CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST, LEAD

This Statewide recruitment is reopened to allow additional candidates to apply and to establish a list of eligible candidates to be used to fill current and future vacancies occurring in our Local Departments of Social Services and Regional Offices of Child Support throughout the State.   

Applicants who previously applied and did not meet the minimum qualifications, please contact the HR Analyst for assistance to reapply.  

Applicants who previously applied and were approved for this recruitment, please do not reapply. Your name will remain on the eligible list and your expiration date has been extended.  

Placement on this list is not a guarantee that you will be offered an interview for any given vacancy.

 

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STATEWIDE

Applicants should indicate on their applications all counties (or Baltimore City) where they are willing to accept employment for this classification. As positions become available, our Local Departments of Social Services and regional Offices of Child Support will consider approved candidates from the eligible list.  

A Child Support Specialist, Lead is the lead level of child support work.  Employees in this classification investigate and analyze child support cases and initiate appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws, rules and regulations.  They perform duties related to establishing paternity and child support orders, negotiating agreements for child support payments and health insurance coverage and maintaining and enforcing the collection of current and past due amounts.  Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work and train lower-level Child Support Specialists.  

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Child Support Specialists who investigate and analyze child support cases and initiate appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children;

Trains lower-level Child Support Specialists in investigating and analyzing child support cases and in initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children;

Assists with coordinating the work of the unit with that of other units involved in child support programmatic work;

Obtains, verifies and analyzes information from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, financial institutions, private and governmental resources, health insurance carriers and others and uses that information to locate non-custodial parents, establish paternity, verify income and assets and determine the ability of non-custodial parents to pay child support and provide health insurance;

Negotiates voluntary agreements for payment of child support and liquidation of arrears with custodial and non-custodial parents in accordance with State regulations and guidelines;

Initiates and prepares a variety of documents for administrative or court hearings, such as support payment modifications, wage withholdings, earnings assignments, interstate transmittals, subpoenas, bench warrants and show cause orders in order to collect current or past due child support payments;

Identifies circumstances that contribute to a problem in collecting child support or providing health insurance coverage, determines which private and governmental services and programs, such as mediation services, employment and job counseling services, visitation access program or young fathers’ program address the problem and refers parents to those services and programs;

Monitors the receipt of child support payments and reviews case records and payment activities to determine the need for and type of enforcement activities warranted;

Investigates and resolves disputes resulting from license suspensions, tax intercepts and other remedies used to enforce and collect child support;

Initiates and negotiates establishment and enforcement of new or existing child support orders in out-of-state cases;

Prepares and presents testimony for judicial and administrative hearings related to child support enforcement and collection;

Prepares and reviews case records to ensure the validity of information to be presented in court by the legal services attorney;

Maintains and updates case records by using automated systems and case folder documents;

Responds to inquiries from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, courts, public officials, attorneys, other State agencies and out-of-state agencies in order to resolve issues related to child support cases;

Coordinates genetic testing arrangements with certified medical facilities;

Serves as liaison between Child Support Enforcement Administration and other State agencies, local agencies, the State’s Attorney’s Office and the courts;

Places appropriate markers on case records in cases in which family violence or abuse has occurred, monitors the case to ensure that custodial and non-custodial parents, other caretakers and children are protected and refers abused caretakers and dependent children to family shelters or other protective services;

May assist at orientation sessions for new applicants or for non-custodial parents by presenting information about child support program services and related services that may be helpful;

May represent the State as complainant in order to obtain or enforce court orders for support;

Performs other related duties.

Applicants must meet all minimum (and any selective) qualifications to be considered, and to appear on the list of people eligible for hire. Please read all requirements before applying.

EDUCATION: An Associate of Arts degree in social services, human services, legal studies, public administration or similar fields of study from an accredited college or university.

EXPERIENCE: Two years of experience investigating and analyzing child support cases and initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with Federal and State laws, rules and regulations.

NOTES:

1. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required education.

2. A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, legal studies, public administration or similar fields of study from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required education and one year of the required experience.

3. Experience investigating and analyzing child support cases and initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain or enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with Federal and State laws, rules and regulations may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

4. Experience determining eligibility for government assistance programs may be substituted for one year of the specific program experience.

 

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment.  All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.

The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience as presented on your application and as they relate to the requirements of the position.  You may be asked to complete a supplemental questionnaire. The supplemental questionnaire may be used as part of the rating process. Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

 

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to, Department of Human Services, Examination Services Unit, 311 W. Saratoga Street, Room 135, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

All mailed documents must include the applicant's name and the job number and must be received by 5 P.M. on the closing date. Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the application.

If additional information is required, the preferred method is to upload. If unable to upload, please email requested information only to latoura.jones@maryland.gov. Only additional materials that are required will be accepted for this recruitment. All additional information must be received by the closing date and time.

If you have any questions concerning the recruitment process for this position, please call 410-767-8844. TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

As an equal opportunity employer Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply.