SC DSS detailing $6.4M hiring plan to senators

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Department of Social Services plans to add 221 employees to the ranks of those tasked with protecting South Carolina’s abused and neglected children.

Agency officials will explain to senators Friday their $6.4 million plan for hiring and retaining workers in the high-stress, high-turnover jobs. Senators told them last month to come up with a plan to quickly add caseworkers, rather than wait until after the next budget is passed.

The 221 positions include eight supervisors and 67 assistants. The newly created assistant jobs are designed to free caseworkers from paperwork and other tasks that take their attention away from children.

Acting director Amber Gillum says county caseworkers and supervisors are getting a 10 percent raise, starting with their Nov. 2 paycheck. That boosts a caseworker’s starting salary to $34,600.