Child Support Specialist I/II/III

The Child Support Specialist III is the advanced journey level in the Child Support Specialist series. Incumbents act as the lead-worker to a group of child support staff, and/or exercise detailed subject matter knowledge of a specific program area or specialized system inherent to the operations of the department.

Positions in this class differ from those in the class of Child Support Specialist II by the assignment of complex, sensitive or confidential cases requiring advanced technical skills. Incumbents may act in a lead capacity, may provide training to lower-level Child Support Specialists and may participate in special projects such as audits and/or quality control reviews.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 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. 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. 

• The ability to speak, read, and write Spanish in addition to English would be an asset in this position, but is not required. Applicants for English/Spanish bilingual designated positions must take and pass the bilingual proficiency examination administered by CalHR.
• A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Position may require pre-employment drug testing, physical examination, and fingerprinting for a background investigation.
• Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records. Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information.

Salary : $21 - $31