County of San Diego Health and Human Services

1. County of San Diego Health and Human Services

2. HOW TO CATCH ‘EM AND KEEP ‘EM Presenters: Lynette Mercado Personnel Manager Patricia George, MSW Protective Services Worker Recruitment Specialist

3. SAN DIEGO FACTS • Sixth most populated county in the United States. • Population 2,813,833 • Ethnically diverse • 19% of the county’s population are immigrants • County of San Diego employees 17,000

4. SOCIAL WORKER SHORTAGE • Shortage of trained social workers • Insufficient number of BSW/MSW graduates • An increasing demand accompanying a growing population • Increasingly stringent licensed requirements • 30% of social workers classified as social workers have less than a bachelor’s degree • U.S. Labor Department estimates the number of candidates ages 25 to 40 will decline 12% by 2005 • Baby boomer generation accounts for 47% of the current workforce

5. CAREER MIGRATION • MSW degree offers people many different job opportunities. However, social workers are moving into higher salaried positions in fields such as human resources, recruiting, and teaching. • Social Workers easily adapt to other professional areas.

6. HHSA RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES • Recruitment Specialist in Personnel and Children’s Services • Recruit at University/College campuses and Professional Conferences • University and college-career center contacts established with focus on Schools of Social Work

7. HHSA RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES • County website updated to include: • Program information • Job opportunities • Marketing strategies: • Display • Give-aways • Advertising

8. LESSONS LEARNED • Developed Consistent Recruitment Strategies • Expanded Qualifications • Revised Hiring Process • Developed Retention Strategies

9. COMPREHENSIVE RECRUITMENT PACKAGE Targeted Recruitment • Local Universities, Colleges, and High School • Schools of Social Work • Professional Competencies • Local Employment Agencies

10. COMPREHENSIVE RECRUITMENT PACKAGE Website • Online applications available • Employment applications can be downloaded • Individualized WebPages Advertising • Local newspapers • Professional journals • Online Monster.com

11. EXPANDED QUALIFICATIONS • Grow-Your-Own Philosophy • Student Worker/Intern Program Expanded • Social Worker I - Unit Assistants • Protective Services Worker II- MSW

12. REVISED HIRING PROCESS • Hiring Cycle Shortened • Online Applications • Consistently/Frequently Call for Lists • Saturday and After Hours Hiring • Expedited Hiring

13. IDENTIFIED RETENTION REMEMDIES • Agency mission statement as unifying theme • Emphasis on learning, teamwork, supervision, and communication • Celebrate performance • Provide training for all levels, line-staff to management • Create positive, productive organizational climate

14. HHSA RETENTION STRATEGIES • Mentor/Frontline Leadership Program • Tuition Reimbursement • Intern Program • Employee Recognition • Support Group for New Employees • Expanded Training Options and Availability • Promote Career/Educational Development • Clinical Supervision Available for Licensure • Alternative Work Schedules • Premiums for MSW and Bilingual Skills

15. REMEDIES FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION • Identified objectives • Coordinated Recruitment Team • Negotiated salary increases • Broadened requirements for tuition reimbursement • Encourage participation in free or low-cost continuing education and training • Continuum to improve benefits package • Promote internships/collaboration with community agencies

16. MISSION STATEMENT Through partnerships, and emphasizing prevention, assure a healthier community and access to needed services while promoting self-reliance and personal responsibility.