STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Social Services Investigator - Child Support

Recruitment #211201-5043SH-001

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Introduction



Are you a current State of CT employee looking for an opportunity to showcase your knowledge and skills pertaining to child support issues? If so, we invite you to apply!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) is recruiting for a Social Services Investigator for the Division of Child Support. This position will be located in our Central Office at 55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT. This opportunity is full-time, 40 hour per week, with a Monday through Friday schedule. The first shift hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

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 health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, group life insurance, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals. We encourage a healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Selection Plan

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.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of Connecticut employee, 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).

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 note: 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.

If selected for further consideration, State employees may be required to provide their two (2) most recent service ratings and last two (2) years attendance records. At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position, at the discretion of the hiring agency. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.

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

All State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders  13F (3a) and 13G (3a).

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Social Services, this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in investigations relevant to the enforcement of child support obligations.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs investigations to locate noncustodial and alleged parents; secures acknowledgements of paternity or participates in legal proceedings to establish paternity; performs investigations to determine financial resources of noncustodial parents, father of minor children, legally liable relatives and client; meets with noncustodial parents and their attorneys in an attempt to establish an agreement of financial support; secures agreements to support or participates in legal proceedings to establish court ordered financial and medical obligations; determines value of real estate and personal property; interviews custodial and/or noncustodial parents, alleged parents, legally liable relatives or clients to obtain information about paternity, income, real estate and personal assets or location; contacts employers and public and private agencies to obtain location and/or information about absent parents alleged fathers or legally liable relatives; prepares and files liens; performs title searches and negotiates releases of liens, mortgages, sales and transfers of property, accident or lawsuit settlements and decedent estates; determines, reviews and modifies amount of support to be paid by noncustodial parents; explains legal and policy requirements and procedures to clients, noncustodial parents, legally liable relatives, the general public and others; provides case information to Office of the Attorney General; prepares support petitions; serves summons or orders of notice; testifies in court on cases involving support, arrearages or claims for reimbursement; determines appropriate actions to enforce compliance with court orders; reviews discontinued cases for possible redirection of child support and refunds of excess child support money or recovery of public assistance money, prepares summaries and testifies at fair hearings; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years of experience in the investigation of real and personal assets related to child support obligations.

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. For state employees, one (1) year as a Connecticut Career Trainee with the target class of Social Services Investigator (Child Support) substitutes for the General Experience.
3. For state employees, one (1) year as a Social Services Investigator (Fraud and Resources) may be substituted for the General Experience.
4. For state employees, two (2) years as a Eligibility Services Workers may substitute for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience:
  • Applying principles and practices of the child support enforcement program
  • Applying relevant state and federal child support statutes, regulations, and policy
  • Analyzing and recommending solutions to complex child support problems
  • Establishing and maintaining productive relationships with colleagues and partner agencies
  • Researching, gathering detailed data, and drafting complex correspondence and reports
  • Listening and responding to customer complaints via phone/email contact
  • Using Microsoft 365: Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Teams, etc.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Travel to DSS sub-offices, state courts and administrative state agencies may be required.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

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.





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