HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-04-2000-8bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 4, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. --~--
SUBJECT: Classification Plan Amendment -Social Work Supervisor I and
Social Work Pro ram Mana er
DEPARTMENT: Social Services and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y1N) No
Personnel
ATTACHMENT(S):
Class Specifications
1-Social Work Supervisor I
2- Social Work Supervisor II
3- Social Work Program Manager
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marti Pryor-Cook, Social Services Director,
extension 2$00
Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director,
extension 2550
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501 -
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336 227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider amending the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan by:
• Establishing a new class of Social Work Supervisor I at Salary Grade 70 and to
accommodate this, changing the title of the existing Social Work Supervisor at Salary Grade
71 to Social Work Supervisor II, still at Salary Grade 71.
• Establishing a new class of Social Work Program Manager at Salary Grade 73.
BACKGROUND: Personnel periodically conducts classification studies of specific positions at
the initiation of the operating department to review the classification of positions whose duties
and responsibilities have changed. Personnel recently completed such a study of six
supervisory positions in the Social Services Economic and Family Assistance Division to take
account of duty ci~anges resulting from reorganization. Of the six positions studied, Personnel
identified four positions as correctly classified and is recommending changes that affect two
positions.
Social Services Income Maintenance Reorganization
In response to the 1996 Welfare Legislation, the Social Services Director in collaboration with
staff had assessed the needs of the citizens of Orange County, as well as the organizational
structure of the Social Services department. As a result of that assessment, the Director
decided that the Social Services' Income Maintenance Division would be more efficient in
service delivery and the needs of the citizens of Orange County would be better met if services
previously split among several units were consolidated. With the consolidation of services, the
units would shift from the narrower function of providing "income maintenance" toward a
broader function of helping public assistance recipients resolve problems as well as meet basic
needs.
With the reorganization, the Social Services Director centralized services for adults into an Adult
Support unit and sewices for families and children into a Family Support unit. Both of these
units were located within the Income Maintenance Division (now Economic and Family
Assistance Division).
- The Adult Support unit encompasses veterans' services, food stamps, long term care
services, Medicaid, and the Community Alternative Program (providing in-home, skilled
nursing care services).
- The Family Support unit encompasses programs such as the Adolescent Parenting, Work
First Cash Assistance, Work First Employment, food stamps, Health Choice, and Medicaid
for families and children.
Following implementation of the reorganization, the Social Services Director asked Personnel to
conduct a classification and pay study of six supervisory positions in the Economic and Family
Assistance Division. The purpose of the study was to review the impact that the reorganization
has had an the duties and responsibilities of these supervisory positions. Personnel has
completed this review. Of the six positions, Personnel determined that four are correctly
classified and is recommending classification changes for two. These recommended changes
are described below:
Social Work Supervisor I
Prior to the reorganization, one existing Income Maintenance Supervisor position was
responsible far managing and supervising Work First Cash Assistance. This involves the initial
determination of eligibility, processing, and reviewing the eligibility for public assistance. With
the reorganization, this Income Maintenance Supervisor has continued to perform Work First
Cash Assistance duties and, in addition, has assumed responsibility for Work First
Employment.
The Work First Employment duties include:
- Managing Work First and ensuring that federal, state and local requirements and policies
and procedures are met. Far example, the Federal Government requires that a Work First
recipient remain in the program for not more than a total of five years.
- Ensuring that opportunities and resources are available to enable parents to obtain
employment or the education and skills needed for employment in order to become self-
sufficient and self-supporting, thereby improving the quality for children and families.
- Supervising Social Workers, as well as continuing to supervise Income Maintenance
Caseworkers.
Based on the classification review, Personnel recommends that this Income Maintenance
Supervisor at Salary Grade 69 be reclassified to a new class of Social Work Supervisor I at
Salary Grade 70. This salary grade has a hiring range of $33,774 to $41,051.
Social Work Supervisor II
The existing class of Social Work Supervisor at Salary Grade 71 recognizes broader and more
difficult social work duties and responsibilities than that being recognized in the proposed new
Social Work Supervisor I class. It should be retained at its present higher level than the
proposed Social Work Supervisor I. Far this reason, it is recommended that the present title for
the existing Social Work Supervisor class be changed to Social Work Supervisor II and that this
class remain at the present Salary Grade 71. This salary grade has a hiring range of $35,464
to $43,103.
Social Work Program Manager
With the reorganization, the Social Services Director reassigned the existing Social Wark
Supervisor over the work first employment unit to become head of the new Family Support Unit
within the Economic and Family Assistance Division. This position's responsibilities include:
- Providing management, supervision and technical direction to the Family Support Division.
As noted earlier, this encompasses programs such as Adolescent Parenting, Work First
Cash Assistance, Work First Employment, food stamps, Health Choice, and Medicaid for
families and children.
- Serving as Coordinator for the Skills Development Center. The Skills Development Center
is auser-friendly one-stop facility far employment and training activities.
- Supervising an additional 17 employees, including two supervisors. The total number now
supervised is 24.
Based on the classification review, it is recommended that this existing Social Work Supervisor
position at Salary Grade 71 be reclassified to a new class of Social Work Program Manager at
Salary Grade 73. This salary grade has a hiring range of $39,097 to $47,520.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds to implement the new class of Social Work Supervisor I and Social
Work Program Manager are available within the approved budget for 1999-00. The increase in
cost is about $4,800 for the remainder of this fiscal year and about $6,800 on an annual basis.
RECOMMENDATION(S~: The Manager recommends the Board amend the Classification and
Pay Plan by:
- Establishing the new class of Social Work Supervisor I at Salary Grade 70 and to
accommodate this, changing the title of the existing class of Social Work Supervisor at
Salary Grade 71 to Social Work Supervisor 11, still at Salary Grade 71.
