Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Child Support Caseworker I (Promotional)

Promotional - Bilingual Spanish-Speaking Preferred

Recruitment #12-1401-01

Introduction

THIS IS A PROMOTIONAL EXAM
YOU MUST BE AN ALAMEDA COUNTY EMPLOYEE TO APPLY

To be eligible to participate in this examination process you must be a current employee and have completed by June 1, 2012, the equivalent of six months of continuous service following a regular appointment in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes the District Attorney’s Office, the Medical Center, and the Superior Court). A regular appointment does not include provisional, TAP (Temporary Assignment Pool), or STEP-UP appointments.

THIS EXAM HAS A LIMITED FILING PERIOD

Applications will only be accepted from 9:00am May 25, 2012 until 5:00pm June 1, 2012.

On May 25th the "Click Here to Apply" button will appear at the bottom of this page. Be aware that if you complete an application template you must still return to this page and apply for the position in the time period stated above.

DESCRIPTION

The Alameda County Department of Child Support Services is looking to hire five Child Support Caseworker I employees.  The ideal candidate will have an excellent customer service track record, innate interpersonal skills and preferably be bilingual, Spanish-speaking.

 

Child Support Caseworkers, under close supervision at the lower level and general supervision at the higher level, perform a wide variety of child support duties; maintain a caseload; locate and interview custodial and non-custodial parents and others to elicit factual information for the purpose of establishing child support obligations and enforcing child support laws; arrange for support payments when possible and prepare cases for court hearings and attend hearings as necessary; and perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

These positions are located in the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services (ACDCSS). This is a flexibly staffed series. Positions in this class are distinguished from other classes by the delicate nature of the information obtained, by the high degree of rapport that must be established to obtain information, and by the involvement in the legal process as it relates to the support of minor children. These positions have a high degree of public contact. All of the public contact work requires significant tact and diplomacy in dealing with both amenable and confrontational situations. Positions in this series do not have supervisory responsibility and refer the most difficult and/or complex problems to higher-level classes.

This is the trainee level class in the Child Support Caseworker series. Positions in this class learn child support laws, regulations and procedures, and acquire the skills to perform a broad range of child support casework activities. As incumbents acquire knowledge and skills, they carry out their assignments with greater independence. Incumbents are expected to promote to the full journey level of Child Support Caseworker II after one year of satisfactory performance at the I level.
For more information on Alameda County Department of Child Support Services please visit its website at: http://www.acgov.org/css/

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Child Support Caseworker I:

Either I

Minimum of 6 months of full time experience as a Child Support Assistant II, or in an equivalent or higher class in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.) 


OR II
Education:

Graduation from High School or possession of a certificate of proficiency issued by the California State Board of Education, or possession of a G.E.D. certificate

AND
Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full time experience in clerical support work with responsibility for interviewing, document processing and follow up. (College education may be substituted for experience for the one year experience.)

Special Requirement:

Ability to type 40 words per minute.

License for All Levels:

Must possess a valid California State Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.


Special Requirement for All Levels:

A thorough background investigation, including fingerprinting will be conducted of all candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of employment to ensure they are suitable for Child Support related work. A felony conviction will be disqualifying.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties”” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• General principles of casework, child support enforcement and collection procedures.
• Federal and California laws and regulations pertaining to child support.
• Interviewing techniques.
• Information systems and computers.
• Basic arithmetic to perform calculations and understand financial records.
• Customer service techniques.
• Office procedures and decorum.

Ability to:

• Research legal, financial, and other records sufficiently to obtain data needed to secure and enforce child support cases.
• Communicate effectively in writing (including spelling, vocabulary, sentence and paragraph structure).
• Communicate with persons from a wide variety of ethnic and social backgrounds sufficiently to explain legal processes and obligations and/or penalties for nonpayment of support.
• Elicit information from hostile and/or uncooperative individuals.
• Organize work and establish priorities according to departmental operating requirements.
• Effectively manage time to perform multiple tasks.
• Work cooperatively with other staff, outside agencies and public so as to maximize support in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Operate standard office equipment, including a computer terminal.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

For more information on the Civil Service Selection process, please visit:

http://www.acgov.org/hrs/divisions/ps/application.htm#1

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

05/07/12 Examination Recruitment Bulletin Release

On 05/07/12 the examination recruitment bulletin will be released.  Please note that applications will not be accepted until 05/25/12.

