Child Support Specialist I/Ii (Humboldt Or Trinity)

DEFINITION

This is a County of Humboldt job position, however the job application is submitted through Merit System Services. To apply for this position, click on this link to the Merit System Services website. If the link is not working for you, go to https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/MSS and search for positions in Humboldt County to submit your application for this job.

Performs a wide variety of child support duties consisting of maintaining a caseload, locating and interviewing custodial and non-custodial parents and others to elicit factual information for the purpose of establishing child support obligations and enforcing child support laws; arranges for support payments when possible; prepares cases for court hearings as necessary; and performs related work as required.

Working under general supervision, Child Support Specialist II is the journey level in the Child Support Specialist series. Employees at this level are expected to perform a broad range of child support casework from intake to order creation, enforcement and file closure. Within legal requirements and departmental policies and procedures, incumbents operate with considerable independence and must exercise discretion and judgment in evaluating cases and determining the level of support and the methods of enforcement. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower level of Child Support Specialist I, or if filled from the outside, require prior related experience.

Child Support Specialist II differs from the higher class of Child Support Specialist III in that the latter is the advanced journey level, and incumbents act as lead worker or exercise detailed subject knowledge of a specific program area or specialized department system.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

TYPICAL DUTIES

Duties for the Child Support Specialist I and II may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Manages a general caseload consisting of child support legal actions and the establishment, enforcement and collection of child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.

• Coordinates appointments for personal interviews with custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, and attorneys.

• Develops and analyzes information for the establishment of paternity.

• Uses a variety of methods, systems and procedures for locating information on custodial and non-custodial parents' assets, income, and liabilities.

• Evaluates income and expense data of custodial and non-custodial parents to determine and recommend child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.

• Responds to general inquiries and explains general child support laws, court orders, rules, regulations, and policies to public and staff.

• Participates in interviews to secure support agreements and to persuade responsible parties to make payments without recourse to legal action.

• Prepares and processes legal documents necessary for the establishment, collection, and enforcement of child support obligations Documents and updates customer information, contact information, case actions/history logs, and records using a state-wide automated system.

• Provides case status information, explains the complaint resolution process, and answers case specific questions for all involved parties ensuring the verbiage used cannot be interpreted as legal advice.

• Applies federal, state, and local codes, procedures, and rules in establishing and processing child support cases.

• Coordinates and/or conducts genetic tests when needed.

• Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Note: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as distinguished between the two levels in the Definition section.

Knowledge of:

• Civil and criminal law, and Federal and California laws and regulations pertaining to the establishment, and enforcement of child support obligations.

• Sources, methods and techniques used to locate non-custodial parents, relatives and related persons, assets, income, and liabilities.

• Techniques and methods for establishing paternity.

• Child Support specific collection methods and techniques.

• Legal terminology used when explaining legal procedures to customers or the public.

• When and how to prepare and process a variety of child support related legal documents in a clear and concise manner.

• The structure and content of the English language.

• Basic mathematics and business arithmetic, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, and decimals.

Skill/Ability to:

• Apply specialized Federal child support laws and procedures as they apply to intergovernmental and international cases.

• Explain child support procedures, regulations, and requirements to individuals from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds.

• Use effective interviewing techniques to interview a wide variety of people, over the telephone and in person.

• Use patience, tact and courtesy in firmly dealing with people who may be uncooperative, unreasonable, angry, upset, or hostile.

• Collect DNA samples to establish paternity.

• Use sound independent judgment to analyze factual information, situations, and people.

• Understand financial records such as tax records, income and expense reports, and employer earnings records to determine the amount of child support payment obligations.

• Compile multiple pieces of information clearly and concisely into an organized and understandable written report or oral presentation.

• Organize work and set priorities in order to meet critical deadlines with minimal direction.

• Exercise initiative within the limits of assigned duties.

• Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive or personal information.

• Establish rapport and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, courts, attorneys, other agencies, and the public.

• Be flexible and supportive of change.

• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments having conflicting deadlines.

