County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Incumbents under close supervision, perform clerical functions throughout all areas of the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services (ACDCSS).  Incumbents are expected to perform a wide variety of clerical work, requiring the ability to choose among a limited number of alternatives in solving routine problems.  Positions at this level require that incumbents have the ability to follow written and oral directions manage multiple tasks, identify errors in work processes, basic English usage or arithmetic in documents, communicate effectively with the public and coworkers in writing, over the phone and in person, provide timely and quality customer service, and use a variety of software and data base applications on a desk top computer in order to process the work.  

Incumbents may rotate throughout the various units of the ACDCSS as needed for employee training and development, and for the staffing needs of the department.

 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This classification is found only in the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services (ACDCSS).  Positions allocated to this class series receive, examine, prepare, process and maintain a variety of child support documents; provide assistance to other child support staff; and perform other related work as required.  Child Support Assistant I’s are distinguished from Child Support Assistant II’s in that the former are responsible for entry level clerical duties whereas the latter are responsible for more specialized clerical work that requires the exercise of initiative, analysis, and judgment, beyond that of the entry level classification of Child Support Assistant I.  This classification series differs from the Child Support Specialist series in that the former classifications perform a wide variety of clerical work in support of Child Support Specialists, and other paraprofessional and professional child support staff engaged in case management activities.  

Child Support Assistant I’s are expected to gain experience and demonstrate proficiency which qualifies them to flexibly promote to the higher-level class of Child Support Assistant II after the equivalent of one year of full-time service.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in these classifications.  However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level.  Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

 

1.  Receives and sorts incoming mail, correspondence, forms, legal documents, etc.

2.  Determines appropriate action for all incoming mail including how to record and where to route for action.

3.  Extracts, scans, indexes, and files case related information.

4.  Tracks and logs all contacts, updates and maintains child support related information in appropriate systems.

5.  Assists Child Support staff by accessing and retrieving child support related information, locating individual documents, and gathering necessary information in preparation for legal action and casework activity.

6.  Records detailed information in case records and on appropriate forms to document case activity and the outcome of investigations.

7.  Assists the public with a wide variety of customer inquires in a professional and courteous manner.

8.  Distributes, receives, prepares and processes child support and other official documents according to specific legal guidelines or criteria in order to process documents on behalf of the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services.

9.  May receive and process child support payments.

10.  Arranges for paternity tests.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

EITHER I

Experience:  

The equivalent of six months of full-time experience in the class of Clerk I or in an equivalent or higher-level clerical class in the Alameda County classified service.  

OR II

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time clerical experience which must have included public contact or customer service.    

OR III

Education:  

Completion of a post high school clerical training program from an accredited business school or vocational training center, which would enable the applicant to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed below.

 

Substitution:

The equivalent of an associate degree (completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units) from an accredited college or university may be substituted for 6 months of the required experience in pattern II above.

 

Special Requirement:  

1.    Accurately type a minimum of 40 net words per minute from clear copy.

2.    Lift and move objects up to 20 lbs.

3.    A thorough pre-employment background investigation, will be conducted of all candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of employment to ensure suitability for child support related work.  A felony conviction may be disqualifying.  

 

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

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Knowledge of:  

• Modern office practices and procedures including business correspondence, filing, and standard office equipment operations including use of a desktop computer.
• Laws, regulations, and codes governing the access to, and use of, confidential information and legal documents.
• Legal terminology applicable to child support documents.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with people from diverse backgrounds and effectively manage customer interactions.

Ability to:

• Work effectively under pressure.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, peers, other agencies, and the public.
• Exercise independent judgment in determining proper work methods and procedures, and assembling and evaluating information.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Analyze, evaluate, and draw logical conclusions.
• Maintain work area, procedures, policies and other information in an accurate, well organized manner.
• Use a desktop computer or laptop and a variety of databases and applications common to Child Support activities in an efficient manner.
• Perform detailed office support work.
• Prioritize work and coordinate several activities to meet critical deadlines.
• Perform accurate arithmetic calculations.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Draft and compose standard business correspondence including proper English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Understand and follow complex oral and written instructions, policies and procedures.
• Interpret and apply complex rules, codes, laws, and ordinances.
• Perform detailed and accurate office support work; review documents for completeness of information and conformance with requirements.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

BG:pf 4/11/02

Newspec: 1165-1166.doc

CSC Date: 4/24/02

SG:po Revised 1/26/07

CSC Date: 3/28/07

SG:po Revised 5/9/08

CSC Date: 9 /24/2008

AS:cs Revised 11/20/14

CSC Date: 12/10/14

LC:ac Revised 02/01/19 

CSC Date: 06/05/19

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.