Job Description
Salary : $80,477.07 - $96,694.62 Annually
Location : Santa Maria, CA
Job Type: Full-time, Regular Status (benefitted)
Job Number: 2502CIN
Department: North County Operations
Division: North Court Services
Opening Date: 02/21/2025
Closing Date: 3/7/2025 4:00 PM Pacific
Description This position is located in Santa Maria The Court Investigator is a rewarding careermaking an impact on peoples lives monitoring probate conservatorships, probate guardianships, petitions to terminate parental rights, and certain adoption proceedings. This individual will work both in an office and conduct field interviews. If you have casework experience or investigations experience in legal, financial, law enforcement, or social services setting this is the position for you.
ADDITIONAL MONETARY/BENEFIT VALUE:
In addition to the base wage listed, employees in this classification receive: - The Court pays 100% of employee health premium
- 100% of the health premium for Employee + Dependent
- 100% of the health premium for Employee + Family
- 14 Paid Holidays + 1 Floating Holiday
- Paid Vacation and Paid Sick Time
- The Court pays 100% of employee dental premium
- Biweekly Court contribution up to $58.78 towards the cost of the dental premium for dependents
- Biweekly Court contribution of approximately 32.47% of gross wages towards employee's mandatory retirement account. SBCERS Plan 8. Additionally, employees from current public employers (federal, state and/or local government) may qualify for:
Additionally, employees from current public employers (federal, state and/or local government) may qualify for: - Retirement reciprocity
- Time and service credit towards vacation accrual rate
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Under direction, conduct investigations for probate conservatorships and probate guardianships, petitions to terminate parental rights, and certain adoption proceedings; prepare comprehensive reports and recommendations; consult with judicial officers, attorneys, and other involved parties; attend hearings as necessary and complete other duties as required.
Examples of Duties - Review case information regarding probate conservatorships, probate guardianships, petitions to terminate parental rights, and certain adoption proceedings, including pleadings, questionnaires, minute orders and other supporting documents.
- Prepare memos and special reports to court; prepare recommendations and present them in written and verbal form; inform concerned parties of laws, regulations, and procedures of the court; explain scope of services and legal rights to conservatees.
- Monitor established conservatorship and guardianship cases, conduct reviews and prepare reports at necessary intervals.
- Conduct field and office visits to interview individuals and assess health status and living conditions.
- Review financial and medical records; arrange for interviews for parties outside the area.
- Review financial accounts filed by guardians and conservators to ensure that the estate is being properly managed, investments are in compliance with the law, and the amount is accurate. Notify the court of discrepancies and make surcharge recommendations as necessary.
- Gather information from various agencies during investigations including, but not limited to, employers, schools, Adult Protective Services, Child Welfare Services, law enforcement, physicians, care providers, Public Guardian and other professionals.
- Review filings in other court departments for any protective/restraining orders or other safety issues for any relevant party. Review custody/visitation orders in family law cases and notify the probate judge in guardianship matters when appropriate.
- Provide information on the nature of probate conservatorship and probate guardianship proceedings to families, parties and attorneys.
- Monitor changes to conservatorship law, recommend policy, rules and procedural changes required for compliance and institute such modifications after approval.
- Review changes in legislation and case law, and implement changes in local procedures.
- Maintain and update the mandated "Resource Directory" and the self-represented information packets.
- Testify in court.
- Other duties as assigned.
Employment Standards 1. A bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in a science, a social science, a behavioral
science, liberal arts, or nursing from an accredited educational institution;
AND 2. A minimum of two years' employment experience performing casework or investigations in
a legal, financial, law enforcement or social services setting.
Knowledge of: legal terminology, documents and procedures related to case evaluation and processing; laws, legal/judicial procedure and local rules; child abuse/abandonment issues, dependent adult/elder abuse, drug/alcohol issues and reporting responsibilities; medical/psychiatric terms and conditions; assessment and analytical skills; interviewing and investigation techniques; basic accounting and auditing skills.
Skill in : the use of computer keyboards and peripheral equipment, established skill with word processing and spreadsheet software such as Word and Excel.
