Rutherford County DSS worker, Andrea Denning, was caught on tape asleep in a DSS government vehicle, wearing her DSS worker I.D.
In the video, Ms. Denning who is a Social Worker III, can clearly be seen sound asleep, mouth agape, while children play in the yard right outside her drivers side window.
While news reports state that it is unclear whether Ms. Denning was on the clock or not, the fact that she is in a government vehicle, wearing her I.D. tag, parked in someones driveway/yard, asleep, clearly sets a poor example of how a DSS worker should behave.
Andrea Denning asleep with DSS I.D. clearly visible.
I mean seriously folks, are the children playing in the yard part of a DSS investigation? Does the drive she is parked in belong to someone who is being investigated by DSS for abuse, neglect, or dependency? I do not believe whether Ms. Denning was on the clock or not matters in this situation. Fire her and find someone who can stay awake and ensure the protection of children.
Furthermore, Ms. Denning is obviously on the clock, she is out in the County…in a government owned vehicle, wearing her government I.D. tag…PARKED IN SOMEONES DRIVEWAY!!!
…but by all means, please check Ms. Denning’s DSS 4263 form that is required to be filled out daily and turned in weekly and records every service and activity performed, for payment purposes and is absolutely, necessary for federal reimbursement. Not only is this document required, it must be certified by the worker! …see if she claimed to be working while this video was being filmed!
Ms. Denning has been place on administrative leave, probably paid leave, while this is been investigated.
Video of DSS worker caught sleeping on the job.
7 On Your Side news article:
DSS Worker Snoozes on the Job
http://www2.wspa.com/news/2012/may/31/9/video-dss-worker-snoozes-job-ar-3891219/
By: GRAEME MOORE | WSPA
Published: May 31, 2012
Updated: May 31, 2012 – 6:21 PM
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NC –
A YouTube video shows a department of social services worker in Rutherford County, NC, taking a snooze in a county vehicle, though it’s unclear whether the woman was on the clock.
The Daily Courier in Forest City first reported the story last week and posted the video to YouTube. The 43-second video can be seen by clicking here.
In the video, worker Andrea Denning can be seen kicked back in the driver’s seat, with sunglasses on, and snoring. She’s parked in the yard of a mobile home where kids are running around outside.
Rutherford County officials are now investigating.
“Obviously the first thought is, you know, this is not what you want to see in any county employee, but you also don’t know all the facts around the case,” said the county’s manager Carl Classen.
Classen couldn’t confirm if Denning was at the house on a work-related call or not, but it’s clear she’s in a county vehicle, he said.
“Obviously in the video there are children present, and so that speaks for itself,” Classen said, “but we can’t speak any farther than that other than there were children present.”
Classen said the newspaper provided his office a copy of the video, and because of that, his office, along with the county’s DSS director, have launched an investigation.
Classen says Denning was placed on investigatory leave Friday. She has been with the agency since 2003, and according to her public record she’s never been subject to any prior disciplinary action.
