Help wanted: Westmoreland County seeks applicants for vacant jobs

May 24—Westmoreland County has the "help wanted" sign out to fill jobs in several departments but, as has been the case in the private sector, there isn't enough community interest to fill vacant positions.

It has been so much of a challenge to fill the roster of guards at the county prison that, on Monday, officials converted part-time jobs to full-time status, hoping the move will lure candidates to fill open positions at the lockup in Hempfield.

Applicants for vacant guard jobs have lagged over the past several months. Warden Bryan Kline said the hiring period for guard candidates saw just three applicants show up for a required agility test. Just one person passed the test but declined a job offer, Kline said.

There are 20 open guard jobs and 12 additional positions held by part-time employees.

The prison board voted to convert all part-time guard jobs to full-time status. Those working on a part-time basis will shift to a full-time role and immediately be eligible to receive health benefits. Officials will look to fill the remaining vacancies as full-time workers.

"We're hoping this will lure more people to apply. And, with more full-timers, there will overtime savings," Kline said.

In the past, the path to full-time guard jobs required serving a one- to two-year stint as a part-time worker. All new hires were placed in part-time positions and required to complete 920 hours of probation before they were eligible for full-time jobs. And those full-time jobs only became available through attrition. There are 125 people employed at the prison.

"It's something we are having trouble with, filling part-time positions throughout county government," Commissioner Sean Kertes said. "That's why we are making these changes, to ensure the prison is staffed."

Alexis Bevan, the county's human resources director, said there are 100 part-time jobs throughout the government but about 60 are unfilled. She said the county has significant part-time vacancies in the courthouse custodial department as well as a youth shelter program which operates at the Regional Youth Services Center.

It's not just part-time jobs that need to be filled.

Westmoreland Manor Administrator Abby Testa said the nursing home continues to struggle filling dozens of nursing positions as well as part-time clerical, dietary, recreation and custodial jobs.

But it's not for a lack of candidates.

"Our calendars are filled with both scheduling and interviewing candidates and calling applicants (with job offers)," Testa said.

Over the past two months, it's become all too common for nurses to accept jobs, but then fail to show up for required drug screenings, physicals and orientations.

"We're being ghosted," said Lisa Harkins, the Manor's human resources director. "It has boggled the mind."

The Manor, as have other nursing homes, struggled to fill nursing jobs. Private nursing firms have been used to fill staffing needs. The Manor also pays signing bonuses to new nursing hires.

Information about jobs available at the Manor can be found on the nursing home's website.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293, rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .