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PERSONNEL / HEALTH SERVICES - Executive Director Jayme Bottke
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) Request approval of the revised classification specifications for Nutrition Assistant I/II and Nutrition Assistant III within the Joint Council Bargaining Unit, effective 6/4/24
b) RESOLUTION - Request adoption of a resolution to amend the FY 2023-24 Personnel Allocation List (PAL), (Reso #2023-88) and the Master Salary Schedule, amending the Salary Ranges for Nutrition Assistant I/II from Salary Ranges 12/16 to Salary Ranges 15/19 and Nutrition Assistant III from Salary Range 20 to Salary Range 23, effective 6/4/24
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Financial Impact:
The requested action of amending the salary ranges for four (4.00 FTE) Nutrition Assistant II Bilingual from Salary Range 16 to Salary Range 19 will result in an annual increase of approximately $17,696. The requested actions will have no impact to the General Fund as these positions are paid for by the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) funding.
Background Information:
The Tehama County Health Services Agency (TCHSA) is requesting approval of the revised Nutrition Assistant I/II and Nutrition Assistant III classification specifications. These classifications were created in 2003 during the time that the Health Services Agency acquired the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program. Both the WIC program and the Agency have since grown over time, acquiring new needs for the Nutrition Assistant Program. For example, with the development of the Partnership Healthcare plan, there is a need for the Agency to hire Nutrition Assistants that can serve more than just the WIC clients. As the class specification currently reads, it is very specific to the WIC program. Another reason for the requested revisions is that the Agency determined the need to clarify the distinction between the roles and responsibilities between the Nutrition Assistant I, II, and III levels. As the WIC program has grown over the years, both in complexity and in client volume, there has been a need to revisit the essential functions, qualifications and education and experience necessary to implement the programming.
The areas of revision that are being requested for these classification specifications include updates to the definition, class characteristics, essential functions, and qualifications sections. More specifically, the duties have been revised to reflect broader language, should the Agency decide to implement these classifications in other areas of the center. Additionally, the duties were updated to better clarify the distinction of the Nutrition Assistant I/II from the Nutrition Assistant III. The Education and Experience was updated for all levels to reflect education and experience requirements as well as WIC-specific requirements when an incumbent is assigned to the WIC program. Considering the expanded duties and qualifications required for these positions over time, as well as the Agency’s desire to have the ability to perform nutrition counseling in other centers within the Agency, the Department has requested that the Nutrition Assistant salary ranges be reviewed and adjusted to an equitable rate as researched and recommended by Personnel.
A review of similar positions within comparator agencies, Butte, Shasta, and Humboldt, was conducted to help clarify the distinctions between the series, and a salary survey was performed to determine the median salary among those comparator agencies. The salary survey results confirmed that Tehama County Nutrition Assistant salaries are below the comparator agencies. The Health Services Agency is requesting to increase the salaries for the Nutrition Assistant I/II from Salary Ranges 12/16 to Salary Ranges 15/19 and the Nutrition Assistant III salary from Range 20 to Salary Range 23. If approved, this will result in a 7.5% increase for all levels and will put Tehama County Nutrition Assistants in line with the median salary among the comparator agencies.
The Joint Council Bargaining Unit has been notified of the proposed changes and an agreement has been reached.