According to my sources, and despite the county's efforts, there is a serious shortage of caseworkers in Northampton County's child protective services. Caseworkers in other fields are picking up the slack, but they lack the training required for sensitive home investigations. Last week, Kezzy Johnson, the shop steward for the county's Department of Human Services (DHS), told County Council that over 100 DHS workers have left the county over the past three years. She described the employment there as a Ferris wheel. She described poor staffing and an administration that blocks employees or holds them in a position for months instead of allowing them to advance.
Johnson stressed that "retention of current employees is just as, if not more, important than bringing in new employees." She complained that the county's inability to hire is no excuse for the mistreatment of employees who've remained. This includes, according to her, a refusal to post vacancies within the department.
There was no response to Johnson from either the McClure administration or County Council. In County Council's case, Council member Ron Heckman stated he'd need to discuss the matter with the Council Solicitor. As for the administration, I am remiss because I heard about this several weeks ago but have been occupied by the election. I will seek a response.
14 comments:
When are you going to wake up and put the blame where it belongs. McClure is a whacko when it comes to dealing with employees, wages, and benefits. He is at fault for all the short falls when it comes to dealing with our wages. The atmosphere here sucks and the morale is the lowest I've ever seen it. The County has been screwing the employees by keeping a wage scale that never lets us get to the top of the scale. Wage increases don't even keep up with inflation. We pay more for our medical benefits with increased co-pays. He and Dirtenger are unapproachable and the worst leaders we ever had sitting in their ivory tower. They take care of their friends and relatives and screw everyone else. As long as Dirty Dirtenger and Clueless McClure are at the Helm these problems will continue.
CPS caseworkers have the toughest job in the county. Not only are they overly micro-managed by heartless supervisors, but they're constantly exposed to unsanitary and often dangerous conditions while visiting homes. If there’s anyone who needs to get paid more it’s this position.
Shocked...Not. I worked in CPS for 20 years. When a new caseworker would arrive, I'd befriend him/her by taking them out into the field, assisting cases, going out to lunch, etc...after working there for a few years, I wouldn't even ask a new worker their name as they would be gone in a few months; sometimes weeks, sometimes days. I wouldn't try to get to know a new caseworker unless s/he was there for at least a year.
I recently met a receptionist at my child's school. As we were talking (she knew my background) she informed me that she just left her C&Y caseworker job after 6 months. She said that she specifically went to college to be a social worker and work in CPS. She told me about the horrors related to her job and the toll it took on her mental health- from the caseload, to the lack of supervision and support, to even the Court and lawyers treating caseworkers terribly. She couldn't believe the fortitude I had to do it for so long. She said that she much happier and less stressed answering phones and giving out late passes to students. She also gets paid about the same, but has much better benefits more importantly, feels valued.
It appears that the community needs to offer more money for the position and real benefits. A starting wage around $50k with 100% paid medical and a real pension plan after 20 years of service. This should be a good start.
What are the salaries and benefits now?
The starting salary for a caseworker 1 (which is what most people start at) is $18.54. When they come off probation after 6 months, then it’s increased to $20.43 as a caseworker 2. A college degree is required for a caseworker position.
A college degree is not required to be a CYF caseworker. If you have 12 college credits, you can may be eligible to be a caseworker.
Kezzys words were powerful and council should listen. Help cyf discuss with council their interesting solutions to the staffing shortage crisis. Management isnt listenening to the people who know the work best. You see the Court Adminstrator standing up for his staff while the human services director gives a pathetic solution to let the staff grieve the blocking of transfer to other jobs for 2 to 6 months time. The receiving division head agrees to the transfer in 60 to 180 days so there is no grieving or appealing the decision. The other dept heads are not going to disagree or stand up for staff. Its not worth the grief the dept head will receive later on. The bullying managemnt style wont solve the problems. You see Mr. Greene but won't see dept heads asking council for help or discussing issues like a staffing crisis. This is not allowed. Kezzy spoke out. The truth is out and cyf needs a different kind of help. The staff is completely taxed and fleeing. High level management earns two to three times the $ 40k caseworkers & they are the ones working so hard.The caseworkers need help. Didnt the national guard help gracedale employees with their staffing crisis?
All departments in the County are down.McClure and his buddy Charlie Tuna are the cause.
<McClure stood in front of county Council and said he had no problem filling jobs. He said that. You continue to love him even though he is not truthful, other executives have been incompetent or angry, but McClure is a callous bully.
That's an inaccurate description of what he said. He was discussing CO classes and said he has no problem filling them. Then he added that the places where the county has problems filling jobs is in departments hit hard by tyhe pandemic, requiring close personal contact. This would be Gracedale, the jail, the juvenile justice center and CYF. He said the exact opposite of what you have just reported. He indicated that, outised of those areas, he has no problem filling jobs.
11:37, Tell that to the court services areas or Human Serivces or other areas of the county that are not 24-7. He may get some in but within a week or two they go. It is you and McClure who are disingenuous. Are you boys a matched pair.
First, you lied and misquoted McClure as saying the county has no problem filling positions when he actually said they do at spots impacted by the pandemic Those include CYF. Now you claim people come to the county in other areas, last a week and leave. That's absolute horseshit as well. I note you fail to identify any of the places where this happens, and that is because you are a liar.
If this continues they’re going to end up with a dead kid on their hands. Then they’ll throw the inexperienced overwhelmed caseworker under the bus while management skates. If you work there get out now there are other jobs within government you can do.
He has no problem filling jobs? We have only 38 fully trained 911 dispatchers and we are supposed to have 64. You can fill the jobs all day but at these wages and working conditions they will not stay.
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