Ability to: interact effectively with individuals with diverse backgrounds; explain legal rights and court procedures; determine acceptability of legal documents for filing, examine and determine if the contents of probate files are consistent with statutory procedural requirements; identify need for judicial action and substantiate cause of action.
Additional Requirement: A valid California Driver License is required, or the ability to easily travel to/from various locations throughout the County with little notice.
There are a variety of benefits available to regular status employees of the Superior Court of CA, County of Santa Barbara. These benefits include: medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance programs, retirement program, flexible spending account (health care, dependent care, transportation and parking), employee assistance program, and deferred compensation program.
General Benefits Paid Holidays - Full-time Court employees receive 14 paid holidays, plus 1 floating holiday
Paid Sick Leave - Full-time Court employees accrue 12 paid sick days each year
Paid Vacation - Full-time Court employees accrue paid vacation time based on their years of service as follows:
Vacation Accrual
0-2 years - 12 days per year
2-4 years - 16 days per year
4-10 years - 19 days per year
10-14 years - 22 days per year
14+ years - 25 days per year
NOTE: Individuals from other federal, state and/or local public agencies who are entering employment with the Court may receive service credit towards vacation accrual.
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance The Court pays:
100% of employee health premium
100% of the premium for Employee + dependent and Employee + Family
100% of employee dental premium, this amount is applied to all levels of coverage
Coverage for spouse, children and domestic partner are also available. For more information regarding the cost of the medical, dental and vision plans, and the Court's contribution please see the following links (amounts are based on full-time employment, or 40 hours per week):
NOTE: All Court health plans for part-time employees are the same, but the Court's contribution towards the premiums, and the biweekly cash allowance are provided on a pro-rated basis.
Alternative Transportation Benefit Regular employees using alternative transportation (i.e. walking, biking, public transportation, carpool, vanpool, etc) may be eligible to earn an additional .62 hours of paid vacation time biweekly. This may result in an overall benefit equivalent to 2 additional vacation days per year (based on full-time employment).
Retirement 2% at age 62, 3 year final average salary. The Court makes a considerable biweekly contribution to the retirement plan on behalf of employees. All regular employees of the Court are required enroll in the General Retirement Plan administered by the Santa Barbara County Employee's Retirement System (SBCERS). More information regarding the rates of contribution by the employee and employer, vesting, and retirement options may be found at the following link: If you have previous public employment, you may qualify for a different retirement plan.
The Court also offers a Deferred Compensation plan administered by Empower. This is a voluntary program which allows the employee to contribute a portion of their salary, before federal and state taxes, to an investment account to supplement retirement income. The Court also offers a Roth option.
Flexible Spending Account Flexible spending accounts (FSA) are among the most significant tax shelters allowed by the IRS. Employees may choose to contribute a portion of their salary, before federal and state taxes, to this account to be used throughout the benefit plan year to cover out of pocket health care, dependent care and transportation and parking costs. More information regarding Flexible Spending Accounts can be found at the following link:
Life, Disability & Accident Insurances The Court provides Basic Life Insurance coverage to the employee in the amount $50,000 at no cost to the employee. Additional, Supplemental Life Insurance coverage for the employee, spouse and/or children may be purchased by the employee.This includes a life insurance plan with a long-term care provision.
All benefit eligible employees working over 20 hours per week are enrolled in Long Term Disability Insurance at no cost to the employee. The monthly benefit percentage is 60% of monthly earnings.
Critical Illness insurance coverage may be purchased by the employee. This insurance pays a one-time, lump sum benefit on top of any health insurance benefits that you currently receive upon the diagnosis of a covered disease or illness.
Accident/Specific Injury insurance may be purchased by the employee. This insurance pays you a specific amount on top of any health insurance benefits you currently receive, for specific injuries resulting from a covered accident.
Personal Accident Insurance & Death and Dismemberment Insurance may be purchased by the employee. This insurance pays a one benefit based on death or extent of injury/disability.
Further information regarding the above Life, Disability & Accident Insurances, costs and coverage can be found at the following link:
Employee Assistance Program This program is available to all employees of the Court at no cost to the employee. This plan is there to ensure Court employees have the support needed to manage the many challenges life may present.
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Part time, Local area, Flexible hours,