MEETING DATE: 2/9/2016
DEPARTMENT: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: James Rydingsword
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: Cynthia Larca
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 130
SUBJECT:
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY - J. RYDINGSWORD
Approve Hiring a Staff Analyst in Child Welfare at step F.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 130
AGENDA SECTION:
CONSENT AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
The Social Services division is under mandate by the State to conduct Child Welfare case reviews. This task requires a higher level staff position and the Department has been recruiting for the position of Staff Analyst. The recent interviews have resulted in a very qualified candidate with extensive relevant background as outlined further below. In order to attract this candidate the Department is requesting to offer the position at step F of salary range 25.4.
This Staff Analyst position will be working in a mandated Federal/State Child Welfare Services program with the purpose of conducting required and independent case reviews of the work of the Child Welfare Services staff in San Benito County. The position will be required to not only review cases, but also to identify, train, and update policies and procedures based upon the findings.
Funding for the position comes from a new and budgeted allocation for 2015-16 plus Social Services Realignment funds. There are no County General Funds required for this position. It is anticipated that the function and the allocation will continue in future years and is currently proposed in the 2016-17 State Budget.
The candidate identified for this position has a sixteen year successful history in family and children’s services in both the private and the public sector with specific experience as a developer and facilitator with Wraparound services and working collaboratively with four Bay Area counties in both child welfare services and behavioral health. The candidate holds a PhD in Psychology, lives locally, and desires to relocate his work to San Benito County.
HHSA has been through three recruitments for this position and, in the last recruitment, at the level of Staff Analyst, this candidate was the only one to meet the specific criteria for the position of Child Welfare Services Case Reviewer. The candidate has also informed the department of his salary requirements, which fit at Step F. It is for these reasons that HHSA is requesting to hire at step F.
County Personnel Rule No. 7 notes that appointments can be made at a higher step than Step A when it is exceedingly difficult to obtain qualified personnel at the starting salary or when it appears that the education or experience of the proposed employee is substantially superior to that required of the class and justifies a beginning salary in excess of the first step. A candidate may be appointed at Step "F" with the Board's approval.
BUDGETED:
Yes