STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Social Services Lead Investigator - Child Support

Recruitment #210525-7324SH-001

Introduction


Are you a current Department of Social Services employee looking for a promotional opportunity? If yes, this is your opportunity, we encourage you to apply!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) is recruiting for a Social Services Lead Investigator, within the Child Support Unit, in the Manchester field office.

This position is full time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. The first shift schedule hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In this role you will have the opportunity to:
  • Establish legal paternity of children.
  • Locate non-custodial parents.
  • Establish monetary and medical support orders obligating parents to support their children.
  • Assist parents in addressing any needs or issues they may have via referrals to other agencies and / or community resources.
  • Collect and distribute child support payments.
  • Modify child support orders if appropriate.
  • Enforce child support orders and related debt: child support, alimony (if it accompanies a child support order), medical orders and child care orders.
The mission of the Office of Child Support Services within the Connecticut Department of Social Services is to improve the well-being of children, promote the self-sufficiency of families, and deliver quality child support services, with recognition that to grow and thrive children require the financial, medical, and emotional support of both parents, regardless of their living situation or relationship.

Our agency delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS serves about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, and online and phone access options. Follow us on twitter@ctdss and see what we are all about!

We offer the same competitive benefits you are accustomed to, including medical, vision and dental insurance as well as retiree health insurance. Paid time off, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals. Also group life insurance and other supplemental benefits.

The Department of Social Services participates in the E-Verify system, which is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career and make an impact with your State!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee of the Department of Social Services, who has permanent state status*, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period. For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).
Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application.

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please include your resume within the "Resume Tab" of your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system. Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, attendance reports, supervisory references, college transcripts, etc. at the discretion of the hiring agency. You do not have to submit these documents with your application.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Lisa Womble, Lisa.Womble@ct.gov

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Social Services this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor and policy specialist for a unit of Social Services Investigators engaged in performing investigations relevant to the enforcement of child support obligations.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance including monitoring and assessing current and projected needs; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with operating units, cooperating agencies and outside officials such as third party providers, social services agencies, attorneys regarding unit policies and procedures; makes recommendations on policies or standards; prepares reports and correspondence; acts as liaison with Social Services Investigations Supervisor concerning unit training needs, practical program implementation problems and effectiveness of unit workflow procedures; acts as unit policy specialist in difficult, unusual and/or complex case resolution; processes complex cases; testifies in court on cases involving support or claims for reimbursement and determines appropriate actions to enforce compliance with court orders; may be assigned to represent Commissioner in cases requiring a high degree of tact and diplomacy; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of public assistance programs concerning children and the financial obligations related to these programs; considerable knowledge of investigatory methods and techniques; considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of economic, social and health problems affecting family security; considerable knowledge of property ownership, personal finances, paternity and child support issues; knowledge of court procedures, legal terminology and related legal instruments; considerable skill in conducting investigations; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; problem solving skills; considerable ability to understand and interpret financial and legal documents; considerable ability to negotiate settlements with legally liable party; ability to utilize computer software and systems; some supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience in the investigation of real and personal assets related to child support obligations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in performing child support investigations.

Note: For state employees, this is interpreted at the level of a Social Services Investigator (Child Support).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in a closely related area may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
3. For state employees, one (1) year of experience as a Social Services Investigator (Child Support) may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.