Social Services Analyst

McNeese State University; Amite City (LA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services seeks a Social Services Analyst 1/2/3 for the Tangipahoa Parish Child Support Enforcement office in Amite, LA. The role involves locating non-custodial parents, calculating support, and pursuing legal actions as needed.

Responsibilities include interviewing clients, researching records, explaining requirements, preparing legal documents, and court appearances. Career progression within the Social Services Analyst series is possible.

Qualifications

• Three years of social services experience.
• Six years of full-time experience in any field.
• A bachelor’s degree.
• Experience substitution: 30 semester hours equals 1 year; max 120 sem hours substitutes for 4 years.

Responsibilities

• Initiates and executes legal processes including interviewing clients, relatives, landlords and other persons to gather information on location of absent parents.
• Research files, directories, Office of Motor Vehicle records, property records and other resources to find leads on whereabouts of parents.
• Explain legal requirements, calculate support payments, determine appropriate legal action and meet with parents to obtain paternity, child support and medical support.
• Prepare affidavits and financial audits and initiate legal actions such as subpoenas, petitions and orders.
• Attend court in one or more districts.
• Perform a high volume of case work for a demanding public in need of services.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communicating Effectively

Following Policies

Judgment

Acting Decisively

Displaying Professionalism

Managing Time

Working with Finances

Education

Bachelor's degree

Social services experience

Job description

Department MISSION

DCFS is working to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, and providing safe refuge during disasters.

Department VISION

We care for the well-being and safety of Louisiana's people.

Department VALUES

Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.

We're looking for a Social Services Analyst 1/2/3 to work in our Tangipahoa Parish Child Support Enforcement office in Amite, LA.

Child Support Enforcement is a program that works with parents to provide emotional, financial, and medical support for their child or children. DCFS offers parent locator and paternity establishment services, as well as assistance to establish and enforce child support orders and collection and distribution of child support payments. This position assists in ensuring non-custodial parents fulfill their obligations to provide financial and medical support for their child/children.

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING COMPETENCIES:

• SELECTED CORE COMPETENCIES:
  • Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
  • Following Policies and Procedures: The ability to follow, reinforce, adapt, or develop policies and procedures to maintain compliance with federal and state legal requirements, State Civil Service rules, and organizational policies.
  • Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.
• SELECTED PREFERRED COMPETENCIES:
  • Acting Decisively: The ability to make timely, confident decisions using sound reason.
  • Displaying Professionalism: The ability to uphold workplace standards through consistent conduct, responsible communication, and consideration for others.
  • Managing Time: The ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and allocate time to ensure timely completion of work goals.
  • Working with Financial Information: The ability to interpret financial data, manage financial approvals, and ensure compliance to support informed decisions and promote transparency.

Three years of experience in social services; OR

Six years of full-time experience in any field; OR

A bachelor's degree.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here. Job Duties:

• Initiates and executes legal processes including interviewing clients, relatives, landlords and other persons to gather information on location of absent parents.
• Research files, directories, Office of Motor Vehicle records, property records and other resources in order to find leads on whereabouts of parents.
• Explain legal requirements, calculate support payments, determine appropriate legal action and meet with parents to obtain paternity, child support and medical support.
• Prepare affidavits and financial audits and initiate legal actions such as subpoenas, petitions and orders.
• Attend court in one or more districts.
• Perform a high volume of case work for a demanding public in need of services.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Position-Specific Details

Work Location: This vacancy is located in the Tangipahoa Parish Child Support Enforcement office in Tangipahoa, LA.

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments.

Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee.

Work Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and is dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts.

Career Progression: This position participates in a Career Progression Group (CPG) and may be filled as a Social Services Analyst 1, 2, or 3. The level at which the vacancy is filled will be determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected. This position provides the opportunity to advance within this job series.

Compensation

The referenced position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER) see below:

• Social Services Analyst 1 - SER: $16.42 hourly (Pay Level SS-410)
• Social Services Analyst 2 - SER: $17.56 hourly (Pay Level SS-411)
• Social Service Analyst 3 - SER: $21.27 hourly (Pay Level SS-413)

The referenced positions are also eligible for premium pay of up to $2.00 per hour for hours worked based on years of service within DCFS Family Support.

The actual starting salary depends on the education and experience of the selected applicant.

IRS Publication 1075 mandates that any government employee, contractor, or volunteer requiring access to Federal Tax Information (FTI) must successfully pass a stringent background investigation before access is granted.

DCFS is an “Equal Opportunity Employer”, and Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.