plans and monitors payment records to ensure compliance with court order.
Receives and resolves minor complaints concerning cases and responds to inquiries from the public. Elevates more complex complaint issues as needed.
Conducts, responds to, or initiates personal interviews, telephone contacts, electronic notices and work lists, mail inquiries, or any other means to compile necessary information in preparation for legal action to establish paternity and/or support; utilizes various tools and resources to locate individuals and assets.
Establishes an enforceable judgment or order using California State Guidelines; determines appropriate enforcement action by evaluating the facts of the case.
Recommends cases for court, prepares legal documents for court filing, assists attorneys in preparing cases, attends court hearings, and testifies in court as necessary.
Provides case status information and explains child support statutes, regulations, and procedures to participants and other agencies; coordinates with other agencies; and attends outreach events to provide information related to child support services.
Arranges for and/or administers paternity testing.
May work to establish/update financial accounts; performs adjustments and audits to ensure compliance; and provides direction to ensure the accuracy of accounting data in the case file.

Benefits

Employees hired into this classification are members of a bargaining unit which is represented by SEIU Local 1021 .
Health Insurance : San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.
Dental Insurance : The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
Vision Insurance : The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Employee Benefits.
Life Insurance : The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000 3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000 5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000 10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000 Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.
125 Flexible Benefits Plan : This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).
Retirement Plan : Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937. Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information. NOTE: If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.
Deferred Compensation : The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $22,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $30,000. The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available.
Vacation : Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.
Holidays : Effective July 1, 2017, all civil service status employees earn 14 paid holidays each year. Please see the appopriate MOU for details regarding holidays, accruals, use, and cashability of accrued time.
Sick Leave : 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.
Sick leave incentive : An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.
Bereavement Leave : 3 days of paid leave for the death of qualifying family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.
Merit Salary Increase : New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range. After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.
Educational Reimbursement Program : Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year. Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.
Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton: The County contributes up to $20 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.
School Activities : Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.