Child Support Services Worker

Role Responsibilities

As a Child Support Services Worker, you will utilize your excellent investigative, written communication, interviewing and organizational skills to locate persons responsible for the financial support of children receiving financial benefits through Alberta Works.

Your assessment and negotiation skills will be utilized when dealing with the legal community and possibly uncooperative respondents. You will also assist families in either negotiating a child support agreement or obtaining an order for child support.  In some circumstances, you will initiate court action on behalf of the government to obtain court ordered maintenance.

This position will give you the opportunity to use your knowledge of legal statutes and agencies/programs related to this area.

We require an individual who can carry a high-volume caseload and is interested in having significant interaction with the justice system. Your skill set should also include strong decision-making skills and well-developed presentation and interpersonal skills.

Key responsibilities include:
•  Needs Determination/Assessment: Conduct interviews to gather evidence, assess the applicant’s needs and legal rights, determine the course of action for support agreements/orders, and gather necessary evidence for court.
•  Investigating/Respondent Assessment: Locate and interview respondents, obtain financial disclosures, and assess employment/financial status to determine the appropriate intervention for child support matters.
•  Negotiating: Negotiate and gather evidence to secure child support agreements/orders on behalf of the Crown and applicants, ensuring compliance with legislated guidelines.
•  Court Action: Prepare and present evidence for court, mediate with respondents and their legal counsel, prepare legal documents, and liaise with Maintenance Enforcement Program staff for order registration.
•  Community Liaison: Build and maintain relationships with partners, including lawyers, judges, court staff, and community agencies, to facilitate collaboration on child support matters.
•  Referral: Make referrals to related services such as legal aid, employment support, or counselling based on the applicant’s needs.

Please click JR69294-PS3-Child Support Worker-JD on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

This work reflects all APS Competencies with a focus on the following:

•    Agility
•    Drive for Results
•    Build Collaborative Environments
•    Systems Thinking
•    Creative Problem Solving

Qualifications

A university graduation in a related field (Social Science, Sociology, Criminology, Psychology, Economics, Social Work, Education, Legal Administration, and Humanities is preferred), plus a minimum of 2years of progressively related experience.

Equivalencies will be considered as follows:

•    Directly related education or experience on the basis of 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 1 year of experience for 1 year of education will be considered.

Required experience:

•    Experience working in Delivery Services within Seniors & Community and Social Services (SCSS) is an asset.  
•    Experience working with a highly diversified client group
•    Experience partnering with other GOA and SCSS programs

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

The following are considered assets:

•    Knowledge of all relevant legislation, regulations and guidelines, including Income and Employment Supports Act, Family Law Act, Alberta Rules of Court Regulations, Child Support Program Policy, ETW/BFE Policy & Procedures, Alberta Child Support Guidelines.  
•    Working knowledge of department resources, programs and services, as well as community resources, programs and services. 
•    Knowledge of relevant computerized information systems, including TOMIS, Mobius, COMPASS, CCS/LISA, and ChildView, Adobe Acrobat.  
•    Knowledge of assessment principles, practices and applications
•    Knowledge and understanding of multi-cultural issues. 
•    Knowledge of court procedures, rules of court, protocols and court etiquette.
•    Knowledge of legal requirements to prepare and process documents.
•    Knowledge of parenting and contact issues, family dynamics, family violence, addictions and cultural diversity.
•    Knowledge of protocols and processes with MEP, MIMS.
•    Knowledge of financial statements, personal and business, and income tax assessment or Tl General Forms to analyze information.
•    Commissioner For Oaths.
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Notes

There is 1 full time, permanent position available, located in Lethbridge.

Hours of work are 36.25 hours weekly, Monday to Friday.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience, with a highlight of your leadership skills.  Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening. Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the Government of Alberta has to offer to prospective employees are as follows:

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
•     Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
•     Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
•     Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
•     Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
•     Leadership and mentorship programs