Social Workers Stand for Child Safety and Improved Staffing

On Tuesday, May 15th, Riverside social workers attended the Riverside Board of Supervisors meeting  to voice their concern over extreme caseloads, short-staffing and mandated stand-by/call-back shifts – conditions which make it difficult to deliver quality care and lower staff morale.  Social workers took action after several requests to meet with management about these issues garnered no response.

According to the social workers, short-staffing and mandatory stand-by/call-back shifts has led to unmanageable caseloads and caused many social workers to leave the county. “Unfortunately, forcing social workers to do mandatory social work is forcing people to leave and we are losing veterans – the very people who can help mentor and train new, young social workers are finding work elsewhere,” says Sherry Pope, adoptions social worker.  One social worker has said that the county’s mandatory shift has forced her to work 36 to 72 hour shifts.  

“This is not about lowering caseloads for longer lunches,” says Alicia Broderick, Emergency Response Social Worker for Riverside County Child Protective Services. “This is about having the time to do real social work; spending quality time with families so we know, very clearly, what they need. Right now, I feel like I’m handing out band-aids to our families instead getting to the source of their issue”.

“In addition to high caseloads my department covers from Banning to Cathedral City, one of the largest areas in Riverside County,” says Keith Price, a family maintenance social worker for Riverside Child Protective Services. “That means we are often driving 30 to 50 miles just to see a client. This is nearly impossible when you are responsible for 50 children’s cases”.

Social workers have invited the county to discuss ways to improve recruitment and retention.  One proposal workers are asking Riverside management to consider is to place responsibility for after hours emergency response cases on a designated unit.
 
 “The population out here is growing, but the number of social workers is shrinking,” says Keith. “As caseloads increase and line staff is asked to pick up stand-by/call-back work too, experienced social workers are leaving. We’ve made some important improvements by working with the Board of Supervisors. That process must continue. Social workers must be properly trained and adequately staffed so we can do our job protecting children.”