LAURINBURG —The Scotland County Social Services Board said the county DSS director has its “backing” now that a management review of the department has been completed.
The five-member board gave its support to DSS Director April Snead this week following the two-month review of the department after workers at DSS expressed concerns at the agency.
Some in the 100-member department have said that Snead was part of the problem. But the DSS board said the review did not support that.
“Now that this study has been completed, we want to take this opportunity to express our complete support of April Snead as director of this department,” the board said in a statement to DSS employees released on Tuesday. “We want to let all department employees know that she has our backing as she makes changes in the coming weeks.”
The board did not announce what those changes would be, but said it would “share the results of the review in the near future.”
Going forward, the Social Service Board said employees should take their concerns or complaints directly to Snead rather than coming to the board.
“As you know, handling operational issues is not within the authority of the board and keeps us focusing on our mission which is to improve and expand the department’s programs and services. Should we receive an operational concern or issue we will forward it directly to Ms Snead with our expectations that she sit down with all involved and come to a positive resolution.”
The board said that any DSS employee with a concern with program issues should coming to board meetings and speak during the open forum session.
Findings
Human resources consultant Drake Maynard met with the DSS board on Friday to share his findings of the management review. Officials said Maynard looked at the department’s management, operations and its structure; interviewed employees; and used an employee survey from April 2016 in making the review.
Joyce McDow, chair of Social Services Board, said Maynard told the board that “DSS is not broken”
“He went on to say that the vast majority of our staff are competent, hard-working, dedicated employees,” McDow said. “However, we do have issues related to personnel, communication, and turnover that will be addressed. He made recommendations for the county commissioners, the DSS board, and for the department.
“We are confident that the plans that are being put in place will make a positive difference at the Department of Social Services.”
County Commissioner Betty Blue Gholston said she was confident in Chairman McDow and the DSS board’s review.
“I feel like the problems and concerns that the employees have will be worked out,” Gholston said. “I want them to have faith that we will do what is best for our employees. We have not overlooked the problems and complaints they have. The DSS board has worked out their concerns and going forward it will be better for everybody concerned.”
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