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PERSONNEL / SOCIAL SERVICES - Interim Social Services Director Teresa Curiel
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) RESOLUTION - Request adoption of a resolution amending Resolution No. 2023-88, the FY 23/24 Position Allocation List (PAL), by deleting six (6.00 FTE) Eligibility Specialist I/II allocations and adding six (6.00 FTE) Eligibility Specialist Trainee/I/II Bilingual allocations, effective 4/16/24
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Financial Impact:
Deleting six (6.00 FTE) Eligibility Specialist I/II allocations and replacing them with six (6.00 FTE) Eligibility Specialist Trainee/I/II Bilingual allocations would result in an estimated minimum annual wage and benefit decrease of approximately $487 in the first year.
These eligibility determination positions will time study and be allocated to the public assistance programs they work in. These programs include Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, CalFresh and General Assistance. The cost will be funded by those programs’ administrative allocations, which include federal, state, and local realignment revenues. The current adopted budget is anticipated to be sufficient to cover this increased cost.
Background Information:
The Social Services Department requests Board of Supervisors’ approval to amend the Position Allocation List (PAL) by deleting six (6.00 FTE) vacant Eligibility Specialist I/II allocations and adding six (6.00 FTE) Eligibility Specialist Trainee/I/II Bilingual allocations, thereby adding the trainee level to the flexibly staffed classification series. As with the Eligibility Specialist I/II, the Eligibility Specialist Trainee is a Merit Systems Services (MSS) classification, meaning the classification specification is created, maintained, and approved by MSS. The Eligibility Specialist series determines initial and continuing eligibility, authorizes aid payments, initiates case changes, performs in-depth interactive interviewing, and applies extensive multiple aid program knowledge. If approved, the Tehama County Eligibility Specialist Trainee will focus on one program, such as Medi-Cal eligibility.
The Eligibility branch of the Department is understaffed and has been for several years. As a result, the Department is at a critical stage and looking for alternative strategies in order to bring on new staff. The long and arduous recruitment and screening process as a MSS agency results in the loss of a large number of candidates. Merit’s screening process and restrictive screening criteria disqualifies many applicants from consideration stating they do not meet the minimum qualifications for the entry-level Eligibility Specialist I. In an already competitive recruitment market, this has made it even more difficult for the Department to obtain an adequate number of qualified applicants.
The County is currently in the process of requesting approval to separate from MSS, which will allow greater control of recruitments. However, the separation process has and will continue to take time. In the meantime, the Department would like to address the challenges that are within our control. By adding the trainee level to the classification series, the Department believes more candidates will pass Merit’s initial screening phase. Incumbents will be then able to gain valuable experience specific to the Tehama County community and progress to an Eligibility Specialist I after one (1) year.
The recommended salary placement of the Eligibility Specialist Trainee is Salary Range 14 within the Joint Council Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This placement would provide a 7.5% separation between the trainee level and the entry level.
The Joint Council bargaining unit was notified of the proposed action and is in agreement on this matter.