JOB RECRUITMENT: COURT INVESTIGATOR APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 3 PM

Transcription

1 JOB RECRUITMENT: COURT INVESTIGATOR APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 3 PM

2 About the Position The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County is seeking highly motivated and skilled applicants to fill a single vacancy for Court Probate Investigator. Under direction, the incumbent works as part of a small team of Investigators to review probate conservatorship and guardianship cases and prepare recommendations to the court. The incumbent will spend around 50% of their time in the field, interviewing present and proposed conservatees, rest home operators, proposed wards, family members, and others. The remaining time is spent in the office preparing reports for judicial officer review. Work is performed independently and requires excellent interview, assessment, writing, and time management skills. Applications and resumes must be received by 3 p.m. on March 1, About the Court It is the mission of the Superior Court of Santa Cruz County to preserve and protect the rights and ideals of society through the interpretation and enforcement of the law, and provide equal access to justice through quality service to the community. It is also the mission of the court to treat all persons in the judicial system with dignity and respect. The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County has established a reputation as a leader in innovative court programs and as an organization committed to providing high-quality public service. The court consists of 12 judges, two commissioners, and approximately 130 staff, with an annual budget of approximately 15 million dollars. There are three court locations in Santa Cruz County: the main courthouse near downtown Santa Cruz, the new Watsonville courthouse in downtown Watsonville, and the juvenile courthouse in the small, rural town of Felton. About Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County has 249,705 residents and is situated at the northern tip of Monterey Bay, 65 miles south of San Francisco, 35 miles north of Monterey, and 35 miles southwest of the Silicon Valley. Its natural beauty is present in the pristine beaches, lush redwood forests, and rich farmland. It has an ideal Mediterranean climate with low humidity and sunshine 300 days a year. There are four incorporated cities within Santa Cruz County. The 2 Superior Court of Santa Cruz County Job Recruitment: Court Investigator

3 City of Santa Cruz, with a population of 54,262, is the largest city in the county. Santa Cruz County is the Gateway to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, has 29 miles of beaches and includes six state parks and six state beaches. Its quaint shops and restaurants, coupled with a multitude of cultural and recreational activities (sailing, fishing, golfing, tennis, hiking, etc.) provide a wealth of leisure activities. Representative Duties 1. Receive notification of petitions for new probate conservatorships and conduct investigations to determine if the conservatorship is necessary; 2. Visit proposed conservatees to inform them of the content of petitions and the nature, purpose and effect of conservatorship; advise individuals of their legal rights and options; evaluate medical, physical and mental condition, and determine need for legal representation; 3. Prepare reports for the Court documenting the visit, the conservatee s preference of conservator and desire for legal representation and make recommendations concerning the appropriateness of conservatorship; 4. Review accounting of ongoing conservatorships to determine if expenditures appear to be appropriate and for the benefit of the conservatee; 5. Conduct periodic review of ongoing probate conservatorship cases to determine if the conservator is acting in the best interest of the conservatees; determine if conservatee requires continued conservatorship or desires a change of conservators; attempt to resolve deficiencies in care or placement and document facts and findings; 6. Receive notification of petitions for new guardianships in which the proposed guardian is a relative; conduct investigations, including visitation, to determine the social history and relationship of the guardian and ward; assess the developmental, emotional, psychological, and educational needs of the proposed ward and the capability of the proposed guardian to meet those needs; 7. Prepare reports for the Court documenting the investigation and make recommendations concerning the appropriateness of the guardianship or recommending conservatorship; 8. Review accounting of ongoing guardianships; conduct periodic reviews of ongoing guardianship cases to determine if the guardian is acting in the best interest of the ward; keep abreast of changing circumstances and identify potential problems; 9. Arrange for the investigation of initial and ongoing conservatorship and guardianship cases located in other counties and perform courtesy investigations for other counties; prepare records, reports and correspondence; may testify in court as required. 3 Superior Court of Santa Cruz County Job Recruitment: Court Investigator

4 Requirements (1) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor s degree in social science, behavioral science, liberal arts, nursing, or a related field; (2) A minimum of two years of case work and investigation experience in a legal, financial, or social services work setting; and (3) Possession of a valid California driver s license and a vehicle that can be used to perform work in the field. Additional work experience may be substituted for a Bachelor s degree, if it is in combination with an educational certification that demonstrates the required knowledge and abilities. Submission to a background investigation is required. Knowledge of Candidates for this position must have the following working knowledge: Interviewing techniques. Health, welfare, educational and community assistance programs, agencies and resources available to the elderly, developmentally disabled and minors. Problems of the elderly and developmentally disabled. Needs and requirements of minors. Human motivation and behavior. Basic legal procedures and the court system. Basic bookkeeping principles. Ability To Candidates for this position must have the following abilities: Obtain information by observation and interview. Analyze situations accurately and make sound judgments as to the adequacy of care and placement of conservatees and wards. Assess the mental, physical, and medical condition of conservatees. Assess the educational, emotional, and psychological needs of wards. Understand, interpret, explain, and apply provisions of the Probate Codes dealing with conservatorships and guardianships. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with conservatees, wards, guardians, attorneys, judges and others. Work independently to plan, organize, and schedule tasks. Express ideas effectively in oral and written form. Prepare clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence. 4 Superior Court of Santa Cruz County Job Recruitment: Court Investigator

5 Review financial accounting for appropriateness. Working Conditions The office environment is professional, generally clean inside buildings with limited exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and noise. Incumbents will be working under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions, with frequent deadlines and expectation to produce high quality work under limited time constraints. Incumbents may encounter individuals in the field who are angry or suffer from psychological impairments. The ability to deal effectively with a diverse population of people and to work independently as well as closely with others is required. Essential Functions Specific tasks and duties may vary between assignments, however, the following are considered essential functions expected of the Court Probate Investigator classification: Frequent and ongoing use of a computer terminal to conduct a variety of the more advanced investigative functions and communications; The ability work in the field with adequate transportation to and from interviews and site visits; Regular contact with people and regular and occasional contact with employees in other court divisions, government agencies, court users, and the public with the ability to converse and respond appropriately to inquiries and requests; Periodic to regular lifting, walking, and carrying of files, documents, and other court related materials. Incumbents must have the ability to lift and carry 15 lbs; Work with time constraints and under pressure in some situations. Examination Those candidates who submit a completed application packet by the close of the recruitment and who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process. The exam will be written and scores of those candidates successful in the exam process will be used to create an eligibility list from which the court can select candidates for interview. Compensation and Benefits The position of Court Probate Investigator is paid at an hourly rate according to the following salary range: Hourly: $ The Court offers a generous benefits package, which includes life insurance, a choice of health and dental plans, a vision plan, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), paid holidays, and paid time off. 5 Superior Court of Santa Cruz County Job Recruitment: Court Investigator

6 Application Materials A complete application packet consists of both a resume and court application. Applications are available on our website: (by clicking the link for Employment ). For additional information please the Court at hrinfo@santacruzcourt.org or call (831) The hearing impaired TDD# is (831) Application packets can be ed to hrinfo@santacruzcourt.org or mailed to the following address: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz Human Resources Department 701 Ocean Street, Room 110 Santa Cruz, California The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County is an equal opportunity employer. Equal employment opportunity will be afforded to all qualified applicants or employees with respect to compensation and terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination. 6 Superior Court of Santa Cruz County Job Recruitment: Court Investigator