Social Services Lead Investigator - Child Support(Hybrid)

Introduction

Are you a current employee of the Department of Social Services who is looking to move into a supervisory role?  Do you have seven (7) years of experience in investigation of real and personal assets related to child support obligations?  If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our team as a Social Services Lead Investigator – Child Support!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) – Child Support Division – is currently recruiting for a Social Services Lead Investigator – Child Support  in Norwich, CT.

Position Highlights:

• Full-time | 1st Shift | Hybrid
• Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

What we can offer you:

• View our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked one of the best Employers of 2023 – State of CT receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.

In your role as a Social Services Investigations Supervisor – Child Support, you will have the opportunity to:

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Thrive in an exciting environment;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work they do;
• Make a difference in the public sector;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment;

Department Overview:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency.  DSS services 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, online and phone access options.  Follow us on twitter @ctdss and see what we are all about!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH APPLYING:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion, and merit employment rules.  Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements.  Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applications may be considered.
• 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.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.

Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:

• 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.
• 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.
• At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
• Revised Master Application Tutorial: Click Here.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

Connect With Us:

• If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Rocky Young at rocky.young@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number. 
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

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
  • and ability to interpret and apply relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • public assistance programs concerning children and the financial obligations related to these programs;
  • investigatory methods and techniques;
  • economic, social and health problems affecting family security;
  • property ownership, personal finances, paternity and child support issues;
• Knowledge of court procedures, legal terminology and related legal instruments;
• Considerable skill in conducting investigations;
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • problem solving skills;
• Considerable ability to
  • understand and interpret financial and legal documents;
  • negotiate settlements with legally liable party;
• Ability to utilize computer software and systems;
• 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 experience is interpreted at the level of a Social Services Investigator (Child Support).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• 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.
• A Master's degree in a closely related area may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• For state employees one (1) year of experience as a Social Services Investigator (Child Support) may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience:

• Experience applying principles and practices of the child support enforcement program.
• Experience using the Connecticut Child Support Enforcement System (CCSES).
• Experience applying relevant state and federal child support statutes, regulations, and policy.
• Experience applying Federal Child Support Program performance measures and incentive requirements.
• Experience analyzing and recommending solutions to complex child support problems.
• Experience establishing and maintaining productive relationships with child support partner agencies.
• Experience researching, gathering detailed data, and drafting complex correspondence and reports.
• Experience listening and responding to customer complaints via phone/email contact.
• Experience using Microsoft 365 programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, and Teams.

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.