• Effectively use computer and other resources to prepare and manage cases.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education and/or Experience)

Child Support Specialist I:

Two (2) years of full-time clerical experience which included interaction with the public;

OR

One year of full-time experience performing debt collections duties which included interviewing others for the purpose of collecting information;

OR

One year of full-time experience performing duties of a Child Support Assistant I or Office Assistant II in a Child Support Services Department;

OR

Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college.

Qualifying experience or education may be combined in order to meet the above requirements. When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two (22) quarter units equals six months of experience.

Child Support Specialist II:

One (1) year of full-time experience performing duties of a Child Support Specialist I in a state or local government agency.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Some positions may require possession of special language proficiency as a bona fide qualifications standard. In these cases, candidates must demonstrate that they possess the required skills.

DRIVER LICENSE REQUIREMENT

Some positions in this classification may require possession of a valid California driver's license. Employees who drive on County business to carry out job-related duties must possess a valid California driver's license for the class of vehicle driven and meet automobile insurability requirements of the County. Eligibility for employment for those who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the appointing authority.

WORKING CONDITIONS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CalPERS Retirement

Tier I: Prior to 7/5/2012: 2.7 @ 55 Tier II: Post 7/6/2012: 2.0 @ 55

Tier III: Post 1/1/2013: 2.0 @ 62

The County's Human Resources system operates by a set of rules and procedures which ensure that employees are hired and promoted on the basis of merit and fitness for the job. Jobs are filled through competitive examinations.

A complete online application is required for this position. All application materials will be reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts. Those candidates considered to be the most qualified, based on the application materials submitted, will be invited to a written and/or oral examination, or an evaluation of education and experience.

Policy of Nondiscrimination: The County of Humboldt does not discriminate on the basis of mental or physical disability in the admission or access to, treatment or employment in, its programs or activities. Human Resources is wheelchair-accessible by entering the Courthouse from the ramp located on the east side of the building next to the marked handicapped parking. Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities or religious convictions. Contact Human Resources at (707) 476- 2349 well in advance of the examination for assistance.

The County is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religion or religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, military service, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances. Reasonable accommodation may be made in the testing procedure as well as the work site. If you need accommodation for an exam due to a disability, please contact the Human Resources office as soon as possible.

How to Apply: A complete, original application must be filed for each position you are interested in applying for. Although this is a County of Humboldt job position, and you may access the job flyer at http://www.humboldtgov.org/hr , the application must be submitted through the Merit System Services website at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/MSS no later than the final filing date listed on the job flyer. The link for the Merit System Services website is located at the top of the job flyer.

All applications are screened by subject matter experts. The most qualified candidates may then be invited for further testing.

It is important that your application show all the relevant experience and education you possess.

Please read the job requirements section of the announcement. Be sure you meet these requirements since they will be carefully evaluated during the selection process. Your performance in this examination will be compared with the performance of others who take the test. All candidates who pass will be ranked according to their scores. The examination results will be emailed to you as quickly as possible. Scores will be provided in writing only.

To fill a vacancy, Merit Systems Services furnishes the employing department with the most qualified candidate names for the position.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION: A pre-employment medical examination provided by the County may be required upon offer of employment.

OTHER EXAMINATIONS: Some positions also require psychological evaluation and/or extensive background investigation.

LICENSES: Some classifications require possession of valid professional and/or technical licenses. Some classifications may require the possession of a valid California driver's license.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Persons appointed to regular County positions serve a probationary period. This is normally six months but may be up to one year. All designated safety employees serve a one-year probationary period.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY: It is the County's intention to hire only those workers who are authorized to work in the United States, pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990. If you are offered employment, you will be required to verify your eligibility to work in the United States. For law enforcement positions you will be required to verify your U.S. citizenship or legalized status.

The County is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religion or religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, military service, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances. Reasonable accommodation may be made in the testing procedure as well as the work site. If you need accommodation for an exam due to a disability, please contact the Human Resources office as soon as possible.

All County of Humboldt employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. THE COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXAMINATION PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY MERIT SYSTEM RULES.