In recent weeks, I've written several stories about the vacancy rate at Northampton County's Children, Youth & Family Division of Human Services. I've been critical of Director Sue Wandalowski for her failed attempt to force two people who transferred out of that division to work at a lower wage. But I've told you that she has always told county workers they can bring their beefs to Council. This claim is being disputed by some people at Human Services. They claim she has actively encouraged them to stay away. Previously, I had understood them to say they were free to go to Council. I got it wrong. So which is it? I have no reason to doubt the veracity of Wandalowski or anyone in these departments, so my hope is that something is lost in translation.
I was also told that Northampton County only has four child protective services investigators, when it should have 13. These are the folks who investigate allegations of sexual abuse. I asked Wandalowski whether this is true, and this is her reply:
The Child Protective Services (CPS) Unit has 13 designated caseworkers. Today there are 8 caseworkers in seats in the CPS unit and there are 2 additional caseworkers who were hired for CPS and are awaiting clearances to start.
Additionally, there are 10 General Protective Services (GPS) caseworkers who are trained and are in the rotation of receiving CPS cases to investigate. This protocol was implemented on August 31, 2022 to alleviate the strain on the CPS caseworkers.
CPS Supervisors are also assisting with office tasks for their caseworkers and conduct initial visits as needed to ensure all regulatory timeframes are met.
As discussed on many occasions at County Council meetings, the state civil service system creates barriers for both recruiting and hiring caseworkers for CYF. There are several particularly difficult challenges with civil service. First, most of the general public is not aware of how to apply for jobs through the civil service website, despite our outreach efforts. Second, the county is at the mercy of civil service to post vacancies and subsequently provide us a list of applicants for each vacancy, and there are almost always delays with both aspects of this. Third, we often experience delays in civil service certifying caseworkers and supervisors as meeting the METs (minimum education and training requirements).
We have submitted all the necessary paperwork to exit the civil service system so we can advertise and recruit more effectively and fill positions much quicker. Vacancy rates from other counties decreased following their exit from civil service and we anticipate the same here in Northampton County.
This administration has no concern for children. They're being disregarded like the county's elderly. "Most precious asset," my ass. This is an administration that inexplicably closed swing sets and sliding boards to children, who were known to be at little to no risk of CoViD - and certainly not while playing and exercising outside in the fresh air. The current county administration is administering poorly. Services, morale, public respect are at all-time lows. These are the McClure years, a even darker era in county history than the Reibman years. What a mess.
ReplyDeleteIt might be helpful Bernie if you post the process on how a person can apply for CYF positions thru Civil Service and provide the link.
ReplyDeleteHow the hell can there be that much "lost in translation?" What is more concrete than the small numbers being discussed? I worked in county services for many years. Thirty years ago, while in college, discussion was made in classes about civil service system used for hiring for caseworker type jobs. And the county contracted social services staff knew of the civil service hiring system and would use it to move from poorly paid jobs in non-profit social services jobs to better defined hours and better wages and good benefits found in the county system. Years ago, there was a caseworker who used to say, "I could do a better job if they gave me a better class of clients." Maybe folks have just decided this type of work sucks.
ReplyDeleteLink requested: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pabureau?location[0]=northampton%20county&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending
ReplyDeleteThe problem there is the same as the problem everywhere in the county. Low pay and horrible moral of employees. Sounds like this department is going the same way as the jail . Get rid of all job requirements. Hire anyone that has a pulse. The jail got rid of the physical agility first. still couldn't get people. So now get rid of the React test. Now you have a pulse your hired. And if you have a little criminal record who cares. Remember you reap what you sow... and Hopefully this department doesn't go down the same road as the jail..
ReplyDeleteThe entire Human Services Division is a disaster, not just CY. Services are terrible whether it's Aging, MH/MR, D&A, etc. Not that long ago, all these agencies were top notch, providing excellent services for people in need. Now you have over-worked, understaffed and unappreciated caseworkers, being supervised by over-paid, under-worked Supervisors and Administrators whose philosophy is " do as i say, not as I do." House cleaning needs to begin at the top, starting with Wandalowski and work down, then things will get rectified.
ReplyDeleteLeave it to Lamont and Captain Clueless with his bow tie.
ReplyDeleteThey don't want to give fair raises, yet increase the workload of all workers.
It is a shame the way they treat their employees.
Some time back, I would be dispatched by Teresa Hogan ,Esq. to check on children and their living conditions after marital disputes and cat fights they were in. I’d show up with a court order unannounced to observe and write your reports about car seats ,firearms,fire alarms ,conditions in the “other house.” Never any sexual issues. I can’t believe they need this many people for sex issues, although I can imagine there are some just like anyplace in the world. Employee issues are another subject. I once took the test for domestic investigation,the directions were that the door would closed at a certain time for testing. It was snowing pretty good , well they closed the door . We all sighed in with IDs and exam was administered. The person they hired wasn’t even in that room for the test. It appears to me the county has self inflicted talent pool as result of monkey business. Then later in life I got into domestic as a State Constable and would make some deadbeat daddies reappear there, for fees..
ReplyDelete"Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and present valid proof of vaccinated status, in order to be eligible for hire with the County of Northampton. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people are considered fully vaccinated two (2) weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series (such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines), or two (2) weeks after a single-dose vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine). The County of Northampton will follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines with regard to booster(s) and when individuals are considered fully vaccinated."
ReplyDeleteThat's how this nonsense started. The county fired people for not getting a shot that has proven worthless in the best scenario, and harmful to many who took it. None other than St. Luke's is withholding an endorsement of the new shot, and the county is still requiring the old worthless one that's rendered Biden sick two times? This is a non-scientific bunch of radicals shooting its citizens in the foot over politics. A child abused and left unattended today is squarely Lamont McClure's fault. He didn't have a clue when he was closing parks and fresh air to kids. He has no clue now, as his policies are well behind the curve, and now likely causing human misery - again.
These positions require substantial training to become certified by the department of public welfare don’t they? I don’t think you just fill the seat and you know what your doing, regardless of educational background. They may have 8 positions filled technically but are they all capable of working on there own?
ReplyDeleteThe starting pay is so low and the climb up so slow that people just don't need the hassle. Pay and morale is low across the county despite th PR by th high paid media person. Problem is the administration has taken a position and this Administration is never wrong. The explanation is another clever word play by McClure and Chucky. Directors say nothing that is not prepared for them. If it falls flat, they take th fall for McClure.
ReplyDeleteThird party contract it out and rid the taxpayer of the stench of these milkers
ReplyDeleteHopefully all the county employees that can will be at the county council meeting Thursday. They will be talking about doing the pay study. Lamont and bowtie don't want it done. Hopefully county employees show up to show support for the study. So the county council and the public can see the employees want it taken.
ReplyDeleteHuman Services Management are directed not to speak to council members. This is why you have not seen managers approach council to voice concerns. it was not like this under Frantz, Marcus, Heckman. things are not transparent. If Council calls managers to discuss their concerns they are not able to speak to them alone.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Supervisors go out into the field? Wow. That's impressive.
ReplyDeleteTHAT DOES NOT happen in Lehigh County. Their mantra is, "Once I become a supervisor, I can sit on my fat ass". "We tell caseworkers what to do in the field, we don't show them how to do it". And, if they fck up, we do not have their back.
At least that's how I was taught.
-fletch