Transcript Colorado's Realistic Job Preview: Using it to Hire the

Building Your Workforce
Using One Tool at a Time
Presented by:
Mary Berg, MSW
What do you know?
Take A Stand!
In one study, the average cost of
turnover was $10,000.
Take a Stand!
Take a Stand!
Recent research has shown that staff
turnover has no effect on maltreatment
recurrence rates.
In one study, factors that led to lower
turnover were increased salaries, a
policy of no on-call work, and a strong
effort to complete and approve case
plans.
Take a Stand!
There is a 30% chance of a child
achieving permanency in 12 months
when she has had two workers.
Take a Stand!
Turnover results in all of these issues:
* Unrealistic workloads/caseloads
* Unpredictable hours
* Too much paperwork
* Lack of quality supervision
Take a Stand!
The Western Regional Recruitment &
Retention Project (WRRRP)
• University of Denver was one of eight federal
child welfare training grants focusing on staff
recruitment and retention
• Five sites in the greater Rocky Mountain
region: Colorado, Arizona, and Wyoming
• Urban and rural child welfare settings
• Jefferson County
The Western Regional Recruitment &
Retention Project (WRRRP)
• Strong focus on developing and implementing
a team model for organizational change.
• Technical assistance to provide assessment
and strategic planning.
• Technical support for implementing site
specific organizational intervention.
• Development and delivery of specific training
to meet site needs.
• Project tools, resources and trainings.
Jefferson County Getting Started
• Commitment from top leadership
• Broad representation of all levels on
steering committee
• Organizational assessment
• Surveys and focus groups
• Listen and accept reality
• Organizational culture change necessary
• OD is a slow, steady process
Strategic Planning
 Recruitment
 Selection
 Training
 Retention
Factors most influencing
Retention
• Supervision (Yankeelov, Barbee, Sullivan, & Antle, 2009;
Strand & Bosco-Ruggiero, 2008; WRRRP, 2007;
Scanapieco & Connell-Carrick, 2007; Strolin-Goltzman,
Auerbach, McGowan, & McCarthy, 2008)
• Work-life fit (Strolin-Goltzman, 2008; SUNY, 2006; StrolinGoltzman et al., 2008)
• Organizational culture (Ellett, 2009, Strand & BoscoRuggiero, 2008; Weaver, Chang, Clark, & Rhee, 2007)
• Job Stress (Kim & Stoner, 2008; Hopkins & CohenCallow, 2007)
Factors most influencing
Retention
• Job Satisfaction (WRRRP, 2007; Weaver et al,
2007; SUNY, 2006; Strolin-Goltzman, 2008)
• Training (Strand & Bosco-Ruggiero, 2008;
Scanapieco & Connell-Carrick, 2007, SUNY,
2006)
• Caseloads (Scanpieco & Connell-Carrick,
2007; Weaver et al, 2007)
• Clarity & Coherence (Strolin-Goltzman, 2008;
WRRRP, 2007; SUNY, 2006)
Implementation Approach
• Identify the issue
• Develop solutions using multiple strategies
• Issue
Solution
Recruitment
Issue / Solution
• Issue: Caseworkers surprised about
the challenges of the position and
resign within months after being
hired
Solution: Inform applicants about
position with a Realistic Job Preview
video
Recruitment
Issue / Solution
• Issue: Staff applicant pools do
not meet the cultural/language
needs of clients.
Solution: Partner with bilingual
radio station for recruitment
efforts.
Selection
Issue/Solution
• Issue: Random approach to interviewing
and screening of new applicants
Solution: Develop standard questions
and best practice answers.
Role play and interactive case
scenarios.
Training
Issues / Solutions
• Issue: Ill-prepared workforce
Solution: Provide standard On
the Job Training with
competency standards,
structured practice and
evaluation.
Develop continuous training
opportunities and tracks.
Retention
Issues / Solutions
• Issue: Fear based
organizational culture
Solution: Leadership training
and organizational culture and
practice change
Retention
Issues / Solutions
• Issue: Work/life balance
Solution: Flexible/ Alternative work
schedules
• Issue: Vacant positions from turnover
(workload distribution)
Solution: Pre-vacancy positions
Impact on Practice
CFSR Outcomes
• Re-entry into out of home care
• SFY 05-06 - 14.4%
• SFY 06-07 - 13.4%
• SFY 07-08 - 11.8%
• Re-involvement
• SFY 05-06 – 11.2%
• SFY 06-07 – 9.4%
• SFY 07-08 – 7.7%
Questions