SOCIAL WORKER WORKLOAD REPORT PENDING

The report on social workers’ workloads mandated earlier this year by the Legislature is due out soon. This caps the work of the special DSHS ad hoc committee on which Federation members participated.

While the report is not yet out, we know in general it will identify specific tasks that could be performed by job classes other than the case-carrying social workers. In a few cases, the report may recommend contracting.

We’ll need your help once the report comes out and we look to the 2009 Legislature for solutions. We’ve set up a “CA Social Worker Workload Blog” on our website at www.wfse.org. This will help in the discussion. The blog already has a lot of helpful background. When the workload report is released, you’ll find it there, too.

One big piece of news, according to Jeanine Livingston, the Federation’s contract compliance director:

“We did get agreement at the Oct. 30 union-management communications committee to continue the workload ad hoc committee for another year. We will use that as a vehicle to continue to push for relief for our social workers.”

And, Livingston warns, we need to counter expected moves from the private sector to take away the work of bargaining unit social workers. “Input from our members is critical to our success,” she said, urging social worker members to use the CA Social Worker Blog.