- Establishing the new class of Social Work Program Manager at Salary Grade 73.
f:\pers\elgin\classify\dss\supvabs.doc
Attachment 1
C6305-4/00
SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR I
GENERAL DEFII`]ITION OF WORK:
Performs difficult professional work supervising a group of social workers and income
maintenance caseworkers engaged in providing support to social services programs; does
related work as required.
Work is performed under general supervision. Supervision is exercised over subordinate
professional and non-professional employees in the unit.
TYPICAL TASKS:
Plans, organizes, supervises, monitors and evaluates the work of subordinate social
workers and income maintenance caseworkers; reviews records, reports and other data;
counsels and advises workers; and participates in the more difficult cases;
Participates in the planning and development of departmental programs, policies and
procedures and enforces same; enforces State standards applicable to work of unit;
Establishes the performance standards for the unit's work, monitors and evaluates
programs;
Maintains continuing liaison with local welfare and social service agencies, legal
authority and other offices;
Keeps abreast of and develops local resources, attends meetings of local and State
organizations as representative of the department in explaining programs, services and
regulations; coordinates and participates in community educational programs;
Provides for the continued in-service training of staff;
Responds to citizen inquiries concerning unit services;
Gathers pertinent data and evaluates criteria; prepares reports and documentation;
Provides clarification and guidance in difficult and complicated income maintenance
cases involving policy application;
Provides consultation regazding problems pertaining to social factors influencing
eligibility determination for income maintenance programs;
Performs related tasks as required.
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of the philosophy, objectives, practices and techniques of social
work and counseling; thorough knowledge of the programs, laws and procedures of
social work programs; thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques and
practices of public assistance; thorough knowledge of farms, documents and procedures
in determining eligibility; ability to plan, organize, assign and supervise the work of
social workers and income maintenance caseworkers; ability to communicate ideas
effectively, orally and in writing; ,ability to establish and maintain an effective working
relationship with clients, officials, employees and various parties to cases; ability to
analyze complex data, draw conclusions and prepare reports.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an
accredited college or university with Master's degree in social work and at least 2 yeazs
experience in social work or counseling or Bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of
social work or counseling experience.
SPECIAL RE UIREMENTS:
Attachment 2
C6310-4/00
SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR II
GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK:
Performs difficult professional work supervising a group of social workers engaged in
providing support to social services programs; does related work as required.
Work is performed under general supervision. Supervision is exercised over subordinate
professional and non-professional employees in the unit.
TYPICAL TASKS:
Plans, organizes, supervises, monitors and evaluates the work of subordinate social
workers; reviews records, reports and other data; counsels and advises workers; and
participates in the more difficult cases;
Participates in the planning and development of departmental programs, policies and
procedures and enforces same; enforces State standazds applicable to work of unit;
Establishes the performance standards for the unit's work, monitors and evaluates
programs;
Maintains continuing liaison with local welfare and social service agencies, legal
authority and other offices;
Keeps abreast of and develops local resources, attends meetings of local and State
organizations as representative of the department in explaining programs, services and
regulations; coordinates and participates in community educational programs;
Provides for the continued in-service training of staff;
Responds to citizen inquiries concerning unit services;
Gathers pertinent data and evaluates criteria; prepazes reports and documentation;
Performs related tasks as required
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Comprehensive knowledge of the philosophy, objectives, practices and techniques of
social work and counseling; camprehensive lrnowledge of the programs, laws and
procedures of social work programs; comprehensive knowledge of community resources
for social services; ability to plan, organize, assign and supervise the work of a staff of
social workers; ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, orally and in writing;
ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with clients, offiicials,
employees and various parties to cases; ability to analyze complex data, draw conclusions
and prepare reports.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an
accredited college or university with Master's degree in social work and at least 3 years
experience in social work or counseling or Bachelor's degree and at least 4 years of
social work or counseling experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Cazolina.
Attachment 3 6
C6445-4/00
SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM MANAGER
GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK:
Performs difficult professional and administrative work managing the Family Support
Unit within the Economic and Family Assistance Division; does related work as required.
Work is performed under general supervision. Supervision is exercised over all unit
personnel.
TYPICAL TASKS:
Provides management, supervision and technical direction to the Family Support Unit
which includes programs such as Adolescent Parenting, Work First Cash Assistance,
Work First Employment, Food Stamps, Health Choice and Medicaid for Families and
Children;
Serves as Coordinator for the Skills Development Center; facilitates leadership meetings
involving all agencies represented;
Establishes unit goals and objectives and service delivery needs with staff to ensure that
work plans are consistent with the annual plan; provides input into agency planning
through periodic reports and meetings;
Consults with subordinate supervisors on issues that impact on program goals, objectives,
policies, and the delivery of services; makes changes in work procedures to meet program
demands;
Ensures that policies, rules and regulations are followed; explains and implements
changes when necessary;
Monitors the work of subordinate staff through case reviews, progress reports,
conferences and informal discussions to assure compliance with operational standards
and established policies;
Participates in the development of the division budget; identifies resources and needs;
monitors and tracks expenditures;
Performs related tasks as required.
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Comprehensive knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their
application to specific casework and community problems; comprehensive knowledge of
behavioral and socioeconomic problems and their treatment and governmental and
private organizations and community resources; comprehensive knowledge of the laws,
regulations and policies which govern social services programs; skilled in directing a
staff of social workers and supervisors and related professionals and students engaged in
a variety of services; ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, both orally and in
writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients,
employees, community agencies, community officials and the general public.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of education acid experience equivalent to graduation from an
accredited college or university with Master's degree in social work and at least 3 years
experience in social work or counseling.
SPECIAL RE UIREMENTS:
Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.