Disgruntled Social Workers, Isom Meet

James Isom, Ventura County’s social services chief, said he was pleased with the outcome of a meeting he had Wednesday with a group of his employees who have complained publicly about working conditions in their agency.

The meeting was prompted after a group of eight social workers called a news conference last week to complain about heavy caseloads as well as lack of equipment and safety training.

Isom told workers Wednesday that his agency would purchase 18 cellular telephones as a safety tool for child abuse investigators. He also promised to work with the Sheriff’s Department to develop a self-defense course for social workers.

“Personal safety has got to be at the top of the list,” he said. “These folks go into some neighborhoods where a cop wouldn’t get out of his car with a gun.”

As far as reducing caseloads, Isom said the only way to do that is to hire additional workers and that requires more money. He said he will work to develop a plan to present to the Board of Supervisors outlying his agency’s increasing needs.

“We need to inform the board of some of the pitfalls and potential liabilities that can occur” if there is not enough staffing, Isom said. Meanwhile, he said his agency hopes to fill some or all 10 job vacancies in the next few weeks.

Social worker Debbie Paris said employees will take complaints to the Board of Supervisors if changes are not made. “I want to be optimistic because what we do in terms of children is so important, so vital. . . . What I’ve seen the last seven years is pretty discouraging.”

Isom said he plans to continue his discussion with the employees next Thursday. He said he has invited all social workers to an open meeting Dec. 11 to voice their concerns.

Isom, whose agency has an annual budget of more than $130 million, recently has been the target of severe criticism. The Board of Supervisors held a closed-door session Tuesday to discuss his job performance, after which they directed Chief Administrator Lin Koester to look into the management of the Public Social Services Agency.