|
Desperate for employees who will stay with the job, the Rowan County Department of Social Services wants to create a new job requiring only a high school diploma.
On Tuesday evening, the Social Services board endorsed the idea of creating an Income Maintenance I position that will require a high school degree and a year of office work.
Social Services Director Sandra Wilkes and Carol Addington, director of adult services, said other counties across the state use the entry-level position successfully, reducing greatly the turnover rate.
The department currently has nine vacancies and is having little success in filling the slots or keeping them filled.
Addington said neighboring Davidson County has had great success with the position.
Rowan currently starts with an Income Maintenance II position that requires a four-year college degree.
“It’s a huge problem,” said Wilkes, describing the problem of keeping staff, particularly in the income maintenance area. Wilkes and Addington said that people hired who have a four-year degree virtually come in the door leaving. They stay three or four months and move on.
Board Chairman Edwin Koontz recalled that when he headed the department, they had the entry level position and it worked well.
“Can they do the work?” asked board member Zell Setzer.
Wilkes said the job is basically paperwork, determining an individual’s income and eligibility for various programs.
Addington said that individuals who have good comprehension and writing skills should be fine. She added that a four-year degree doesn’t dictate that individuals will have the skills needed for the position.
Wilkes said that Davidson and other counties have found the job appeals to the high school graduate. She added they have great benefits and a career opportunity, because they can move up to Level II.
But responding to a question from Rowan County Commissioner Leda Belk, Wilkes said Rowan’s personnel policy currently would not allow that.
Setzer asked the staffers attending the meeting how they feel about creating the new job.
“Iwould like to have my positions filled with bodies,” responded Pat Spears, who heads income maintenance.
Wilkes said her staff is continuing to look at the overall job retention issue, surveying departments in surrounding counties and doing exit interviews internally.
She said 90 percent or more are leaving because of the workload. Officials have said previously that Rowan’s caseload per employee is substantially higher than in neighboring counties and throughout the state. “The caseload is unmanageable,” said Wilkes.
She emphasized the amount of work and public contact during December and the amount of money, federal, state and county, that came into the county last month.
The department took over 700 new applications for various programs, for an average of 63 per day during a 19-workday month.
A total of 13,974 county residents received Medicaid assistance; 6,500 received Food Stamps; and 1,142 received Work First assistance. A total of 1,045 children were in daycare through subsidies.
A total of $507,000 was collected in child support, down slightly from the $600,000 normal monthly take. Wilkes said plant closings and layoffs have temporarily hurt collections.
Wilkes also reported that an expected shortfall in money for daycare subsidies has been solved.
Rowan Partnership for Children has approved an additional $325,000 for the daycare program.
In other matters, the board briefly reviewed several other issues, including improvements to the building and a committee that will look at providing more space.
The board agreed for Setzer and Belk to serve on the committee, along with county staff.
Belk and Setzer said they want staff involved to develop recommendations and options for improvements in facilities and additional space.
|
Today's News