Child Support Specialist

• Manages a general caseload consisting of child support legal actions and the establishment enforcement and collection of child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.
• Coordinates appointments for personal interviews with custodial and noncustodial parents employers and attorneys.
• Develops and analyzes information for the establishment of paternity.
• Uses a variety of methods systems and procedures for locating information on custodial and noncustodial parents assets income and liabilities.
• Evaluates income and expense data of custodial and noncustodial parents to determine and recommend child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.
• Responds to general inquiries and explains general child support laws court orders rules regulations and policies to public and staff.
• Participates in interviews to secure support agreements and to persuade responsible parties to make payments without recourse to legal action.
• Prepares and processes legal documents necessary for the establishment collection and enforcement of child support obligations.
• Documents and updates customer information contact information case actions/history logs and records using a statewide automated system.
• Provides case status information explains the complaint resolution process and answers case specific questions for all involved parties ensuring the verbiage used cannot be interpreted as legal advice.
• Applies federal state and local codes procedures and rules in establishing and processing child support cases.
• Coordinates and/or conducts genetic tests when needed.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

• Civil and criminal law and Federal and California laws and regulations pertaining to the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations.
• Sources methods and techniques used to locate noncustodial parents relatives and related persons assets income and liabilities.
• Techniques and methods for establishing paternity.
• Child Support specific collection methods and techniques.
• Legal terminology used when explaining legal procedures to customers or the public.
• When and how to prepare and process a variety of child support related legal documents in a clear and concise manner.
• The structure and content of the English language.
• Basic mathematics and business arithmetic including addition subtraction multiplication division fractions percentages and decimals.

• Apply specialized Federal child support laws and procedures as they apply to intergovernmental and international cases.
• Explain child support procedures regulations and requirements to individuals from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Use effective interviewing techniques to interview a wide variety of people over the telephone and in person.
• Use patience tact and courtesy in firmly dealing with people who may be uncooperative unreasonable angry upset or hostile.
• Collect DNA samples to establish paternity.
• Use sound independent judgment to analyze factual information situations and people.
• Understand financial records such as tax records income and expense reports and employer earnings records to determine the amount of child support payment obligations.
• Compile multiple pieces of information clearly and concisely into an organized and understandable written report or oral presentation.
• Organize work and set priorities in order to meet critical deadlines with minimal direction.
• Exercise initiative within the limits of assigned duties.
• Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive or personal information.
• Establish rapport and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers courts attorneys other agencies and the public.
• Be flexible and supportive of change.
• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments having conflicting deadlines.
• Effectively use computer and other resources to prepare and manage cases.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION WEIGHTED 100
The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidates knowledge skill abilities and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on predetermined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70 on the examination.

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION
A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Merced. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

RETEST PERIOD
Once you have taken the examination you may not retest for SIX 6 MONTHS from the established eligibility date.

SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability military or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements please contact CalHR at orupon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical military school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.

EDUCATION DOCUMENTS
If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

GENERAL INFORMATION
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.
MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity initiative dependability good judgement the ability to work cooperatively with others and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process a background investigation may be required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all regardless of age ancestry color disability (mental and physical) exercising the right to family care and medical leave gender gender expression gender identity genetic information marital status medical condition military or veteran status national origin political affiliation race religious creed sex (includes pregnancy childbirth breastfeeding and related medical conditions) and sexual orientation.

DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENT
Some positions in this classification may require possession of a California drivers license. Employees who drive on County business to carry out jobrelated duties must possess a valid California drivers license for the class of vehicle driven and meet automobile insurability requirements of the County. Eligibility for employment for those who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on casebycase basis by the appointing authority.

ABOUT MERCED COUNTY
Merced County is located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley in central California an area earning worldwide acclaim for its rich agriculture and spans from the coastal ranges to the foothills of Yosemite National Park. The City of Merced the selfproclaimed Gateway to Yosemite has a population of approximately 81102 yet retains the charm of a small town with amenities routinely found in larger communities. Merceds revitalized downtown is emerging as the entertainment center of the area. The County is representative of the rural heartland and Gold Rush remnants underpinning the states heritage. It is a peaceful quiet and friendly area with an abundance of beautiful bike paths and offers choices of higher education in UC Merced and Merced College.