County Commissioners expand social worker positions
The Davidson County Commissioners approved adding six new social worker and related positions in the Department of Social Services in anticipation of an increase in case loads this year.
During their meeting on Monday, the county commissioners approved adding four social worker positions, one supervisor, and one community social services technician to support permanency planning / foster care services.
Trisha Baker, director of Davidson County DSS, said this division of DSS has experienced significant caseload growth and needs the additional staff to keep caseloads manageable. “We have really grown in the numbers of kids in care,” said Baker. “We are putting the county at a liability if we don’t have a staffing ratio that is appropriate to meet the needs of the kids.”
According to data provided by DSS, last year the department averaged 172 cases, but are anticipating a 42% increase in cases estimated at 244 cases. The data also indicates a 91% anticipated increase in monthly intake of cases. The DSS had a monthly intake average 8.9cases, but are estimating that will increase to 18 cases a month.
This means each social worker would be handling 17 cases a piece, where the state standard is 15 cases per worker. With this addition of six new workers, it would reduce the number to 14 cases per worker, according to Davidson County DSS.
Davidson County Manager Casey Smith said there were 14 vacancies in the foster care service of DSS last year, but after hiring a recruiter, that number has dropped to three vacancies. He said by adding these six positions, they are improving the likelihood of retaining employees by lessening their caseloads.
“The six positions we are seeking would get us back below the 14 to 15 range, which is more manageable and will elevate some of the pressure in the future,” said Smith.
County Commissioner Steve Shell asked if there were any alternatives to recruiting social workers without having to”steal” them from other counties.
“We’re trying to take their employees away from them and they are trying to take ours awayfrom us. Don’t we have other options that would attract better employees instead of those that want to skip around because of the all mighty dollar,” asked Shell.
Baker explained that DSS is currently training those who have their degrees with no experience, but it takes several months to be certified through the North Carolina Department of Social
Services before they are allowed to begin taking cases.But she said it is also important to also have experienced employees who have previously worked with the department of social services who can come in and begin working on cases in a much shorter period of time.
She said that it is not always salary that makes a difference in whether they accept the job,stating they recently lost two people who were in training because of the scope of the work.
“The work is hard,” said Baker. “ It is hard to say who will stay or who won’t. Hopefully they stay because we pay them well and treat them well.”
It will cost the county $95,428 this fiscal year to add the six new positions, and it will have a $307,832 annual impact on the budget with the state reimbursing the county $205,222 out of the $513,054 in salaries and benefits.