05/25/12 Applications Will Be Accepted

At 9:00am on 05/25/12 the "Click Here to Apply" button will appear at the bottom of this page.  At that time, you may begin to submit applications.  All applications must be filled out according to the instructions.  Applications that are not fully completed, or not completed following the instructions listed, will not be considered.  Information presented on resumes in lieu of properly filled out applications will not be considered.  Only applications submitted electronically, via the County's online application system, by the final file date, will be accepted.  Be aware that if you only complete an application template and fail to submit it to apply for this position, your application will not be accepted.  Once submitted, no changes, subtractions or additions can be made to the application. 

06/01/12 Final File Date for Applications

At 5:00pm on 06/01/12 the online system will discontinue accepting applications.  Applications submitted after this date and time will not be accepted.  No changes, subtractions or additions can be made to the application after the final file deadline.

06/01/12 - 06/18/12 Review of Applications

Review for Minimum Qualifications

During this time, your application will be reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above.  Please be sure to include all applicable experience so that we can make an accurate assessment of your qualifications.  If you fail to meet any of the minimum qualifications, you will be notified via email.  If you do meet the minimum qualifications, you will move on to the next phase of the examination.

06/30/12 Written Examination Date

Once it has been established that you meet all announced minimum qualifications, you will be invited to take a multiple choice examination that will test for core competencies related to job success.  You will be notified of your testing location, time and date via email.

Week of July 23rd, 2012 Interview Examination Dates

If you pass the multiple choice examination, you will be invited for a panel interview examination.  During this interview examination, you will be asked to provide examples of past work experiences that highlight the job-related core competencies that successful incumbents of the position possess.  This type of interviewing is called behavior-based interviewing and is the best predictor of future job success.  Your interview examination may include a situational exercise

We reserve the right to make changes to the selection plan including, but not limited to, dates, examination weights and testing modes.

Please Note:  This is an new, promotional examination. 

The Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate qualified individuals with mental and physical disabilities, and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and Alameda County Resolution No. R-83-773.  To request an accommodation due to a disability during this or other phases of the selection process, please contact the Human Resource Services Department at (510) 272-6472 before the final filing deadline. Alameda County Human Resources Services will require documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a permanent disability pursuant to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's statute of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, as amended, and/or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) Act.

 

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS

ABOUT THE COUNTY

Alameda County, located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is California’s seventh-largest county.  The County employs 9,080 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $2.39 billion.  Oakland, the County seat, is California’s eighth largest city.  One and a half million people call Alameda County home and live in a variety of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities and rural areas.  As a major urban county, Alameda provides a full range of services to its citizens.  The County is a blend of culturally and ethnically diverse communities, and its mixture of cosmopolitan and suburban areas provides the perfect environment for families and their active lifestyles.  The County offers extensive cultural resources, countless recreational opportunities and an array of fine public and private colleges and universities.

 

BENEFITS FOR NON-MANAGEMENT POSITIONS

MEDICAL PLANS

The County offers HMO and PPO medical plans.  The County has two contributions structures, 1) County contributes 100% of the lowest cost HMO; or 2) County contributes 90% of the HMO plans and 90% of the lowest cost HMO towards the PPO.  The County contribution can be prorated based on the number of work hours up to 50% of the standard hours in a pay period.  If an eligible employee waives all medical coverage through the County, a monthly stipend may be provided.

DENTAL PLANS

The County offers two Dental Plans: PPO and Dental Maintenance Option (DMO). The County contributes 100% of the family coverage for both plans as long as the employee works at least 50% of the standard hours in a pay period. The PPO option plan design is 100% Preventative, 80% Basic Care, 80% Major Care with a $45 per individual deductible and annual maximum up to  $1,450 per year.  The DMO option has an orthodontic benefit for children as well as adults.

VISION BENEFIT

The County offers two Voluntary Vision Plans through Vision Service Plan (VSP) for eligible employees.  The two plans consist of a low option and a high option that offer annual eye exams and coverage for various frames and lenses.  The Voluntary Vision Plan is 100% employee paid and is available for employees and their dependents.  In addition, an annual eye exam is covered for participants in the HMO Medical Plans with corresponding co-pay. 

A Vision Reimbursement Plan is available for some union bargaining units who have a provision in their Memorandum of Understanding that after six months of continuous service, Vision Reimbursement for eye lenses or contacts is provided up to a set dollar amount. This vision reimbursement benefit is available to employees only.

