10/10/2004 07425

CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION:

This is professional and supervisory work in the area of child support enforcement.

An employee in this class supervises subordinate specialists engaged in performing a variety of regulatory functions in support of the Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement Program (CSEP). Work involves assigning, supervising, and evaluating the work of subordinate specialist staff and providing consultative assistance and guidance to the staff and county Domestic Relations Sections (DRS) in the operation of the CSEP, including direction in the use of information technology systems and interpretation of program regulations, policies, and procedures. Work also includes overseeing responses to complaints and legislative inquiries, implementing specialized child support programs, identifying trends of noncompliance with regulations and procedures, making recommendations to settle child support claims, and reviewing administrative or court hearing decisions to determine the impact on the child support program and information technology systems. Work is performed with independent judgment in accordance with policies and procedures, but requires discretion and judgment in direction and supervisory activities. Work is under the general direction of a higher-level administrative manager who evaluates work performance through conferences, review of reports and results achieved in meeting established goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Provides consultative guidance in the use of information technology systems including the PA Child Support Enforcement System (PACSES) and the State Collection and Disbursement Unit (SCDU).

Provides direction in analyzing PACSES problems and data integrity issues, recommending corrective actions, and coordinating system changes.

Supervises the review of DRS requests for reversal of child support funds improperly distributed using the SCDU Payment Adjustment Management (SPAM) process.

Supervises the coordination and implementation of specialized enforcement programs, such as Federal and State Tax Refund Offset Program, Passport Denial, Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity, Project: Save Our Children, Financial Institution Data Match, Lottery Intercept, Interstate Locate, Suspension of Professional and Driver’s Licensure and Execution of Real Estate Liens.

Directs staff in analyzing child support claim information and determining the feasibility for conducting investigations.

Supervises staff in establishing child support liability and taking steps to encumber financial resources through property liens, wage attachments, and other legal actions.

Represents the Department and provides testimony at administrative hearings, other court hearings, and child support conferences.

Supervises the preparation of position papers and follow up reports.

Oversees the development of recommendations to modify departmental operating procedures.

Supervises the evaluation of child support payments collected by county assistance offices (CAOs) from public assistance recipients.

Supervises the verification of the appropriate method for securing child support payment.

Supervises the determination of proper payee and verification of the system’s disbursement to the proper account.

Directs the conduct of on-site visits of DRS and CAOs to expedite case processing and evaluate contractual and regulatory conformance to child support service delivery standards.

Identifies staff training needs and conducts training sessions for county agency staff on information technology system problems.

Prepares correspondence, reports and recommendations on case findings, policy and procedure issues and other related matters.

Reviews and resolves problematic issues involving questionable compliance practices.

Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

May participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organization requirements.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of the principles and practices of management and supervision.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior and problem solving techniques.

Knowledge of interviewing practices and techniques.

Ability to plan, organize, supervise and evaluate the work performance of subordinates.

Ability to exercise judgment in evaluating situations and recommendations and in making decisions.

Ability to apply techniques used for gathering information and initiating action to locate legally responsible individuals and their assets.

Ability to apply legal processes and procedures necessary to bring court action against a delinquent and liable non-custodial parent.

Ability to interpret and apply federal, state and Departmental mandates, regulations, policies, and procedures governing child support enforcement.
 
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with DRS and CAO staff, judges, court officials, attorneys, public and private officials, public assistance clients, and the public.

Ability to provide guidance and technological assistance to CAO and DRS staff on CSEP and information technology system requirements.

Ability to apply the processes and procedures for determining the appropriate and available resources for establishing and enforcing child support orders against legally responsible individuals.

Ability to gather and analyze information through personal contacts, interviews and reviews of appropriate court records, correspondence, and documents.

Ability to coordinate and work with DRS staff and the courts to secure adequate child support orders from legally responsible individuals.

Ability to respond to written or verbal telephone inquiries, correspondence, or complaints regarding child support enforcement policies and procedures.

Ability to gather and present evidence or testimony at administrative child support hearings, and civil or criminal court proceedings.

Ability to review and assess the accuracy of child support enforcement systems data and to make appropriate determinations of case disposition.

Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and to make clear and concise statements, orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

One year of experience as a Child Support Enforcement Specialist;

or

One year of experience as a Claims Investigation Agent;

or

Five years of experience in a domestic relations office which included the interpretation, application and explanation of policies and regulations and analysis of information;

or

An equivalent combination of experience and training including one year in a domestic relations office which included the interpretation, application and explanation of policies and regulations and analysis of information.

A bachelor’s degree may be substituted for four years of the required experience.