Child Support Specialist I/II

Child Support Specialist I/II

Position Information

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 close supervision, Child Support Specialist I is the entry/trainee level in the Child Support Specialist series. Employees in this class receive in-service training and are given detailed instructions in the performance of duties related to child support laws, regulations, and a broad range of child support casework activities. As requisite skills and knowledge are developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility are exercised. Employees are expected to promote to Child Support Specialist II after one year of satisfactory performance at the entry/trainee level.

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 establishment, enforcement, and case 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

Duties 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 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.
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.
  • The ability to read, write, and speak Spanish, while not required would be a desirable asset.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Supplemental Information

EXAMINATION INFORMATION
TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION – WEIGHTED 100% 
The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate’s knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination. Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION
A departmental open eligible list will be established for the Eastern Sierra Child Support Services. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at mssprogram@calhr.ca.gov or 916-323-2360 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

GENERAL INFORMATION
MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.

APPLY HERE

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

ABOUT EASTERN SIERRA
The Eastern Sierra Department of Child Support Services is located at:
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City of Bishop
The City of Bishop, with a population of over 3,000, is the only incorporated city in Inyo County. The greater Bishop area is home to over 12,000 residents.  Inyo County, with a population of approximately 18,000 residents, is located on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, south of Yosemite National Park. It is a land of magnificent natural diversity. Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states; Death Valley is the lowest point in the U.S. The County also encompasses the John Muir Wilderness. The County is known for the cleanest air quality, purest water and one of the safest environments in the state.

Town of Mammoth Lakes
The Town of Mammoth Lakes, with a population of approximately 7,093 is the most populated area of Mono County. The County Seat is located in picturesque Bridgeport located 360 miles north of Los Angeles and 182 miles southeast of Sacramento.  Mono County, with a population of approximately 12,853, is set on the eastern slopes of California's Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It is a rare environment of natural contrasts: soaring granite peaks and spacious desert vistas, quiet lakes, bubbling hot springs and cold mountain streams, winter snows and sunny summer skies. The County offers numerous recreational opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast.

Additional Info

Job Type : Full-Time

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