COUNTY ALLOWANCE DOLLARS

The County provides up to $300 of flex dollars annually, dependent upon the eligible employee's represented or unrepresented classification.  These flex dollars can be used to pay for medical premiums.  The unused portion of these flex dollars are deposited into a Health Flexible Spending Account for the employee, which can be used for unreimbursed medical expenses. 

HEALTH FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT

Employees may opt to salary contribute on a pre-tax basis up to $5,000 for eligible out of pocket medical, dental and vision expenses such as: prescription co-pays, office visit co-pays, prescription eye glasses or contact lenses.

DEPENDENT CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

For employees who have either children under age 13 or dependents (parent, sibling or in-law incapable of self-care) that are dependent upon the employee for care can salary contribute on a pre-tax basis up to $5,000 annually. These pre-tax dollars can be used to pay for day care expenses provided by a licensed facility.

LIFE INSURANCE

The County pays for a Basic Life Insurance policy of $9,000 up to $20,000 for an employee based on the affiliation with their appropriate union.

COMMUTER BENEFITS

For the 2011 Plan Year, an employee can set aside up to $230 a month in pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified work-related parking and commuting to and from work transit fees.

HOLIDAYS

Most employees are provided 11 paid holidays plus four floating holidays dependent upon the union bargaining unit.

VACATION AND SICK LEAVE WITH PAY

Vacation accrual ranges from two weeks to five weeks depending upon years of service and the union bargaining unit to which the position is assigned. Sick leave accruals are based on the union bargaining unit and are defined in the corresponding Memorandum of Understanding.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

The County has an EAP available for employees, spouses/domestic partners and eligible dependents.  This program provides services such as: counseling, financial consulting, child and elder care consulting and some legal counseling.

DISABILITY or INCOME REPLACEMENT

Two voluntary plans are offered: Short-term Disability and Long-term Disability can be purchased through a payroll deduction or with accrued vacation hours depending upon the union bargaining unit.

LONG TERM CARE

This voluntary benefit extends care for yourself and/or your spouse and/or your parents who experience a serious accident, chronic illness or frailties of old age. Places where care can be provided are: in one’s home, at a nursing home, at an assisted living facility or adult day care center.

 

RETIREMENT

The County retirement program is a Defined Benefit plan and is governed under the provisions of the 1937 Act systems. The County’s retirement is based on one’s age upon entrance, compensation, years of service and specific percentage of employee/employer contributions with the County’s portion vesting after five years of employment.
 
DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The County offers a Deferred Compensation program where an eligible employee can voluntarily contribute on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis, a minimum of $20 per pay period up to the total annual contribution limit.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE
Those claiming additional preference points as a VETERAN must submit a copy of the DD214 form on the day of the oral examination. Those claiming additional preference points as a DISABLED VETERAN must submit a copy of the DD214 form and a letter from the Department of Veteran Affairs confirming eligibility for additional points on the day of the oral examination.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate qualified individuals with mental and physical disabilities, and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disability Act (ADA) of 1990, and Alameda County Resolution No. R-83-773.  To request reasonable accommodation, you must notify the Human Resource Representative listed on this bulletin as soon as possible and before the last day to file, in order to make the necessary arrangements during each step of the examination process.                                                               (510) 272-3703 (TDD)

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All government employees are disaster service workers as defined by California Government Code Section 3100.  In addition to everyday duties, employees have the added responsibility of helping throughout any disaster.

DMV EMPLOYER PULL NOTICE PROGRAM
All county employees who drive on county business are required to enroll in the California Department of Motor Vehicles Employer Pull Notice Program in an effort to promote driver safety.  Employees’ driver record reports will be released to the County Safety Officer in Risk Management to ensure that employees have valid driver’s licenses and are eligible to drive on county business.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
An applicant’s previous employment may be investigated.  Results of this investigation may be cause for disqualification.  Also, all convictions will be reviewed and may result in a request for additional information or termination of employment.  A conviction record will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from employment.  Each case will be given individual consideration, based on job-relatedness.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION
All prospective county employees must pass a medical examination before beginning employment.  For positions which require a commercial driver’s license and the performance of functions defined as “safety sensitive,” Federal law and County policy requires that the examination include a drug screening process.  Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of this examination.

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  Women, ethnic and racial minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  Applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other non-job-related factor.

 

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Melissa Heitz,  Human Resources Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

510-272-6468

Melissa.Heitz@acgov.org