Welfare Fraud Investigator – Investigative Unit - San Francisco Human Services Agency (2966) (150695) - City and County of San Francisco

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

• Application Opening – September 25, 2024
• Application Deadline – October 8, 2024
• Compensation: $114,842.00-$139,594.00 Yearly https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=2966
• List ID: PBT-2966-150695; REF44287F

At the San Francisco Human Services Agency, we believe in a San Francisco where everyone has the opportunity and support to achieve their full potential.  We are comprised of the Department of Benefits and Family Support, and the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS), and are united by our commitment to deliver essential services that support and protect people, families, and communities.

From financial, nutritional and employment support to child and adult protective services, health care coverage, affordable childcare, and in-home services for older adults and persons with disabilities, our team lends support for all in need.

Our Commitment to Racial Equity

As we work towards our vision of an inclusive San Francisco, we embrace our responsibility to root out systemic racism by creating services and a workforce which reflect the lived experiences and strengths of the people we serve. We are committed to fostering a work environment where our differences are celebrated and everyone has what they need to thrive--no matter their race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or country of origin. Click here to learn more about what this commitment looks like in action.

Under general supervision, this position conducts welfare fraud investigations and manages a criminal investigation caseload related to alleged fraud in County Adult Assistant Programs (CAAP), CalFresh, CalWORKs, and other public aid programs. In addition, the 2966 Welfare Fraud Investigators may be assigned to conduct other investigations of interest to the Human Services Agency such as threats against department employees and theft or damage to public property.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS

1. Manages an investigative caseload stemming from a variety of income maintenance programs (e.g. County Adult Assistance Program, IHSS, CalWORKS, and Food Stamps).
2. Gathers and analyzes existing welfare data, including income maintenance files and welfare databases for evidence of fraud.
3. Conducts computer searches through the use of the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS), Department of Motor Vehicles, credit reporting systems, Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS), Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), Case Data Systems (CDS), CALSAWS, and the Internet.
4. Conducts criminal history checks through both local and state databases.
5. Interviews witnesses and suspects and analyzes resulting information with other evidence to make determinations of standards for reasonable suspicion and probable cause; prepares evidence for presentation in criminal courts and administrative hearings.
6. Collects, compiles, preserves and analyzes evidence and written data; maintains thorough and accurate case summary notes for each open investigation documenting all actions taken, evidence collected, and interviews conducted.
7. Makes criminal arrests and detentions, assuring proper cause and using physical force when necessary, using an appropriate escalation of force options. Executes search warrants.
8. Provides supervisors with adequate demonstration of minimum standards for requested detentions, arrests and search warrant applications.
9. Writes investigative reports which demonstrate proper basis for criminal detentions, criminal arrests, and related charges.
10. Properly executes search warrants for the investigative process.
11. Compiles and analyzes evidence from the Statewide Finger Imaging System (SFIS) in support of welfare disqualification and in support of criminal prosecution.
12. Uses vigorous safety precautions in handling and properly maintaining firearms; tests semi-annually for firearms and maintains passing scores.
13. Assists in receiving and serving subpoenas on appropriate HSA personnel and provides accurate court scheduling to HSA employees to facilitate court appearances.
14. Operates motor vehicles in order to accomplish timely investigations, transport witnesses and suspects, deliver criminal evidence and court exhibits.
15. Conducts Whistleblower and HR investigations.

1. Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college

AND

Experience: Two (2) years of criminal justice investigative experience as a Peace Officer, Private Investigator, Public Defender Investigator, District Attorney Investigator, Welfare Fraud Investigator or Consumer Affairs Investigator equivalent to City and County of San Francisco class 2966 Welfare Fraud Investigator;

OR

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college

AND

2. Experience: One (1) year of full-time criminal justice investigative experience as a Peace Officer, Private Investigator, Public Defender Investigator, District Attorney Investigator, Welfare Fraud Investigator or Consumer Affairs Investigator equivalent to City and County class 2966 Welfare Fraud Investigator; AND two (2) years full-time experience as an Eligibility Worker;

Substitution: Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

AND

3. License and Certification: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License AND Peace Officer status (must be attained within one (1) year of appointment)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

1. Possession of a private investigator license
2. California Peace Officer Status
3. Possession of current POST Basis or Specialized Investigators Basic Course (SIBC) certification

VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedures:

Supplemental Examination (Weight: 100%):

Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be invited to participate in the Supplemental Examination Questionnaire. This exam is designed to measure knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to: interviewing witnesses and suspects, modern investigative techniques, escalating levels of force and arrest techniques, and basic computer word processing; managing a large caseload, completing various tasks in different cases simultaneously and meeting varied timelines; interviewing witnesses and suspects in both formal and informal settings in order to facilitate the fact finding process; develop a broad working knowledge of Federal, State and local laws pertaining to welfare fraud and embezzlement; skillfully collect, preserve, and analyze evidence; evaluate “probable cause” and to make proper and legal arrests; evaluate for “reasonable suspicion", make physical detentions and arrests, conduct computerized criminal history checks; accurate, precise and compelling written documents investigative summaries and reports; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the Department of Human Services employees, law enforcement personnel, members of the criminal justice systems, Department of Human Services clientele and members of the public; prepare physical exhibits for presentation in the courts and in administrative hearings; effectively communicate in writing; and communicate orally under pressure and in depositions when required in the course of duties; safely operate a motorized vehicle in accordance with local and State laws. 

Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Examination in order to continue in the selection process.

Candidate exam responses will be vetted as appropriate using AI use detection software. Evidence of use of AI, plagiarized answers, or falsified information in exam responses will be addressed in accordance with Civil Service Rules related to fraud and cheating.

The above test components are considered standardized and, therefore, test questions and answers are not available for public inspection or review.

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ): Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of six (6) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2023-24.pdf

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

How to Apply

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen 

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Ryan Brown, by telephone at (415) 798-0612 or by email at Ryan.Brown@sfgov.org. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.