HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY - J. RYDINGSWORD

Approve hiring a child welfare Social Work Supervisor II at Step G.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130

Child Protective Services (CPS) is responsible for responding and investigating reports of child abuse and neglect.  The Agency has been without two Social Work Supervisors for approximately eleven months.  After numerous recruitments, the recent interviews have resulted in a very qualified candidate with extensive child welfare experience which is a necessity for this position.  In order to secure employment with this candidate, the Agency is requesting to offer the position at Step G $43.71/hour.  Funding for the position comes from Social Services Realignment funds. There are no County General Funds impacted for this position.

The candidate identified for this position has eleven years of experience as a Social Work Supervisor II specifically in Child Protective Services.  This candidate also has a Masters in Social Work which is a state requirement for the Agency to employ at least 50% of the work force with masters level social work staff.  The Agency has completed three recruitments for this position and, this candidate thus far, has been the one to meet the specific needs and expectations for the position of Child Welfare Social Work Supervisor II.

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 "G" with the Board's approval.