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Cheshire County HR report: 70 hires, 69 separations in six months; nursing-home staffing and LNA training highlighted
Summary
Human resources presented a six‑month staffing report showing 70 hires and 69 separations countywide from April 1 to Sept. 30. Commissioners discussed EMS, Department of Corrections stability, nursing-home turnover at Maplewood, and county-sponsored LNA training programs.
Tim May, presenting the county’s human resources report on Oct. 23, told commissioners the county recorded 70 hires and 69 separations from April 1 through Sept. 30.
"So I'll keep it quick. We hired some people, and we lost some people," Tim May said as he summarized recruiting activity across county departments.
May said the county is recruiting for the last open positions in emergency medical services and has interviews scheduled in the coming weeks. He said the Department of Corrections is ‘‘more stable’’ in corrections and nursing staff, but the county’s nursing home — Maplewood — faces continuing turnover among LNA (licensed nursing assistant) staff and ward aides.
To address that shortage, the county is running an in‑house LNA program at Maplewood. May said the LNA class is a six‑week program offered on site; the county pays for the class under a "school hours equals work hours" approach in exchange for a post‑training work commitment. He said the program frequently recruits recent high‑school graduates and others who need flexible scheduling.
May also noted the county has hired a full‑time occupational therapist at Maplewood and is negotiating with a speech therapist; one physical‑therapy position remains open. Commissioners and staff discussed the difficulty of recruiting and retaining LNAs when large regional employers offer higher starting wages.
The report covered several staffing and training mechanics: the LNA program requires trainees to be at least 18 to perform certain mechanical lifts; a HiSET (formerly GED) or high‑school diploma is required for LNA certification; and the county uses training‑to‑employment commitments to retain staff.
Commissioners and participants praised Maplewood’s staffing ratios compared with some private facilities and noted rising resident acuity and regulatory paperwork that complicate long‑term care staffing and care delivery. The discussion emphasized the role of county support in maintaining service levels at the taxpayer‑subsidized facility.
May’s report also referenced ongoing negotiations with the Teamsters union and continued recruitment for connected‑families care coordinator roles.
The HR presentation was provided for the commissioners’ information; no formal action was taken during the discussion.
