Welfare Fraud Investigator Trainee

Job Description:

Welfare Fraud Investigator Trainee

Description

Position Information

Grow your Investigative career with the County of Sonoma Human Services Department!
Become a Welfare Fraud Investigator Trainee!

Starting salary up to $45.22/hour ($94,379/year) plus a competitive total compensation package*!

The Human Services Department is currently recruiting to fill two Welfare Fraud Investigator positions at either the trainee, I, or II level. If you are interested in applying at the other levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels.

The Welfare Fraud Investigator Trainee is responsible for learning and performing tasks associated with investigating cases of suspected fraudulent receipt of welfare aid and other public assistance funds. Under the supervision of a Senior Welfare Fraud Investigator or their designee, trainees gradually take on more complex tasks as they gain investigative experience and expertise. They are also responsible for reviewing case files and records, drafting reports, attending training sessions, conducting fieldwork, and handling general administrative duties. Additional responsibilities include:

• Learning the fundamentals of conducting investigations, including understanding the process of gathering evidence, interviewing suspects, and interpreting laws relevant to welfare fraud
• Visiting homes, businesses, and government offices to locate and interview suspects, witnesses, and other individuals who may provide critical information about a case
• Gathering and preserving evidence, such as affidavits, records, or testimony, and evaluating its credibility and relevance to the investigation
• Examining various documents, such as financial records or case files, to uncover inconsistencies or violations
• Writing clear, detailed reports including investigation findings, court reports, or incident summaries that are critical for legal or administrative proceedings
• Interpreting and explaining complex laws, rules, and regulations to suspects and witnesses during investigations
• Working closely with representatives from businesses and government agencies to gather necessary information and ensure compliance with legal standards
• Participating in staff meetings and training sessions to ensure understanding of updated policies and regulations
• Assisting with addressing the security needs of the Human Services Department, ensuring the safety of staff and facilities

The ideal candidates will possess many of the following:

• Experience in investigative work, especially in handling caseloads and conducting field investigations
• Familiarity with current case law, case preparation, and courtroom testimony
• An understanding of search warrants, interviewing techniques, mobile surveillance, and financial crime investigations
• The ability to obtain certification from the California Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training (POST), including Specialized or Regular Basic Certificates
• Proficient computer skills with the ability to manage data and perform analysis during the investigative process
• Proficiency in oral communication with the ability to interact with the public and internal staff
• The ability to write clear, concise reports, case notes, and criminal complaints
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired, but not required

Welfare Fraud Investigator Trainees are required to be eligible for award of a Specialized or Regular California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate on or before completion of the probationary period. Failure to acquire P.O.S.T. Certification by the end of the probationary period will result in termination of employment.

NOTE: The Human Services Department is not an eligible employing agency and does not provide eligible law enforcement experience as described under P.O.S.T. Administrative Manual, Section B, subsection 1010(a)(3)(E)1. Therefore, candidates must have acquired or be in the process of acquiring sufficient law enforcement experience to qualify under the P.O.S.T. Certificate requirements.

About the Human Services Department (HSD)

As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is building upon strengths, we bridge people to opportunity through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFRESH, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging.

HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community.

The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services please visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services .

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association (SCLEA) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, successful work experience with the general public in an investigative or interviewing capacity such as an assignment at the level of Eligibility Worker II or above would provide such experience.

Education: Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable General Education Development Certificate as required by the California Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training. Academic course work in the behavior sciences, and law enforcement is desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Background Requirements: Incumbents shall not have been convicted of a felony in this state or any other state or in any federal jurisdiction, or of any offense in any other state or in any federal jurisdiction, which would have been a felony if committed in this state, nor be under current formal probation supervision.

Citizen Requirement: Permanent resident aliens who wish to be employed as peace officers must apply for citizenship prior to application for such employment. Permanent resident aliens must cooperate with the U.S. Department of Immigration in meeting all requirements for U.S. citizenship, or he or she shall be disqualified for peace officer status.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: investigative techniques, methods and procedures; legal procedures and rules of evidence with particular reference to welfare fraud investigation; interviewing principles and techniques; sources of information commonly used in locating persons and information; and of data identification, preservation and presentation of evidence; the functions of the welfare department and of applicable eligibility rules and regulations; financial record keeping principles and practices.

Ability to: learn, interpret and effectively apply provisions of welfare laws applicable to fraud investigations; conduct effective field investigations related to suspected fraudulent receipt of aid; gather, assemble and evaluate facts and evidence and to reach sound conclusions; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; use appropriate sources and techniques in locating individuals; organize time and material effectively; enforce the law firmly, impartially with tact; conduct effective interviews under a variety of situations and conditions requiring tact and good judgment; learn to write comprehensive court reports; and to prepare and present evidences, correspondence and reports in effective written and oral form; secure payment of funds due; assist in meeting the security needs of the Human Services department; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public and staff; maintain financial records.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 2/3/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$77,661.74 - $94,379.57 Annually